OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Tim Turner, R-Kinta, today thanked the governor for signing into law a bill aimed at better protecting students at school from the crime of rape.

House Bill 1995 clarifies that school resource officers and contracted security guards will be considered the same as school employees under Oklahoma's rape statute when the victim is a student and the perpetrator is an employee of the school. This is Turner's first legislation to become law.

"This is a loophole that has existed in state law for these contracted employees," Turner said. "We're hopeful people in these positions would never take advantage of the trust and authority granted them when it comes to youth under their care. But should they have inappropriate sexual contact with a student, this ensures they will face the same charges and punishment as a school employee." 

Turner explained these contracted positions are often paid for with outside grants, and the officers are often employed by law enforcement agencies. Therefore, in allegations of rape, they've not been considered as school employees.

Turner also thanked Sen. Warren Hamilton, R-McCurtain, the principal Senate author of the bill, for securing its passage in that legislative chamber.

HB1995 contains an emergency clause making it effective immediately.