Baylor scandal sparks effort to end sexual assault statewide
The Texas Tribune
March 28, 2017
While sexual assault on college campuses isn’t a new issue at the Capitol, legislators from both parties say the recent scandal at Baylor University has sparked abipartisan effort to address the issue at the state level.
One Baylor alum, state Sen. Kirk Watson, an Austin Democrat, has filed a package of legislation aimed at fighting sexual assault on college campuses. Another, state Rep. Jeff Leach — a Republican from Plano — is carrying two of Watson’s five bills in the House and told The Texas Tribune the events at Baylor were “certainly something that motivated and propelled me to delve into these issues.”
Leach said he and other state officials with Baylor ties have been “communicating on a regular basis on what we could do to address it.” And they’ve consulted with Baylor officials before and during the legislative session, according to a Baylor spokeswoman.