Senate Republicans are backing legislation to strengthen protections for students and ensure tougher consequences for sexual assault in schools.

Senate Bill 2991 would require a student who commits sexual assault or attempted sexual assault to be expelled for at least one year if the incident occurs at school, during a school-sponsored activity or event, or at any activity that has a reasonable relationship to school.

Supporters say the legislation is needed to better protect victims and hold offenders accountable. The proposal follows a troubling case in Illinois in which a young girl was sexually assaulted at school, yet the attacker was neither suspended nor expelled, despite admitting to the offense. According to the victim’s parents, they were forced to repeatedly seek court-issued orders of protection to keep their daughter safe.

The measure would align school responses to sexual assault with existing Illinois laws regarding weapons in schools. Under current statutes, students who bring a deadly weapon to school are subject to a mandatory one-year expulsion.

Senate Bill 2991 has been assigned to the Senate Criminal Law Committee.