Annual sexual-harassment training required in Missouri House

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri House members and staff must now undergo annual sexual-harassment training following allegations a former lawmaker sexually harassed interns and another exchanged sexual texts with one.

A House panel voted 6-1 Thursday to implement the policy change -- the only vote needed to enact the requirement -- and adopted other changes related to the same issue. The Administration and Accounts Committee also expanded who is required to report alleged harassment, a move that brought criticism from an intern who claims a lawmaker who since has resigned made unwanted sexual advances toward her.

The training requirement is among the first changes in policy since the resignation of former Republican House speaker John Diehl, who left the chamber in disarray on the last day of session in May after admitting to exchanging sexually charged text messages with a Capitol intern.

Former Democratic senator Paul LeVota of Independence resigned months later amid allegations he sexually harassed interns, including the woman who is criticizing the harassment-reporting expansion.

LeVota has denied the claims.

Previously in the House, sexual-harassment training was included in new-member orientation but wasn't required. House chief clerk Adam Crumbliss said staff also are reviewing the current sexual-harassment training curriculum and are considering contracting with an outside firm with experience in the training.

In addition to all House members and many House employees, all staff in majority and minority leadership offices will be required to report claims of harassment for investigation.

The committee also adopted a new policy that bans House members from having romantic relationships with staff or interns, and staff members are prohibited from having such relationships with subordinates.

The panel held off on another recommendation from Speaker Todd Richardson, a Poplar Bluff Republican who succeeded Diehl, to require complaints against House members be investigated by outside legal counsel.

The policy changes generally were praised as a step forward by lawmakers, intern coordinators and the Kansas City-based Women's Foundation, which promotes equity for women and girls. But a concern some pointed out to the panel during a public hearing centered on mandatory reporting.

Taylor Hirth, who claims LeVota made unwanted sexual advances toward her in 2010 while she was a 24-year-old intern in his office, told lawmakers mandated reporting is "unnecessary."

She said it should be up to victims whether to bring forward complaints of harassment for a full-blown investigation, and sometimes they are not ready to do so.

"As an intern who experienced unwanted sexual attention from a legislator, I had no desire to talk to anybody who might take our private conversation to anybody else without my consent," Hirth said.

Rep. Mike Leara, chairman of the Administration and Accounts Committee, said required reporting is necessary.

"You have to have some form of mandatory reporting for this to really be effective," said Leara, a Republican from St. Louis.

Democratic Rep. Michele Kratky of St. Louis was the only member to vote against the sexual-harassment policy, saying she thought lawmakers needed more time to review it.

Leara said if "anything needs to be addressed" before the session beginning in January, he will schedule another hearing. He did not indicate when the panel might consider the recommendation to require outside legal counsel for complaints against House members.