Des Moines, Iowa — State education officials are proposing a new definition of grooming in the rules for the board that oversees teacher licensing, but the state senator in charge of the legislation says the definition needs work. Eric Sinclair of the Iowa Department of Education testified this (Tuesday) morning during a senate subcommittee hearing on the bill.
Nathaniel Arnold of the Professional Educators of Iowa says the agency agreed to a compromise definition last year and the new definition would define everyday actions as abuse.
Arnold, an attorney, says those who groom students for sex need to be expelled from the teaching ranks, but the bill goes too far.
Dave Daughton is a lobbyist for Rural School Advocates of Iowa and the School Administrators of Iowa.
Lisa Davis Cook is a lobbyist the Iowa Association for Justice, which represents lawyers. She says the proposed definition for the agency that oversees teacher licensing is very different from the criminal definition of grooming.
The bill cleared a subcommittee this (Tuesday) morning. However, the legislator guiding the bill through the senate said it won’t be considered in the Senate Education Committee until changes in the definition are developed.
