Establishing crime of sexual assault in fourth degree

SB 202 creates a new criminal offense called "sexual assault in the fourth degree" for school employees who require minor students to engage in sexually explicit discussions, gender persuasion, or view specific materials as a condition for academic advancement (such as grades or course requirements). This applies specifically when the requirement is not uniformly applied to all classmates - meaning a student cannot be singled out for such conditions. Violating this law is a felony punishable by 1-5 years in prison, a $5,000 fine, or both. The bill directly affects teachers, principals, counselors, and other school staff in West Virginia’s public and private K-12 schools, and protects minor students from coercive academic demands.