Bills in response to the Larry Nassar sexual assault scandal crossed a major hurdle Wednesday After weeks of testimony, most of the bills were passed out of committee. Nassar is the former Michigan State University sports doctor who sexually assaulted his patients for years. Capital correspondent Cheyna Roth reports.
Not all the bills made it out of committee. Bills to scrap governmental immunity in cases of sexual assault did not get a vote.
Other bills – like those that would give childhood victims of sexual assault more time to come forward to seek justice – were scaled back. Democratic Representative Stephanie Chang sponsored some of the bills in the package. She says even though some bills were scaled back, they are still making improvements.
“When you look at them as a whole we’re doing a lot to try to change the culture, to increase awareness, to make sure that we’re doing as much as we can.” Said Chang.
Part of the package would also add new crimes – like aggravated possession of child pornography and using a position of authority to prevent someone from reporting sexual assault.
