Sponsor says religious boarding school bill headed to Missouri House has broad support

This 2020 photo shows the exterior of Circle of Hope Girls Ranch in Cedar County in southwest Missouri. Boyd and Stephanie Householder, the owners of the boarding school, are facing more than 100 felony charges alleging they abused girls staying at the ranch. (The Kansas City Star via AP)

The Kansas City Star via AP

JEFFERSON CITY — The sponsor of a proposal to regulate religious boarding schools is hopeful of it garnering support in the Missouri House after the Legislature returns from spring break Monday.

The legislation, filed in response to allegations of mistreatment at unregulated faith-based programs, cleared the House Rules Committee last week, a day after Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced more than 100 felony charges against a couple accused of abusing girls at Circle of Hope Girls’ Ranch, a Christian reform school in southwest Missouri’s Cedar County.

Charges include 80 counts against Boyd Householder, including multiple charges of statutory sodomy, statutory rape, sexual contact with a student and endangering the welfare of a child. He is also charged with more than 50 counts of child abuse and neglect.

Stephanie Householder is charged with 10 counts of abuse or neglect of a child and 12 of endangering the welfare of a child.

The legislation was inspired by investigative reporting by The Kansas City Star about Circle of Hope, Rep. Keri Ingle, D-Lee’s Summit, said during a news conference Thursday. Ingle and Rudy Veit, R-Wardsville, are co-sponsoring the bill to regulate the schools.