The provisions of the bill addressing felony sanctions are the subject of this analysis. The bill would amend the Penal Code to define sexual contact for the prosecution of the offense of improper relationship between an educator and student. This offense is punished as a second degree felony.
A second degree felony is punishable by confinement in prison for a term from 2 to 20 years, and in addition to confinement, an optional fine not to exceed $10,000.
From fiscal year 2018 to 2020, 195 people were arrested, 71 people were placed under felony community supervision, and 17 people were admitted into state correctional institutions for the offense of improper relationship between an educator and student under current statute. This analysis assumes implementing the provisions of the bill addressing felony sanctions would not result in a significant impact on state correctional populations or the demand for state correctional resources.