Legislation Aims To Protect Student Athletes From Sexual Abuse

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State Representative Beth Griffin of Mattawan testified this week before the House Judiciary Committee in support of legislation intended to help prevent sexual assaults on college campuses and in schools. She tells WSJM News the plan would increase the number of authority figures who are required to report evidence of child abuse, neglect, and sexual abuse. It would add athletic trainers, physical therapists, and physical therapist assistants who work with K-12 and college athletes to the list.

“Sometimes these athletic trainers and physical therapists see a lot of these kids, in some cases, more than teachers,” Griffin said. “I just think that it would be an improvement to increase the number of adults that have the mandatory reporting requirement on them.”

As a former teacher, Griffin herself was once a mandatory reporter. The legislation is in response to the Larry Nassar debacle at Michigan State University. It’s been re-introduced from the last term. Griffin hopes the bill will go to the full Michigan House as soon as next week.