If a teacher has a sexual relationship with a student, it doesn't matter if the student is 17 or 18 years old. In Alabama, this is illegal due to the teacher's authoritative position over the student.
A bill introduced Wednesday in the House Judiciary Committee by Rep. Lee Hulsey (R-Helena) would take the same approach to ensure that pastors are held accountable under similar criminal standards.
The bill, HB125, essentially copies language from an Alabama law that holds teachers accountable for sexual relationships with students under 19.
Halsey said the bill would ensure that clergy in positions of trust do not groom children under their authority until they are 16 years old and have sexual relations with them. said it was necessary. The age of consent in Alabama is 16.
The committee ultimately supported the bill unanimously after making several amendments to avoid putting people in an unintentionally more innocent position.
This example was cited as that of a 19-year-old childcare worker who had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old church member who was not under her direct authority. The committee approved changing the wording from “child” to “children” to clarify that criminal penalties apply only if the child is under the supervision of a pastor.
