Legislative page program resuming, with changes

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Legislative pages are returning to the Oklahoma Capitol, but male and female pages will no longer serve together following an allegation of sexual assault.

Officials suspended the page program March 14 after one teenager said she was sexually assaulted by another page at a hotel.

The Oklahoman reports that Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater on Thursday declined to charge the accused male teenager. Prater says investigators found no evidence of a crime after reviewing forensics and witness testimony.

However, male and female pages will now serve on alternate weeks.

Hundreds of high school students participate in the page program every year, spending a week at the Capitol running errands for lawmakers and legislative staff. The program includes overnight stays at a hotel paid for by the Legislature.