Ban on sex with students passes Senate

The Senate gave final approval to a bill Tuesday that makes sexual relations between a student and a school official illegal in South Carolina.

Its passage moves the state along a similar path adopted by at least 10 other states recently, seeking to raise awareness, and in some cases make sex between students and school personnel illegal.

The bill, passed by the House, makes it a felony for a school official to have sex with a student younger than 18 years old, punishable by five years in prison.

It imposes a $500 fine on a school official who has  sex with a student who is at least 18.

The bill likely goes to the governor.