Lawmakers push for Erin's Law at Statehouse; some concerns remain - Dayton 24/7 Now

WARREN COUNTY, Ohio (WKEF) -- A bipartisan bill aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse is making its way through the Ohio Statehouse, but obstacles remain before it goes to Governor Mike DeWine's desk.

House Bill 105, also known as Erin's Law, is co-sponsored by Warren County Republican Representative, Scott Lipps and Hamilton County Democratic Representative, Brigid Kelly.

"I think this is a great example of something that shouldn't be a partisan issue," Representative Kelly said. "It should be something that brings us together because it's designed to help kids to keep them safe."

A renewed push for the law began after a former first grade Springboro gym teacher was accused and then convicted of sexually abusing more than two dozen girls in his class. Springboro mom, Siara Akers, had a first grader at the time Hopkins was accused.

"Just the thought of my child being in the room with a child molester makes me sick," Akers said. "I truly believe one of them would have told if someone would have been in the school to talk about good touch and bad touch. Keeping secrets, not keeping secrets."

Akers then reached out to Representative Lipps' office. He responded immediately with the Hopkins case at the front of his mind.

"Sadness, anger, emotion," Lipps said. "This isn't just impacting that one child's life. It's impacting that entire family. And the entire neighborhood, the entire school system."

Lipps starting working on Erin's Law and found a partner in Kelly, across the political aisle.

"One of the most important things about Erin's law is it should give kids the tools that they need in order to identify behavior that is inappropriate, so they can recognize it and tell someone," Kelly said.

Erin's Law would require all public schools to implement a prevention-oriented child sexual abuse program. Lipps and Kelly says the law is two parts and each one is age-appropriate.

"The first piece is first through sixth grade," Lipps said. "And that is what no means. Helping a child understand inappropriate touch and their own sexuality, their own body space. Then 7th through 12th grade is more about sexual violence. So it's no means no. And it's how to protect themselves."

The bill has passed the Ohio House overwhelmingly and is now in the Senate Primary and Secondary Education Committee for review. At each hearing, Akers has testified and shared her own story of abuse as a teen. It's a story she didn't share for a longtime after it happened.

"I wanted to tell so bad," Akers said. "It was on the tip of my tongue. But I did not know who to tell. I didn't know how to tell."

Lipps and Kelly say no opponents of the bill have spoken on record at hearings yet. But they say there are concerns from some about the bill not allowing parents to opt-out of the curriculum. A few of the 37 other states that have passed Erin's Law do have an opt-out, but Kelly and Lipps remain opposed to it. They say parents are made aware of everything being discussed.

"They have notification and they have the ability to review and understand," Lipps said. "And we should not allow an opt-out."

For now, the bill remains in committee. Akers remains hopeful a compromise can be reached and soon.

"You're giving your children a voice and confidence," Akers said. "I think that once you get a voice and you speak up, you're not really a victim anymore. You feel more like a survivor in that you can get through that."

source: https://dayton247now.com/news/local/lawmakers-push-for-erins-law-at-statehouse-some-concerns-remain

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