Relating to mandatory reporting to the board of educational examiners of licensed school employees who engage in grooming behavior toward students

This bill relates to mandatory reporting to the board of educational examiners (BOEE) of licensed school employees who engage in grooming behavior toward students. Current law requires the board of directors of a school district or area education agency, the superintendent of a school district, the chief administrator of an area education agency, and the authorities in charge of an accredited nonpublic school, to report to the BOEE any instance of disciplinary action taken against a licensed school employee for conduct constituting soliciting, encouraging, or consummating a sexual or physical relationship with a student, grooming behavior toward a student, or an otherwise inappropriate relationship with a student. For purposes of this provision, current law defines “grooming behavior” to mean any behavior, which in light of all relevant circumstances, constitutes actions to entice or entrap a student or students with the intent to make such student or students engage in a sex act. The bill modifies “grooming behavior” to mean the process of building trust and emotional connections with a student with the intent to exploit such student.