{{Short description|Texas legislator}} {{Infobox officeholder | image = | name = Scott Sanford | state_house = Texas | district = 70th | term_start = January 8, 2013 | term_end = January 10, 2023 | predecessor = Ken Paxton | successor = Mihaela Plesa | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1963|10|3}} | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | party = Republican | alma_mater = Baylor University (BBA, MTax) | occupation = Accountant, pastor | spouse = Shelly Parks | children = 2 | website = http://scottsanford.us/ }}
'''William Scott Sanford''' (born October 3, 1957)<ref name=votesmart>{{cite web|url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/138362/scott-sanford|title=Scott Sanford's Biography|publisher=votesmart.org|access-date=25 January 2021}}</ref> is an American minister and politician. He has represented the 70th District in the Texas House of Representatives from 2013 to 2023.<ref>{{cite news |title=2012 General Election Results |url=https://www.mckinneyonline.com/city-government/2012-general-election-results/ |access-date=22 January 2021 |work=McKinney Online |date=November 7, 2012}}</ref> A member of the Republican Party, Sanford also serves as the executive pastor for stewardship and operations of the Cottonwood Creek Church in Allen, Texas.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Henvey |first1=Audrey |title=Sanford looks ahead to legislative session |url=https://starlocalmedia.com/mckinneycouriergazette/sanford-looks-ahead-to-legislative-session/article_1ef05f6e-2601-11eb-942b-37edab094b85.html |access-date=22 January 2021 |work=McKinney Courier-Gazette |date=November 14, 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Ritter |first1=Cassidy |title=Q&A: Scott Sanford running for re-election for District 70 state representative seat|url=https://communityimpact.com/dallas-fort-worth/mckinney/features/2018/01/17/qa-scott-sanford-running-re-election-district-70-state-representative-seat/|access-date=25 January 2021|work=Community Impact |date=January 17, 2018 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=Pastor/>
==Tenure== Sanford sponsored and introduced a House bill that would protect churches from litigation arising from their reporting of sexual abuse by those who would otherwise possibly be employed by churches and similar organizations. Sanford, who also serves as the executive pastor at the multi-campus Cottonwood Creek Church in Allen, Texas, recently filed a bill to give immunity from civil liability to churches or other non-profits that in good faith report allegations of prior sexual abuse to an individual's current or prospective employer. "Sexual abuse thrives in secrecy," Sanford said. His bill established protections for reporting, to enable victims to come forward and facilitate the ability of charitable organizations to end the silence that has enhanced the ability of predators to move between such organizations. In February 2019, the Houston Chronicle and the San Antonio Express-News documented 380 Southern Baptist church leaders and volunteers accused of sexual misconduct in the prior two decades and more than 700 victims of such abuse."<ref name=Pastor>[https://baptistnews.com/article/proposed-texas-bill-would-shield-churches-that-report-sexual-abuse-from-lawsuits/ Proposed Texas bill would shield churches that report sexual abuse from lawsuits], ''Baptist News''. Bob Allen, April 2, 2019. Retrieved October 9, 2021.</ref> The bill was signed into law.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://scottsanford.us/ Campaign website] * [https://house.texas.gov/members/member-page/?district=70 State legislative page]
{{s-start}} {{s-par|us-tx-hs}} {{s-bef|before=Ken Paxton}} {{s-ttl|title=Member of the<br>Texas House of Representatives<br>from the 70th district|years=2013–2023}} {{s-aft|after=Mihaela Plesa}} {{s-end}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sanford, Scott}} Category:1963 births Category:Living people Category:Republican Party members of the Texas House of Representatives Category:Baylor University alumni Category:People from McKinney, Texas Category:American accountants Category:Ernst & Young people Category:21st-century members of the Texas Legislature