Legislature(2015 - 2016)BUTROVICH 205
03/10/2015 08:30 AM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SCR6 | |
| SB62 | |
| SB42 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SCR 6 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 62 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 42 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SCR 6-SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH: APRIL 2015
8:32:13 AM
VICE CHAIR COGHILL announced the consideration of SCR 6.
8:32:22 AM
SENATOR KEVIN MEYER, Alaska State Legislature, sponsor of SCR 6,
provided an overview of the resolution. He said the resolution
proclaims April 2015 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. It is
part of an annual campaign to raise public awareness about
sexual assault and educate communities and individuals on how to
prevent sexual violence across the nation. Sexual violence is a
very serious public health problem. It affects millions of men
and women. The Centers for Disease Control reports that in the
United States, one in five women and one in seventy-one men have
experienced violent sexual assault in their lifetime. In Alaska,
these rates are much higher - almost two-and-a-half times the
national average. Statistics underestimate the problem because
many victims do not tell the police, family, or friends about
the violence.
He said that sexual violence impacts health in many ways and can
lead to long-term mental and physical health problems. By
bringing awareness to the crime of sexual assault and
recognizing the enormity of the problem, we can begin to address
it and heal from it and, hopefully, prevent it. SCR 6 is a small
but significant step in educating the public and our communities
on lifting the veil of secrecy that so often hides these
horrific crimes.
8:33:04 AM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI joined the committee meeting.
VICE CHAIR COGHILL asked if the committee had any questions.
SENATOR MCGUIRE spoke in support of the resolution and thanked
Senator Meyer for bringing it forward. She asked that testifiers
provide comments on planned actions to combat sexual violence.
She pointed out Alaska's sexual assault statistics - number one
in the nation in every category.
VICE CHAIR COGHILL commented that SCR 6 is a conversation
starter.
8:36:26 AM
SUZI PEARSON, Executive Director, Abused Women's Aid in Crisis
(AWAIC), thanked the committee for SCR 6 and for acknowledging
the significant prevention work that domestic violence and
sexual assault agencies throughout Alaska achieve in order to
stop the cycle of violence. She explained a program in Anchorage
called "Green Dot," a model of primary prevention formed by the
Anchorage Alliance on Violence Prevention. It is a very
collaborative, successful method of decreasing sexual violence.
8:38:46 AM
VICE CHAIR COGHILL thanked Ms. Pearson.
SENATOR MCGUIRE asked if Ms. Pearson was aware of Erin's Law.
MS. PEARSON answered yes.
SENATOR MCGUIRE asked if Ms. Pearson is supportive of providing
sexual assault awareness for young people in schools and whether
it could relate to Green Dot.
MS. PEARSON replied that domestic violence is cyclical in nature
and generational. The only way to stop it is through teaching
the current generation about healthy relationships and the best
ways to protect themselves. She stressed the importance of
focusing on youth, educating them, and providing them with great
tools. She said Green Dot is based on peer relationships with
leaders in schools who were trained and then trained their
peers. It creates an environment that said violence is not ok,
as well as allows students to step in when they see
inappropriate behavior. She provided an example.
VICE CHAIR COGHILL noted issues with having the programs in
schools. He thanked Ms. Pearson for her presentation.
8:42:07 AM
BETH BOGARDE, Executive Director, Women in Safe Homes (WISH),
testified in support of SCR 6. She said everyone knows someone
who has been sexually assaulted. The traumatic effects of sexual
assault are life long, not only for the person who has suffered
the abuse, but also for the children, family members, and future
relationships. She listed some of the programs the resolution
would support, such as COMPASS for males. She described the
partnerships WISH has, how WISH uses Native culture in its
programs, and positive outcomes.
8:46:22 AM
MS. BOGARDE addressed the high number of assaults upon persons
with disabilities. She said SCR 6 is one more call to action to
reduce assaults on all populations.
SENATOR COGHILL thanked Ms. Bogarde.
8:48:24 AM
KEITH MALLARD, Chief of Police, University of Alaska - Fairbanks
Police Department, expressed his support for SCR 6. He spoke of
his history working in public service and his passion for
protecting others. He shared his personal history of abuse and
lack of intervention by those who were aware of it. He pointed
out that those issues remain in society today, but that he has
hope because of efforts to educate bystanders, such as with
programs like Green Dot. He noted that Green Dot is coming to
the Fairbanks campus. He stressed that everyone can agree that
interpersonal violence is unacceptable, and everyone must do
their part to combat it.
8:52:52 AM
SENATOR MCGUIRE thanked Chief Mallard for his testimony and for
sharing his personal experience. She stressed the importance of
strong male figures and the need for a cultural change. She
asked for other ideas to encourage citizens to become more
involved in prevention.
8:55:12 AM
CHIEF MALLARD answered that the power of individual choice is
very important toward addressing this issue. Programs like Green
Dot provides the skills to accomplish that.
SENATOR HUGGINS joined the committee meeting.
VICE CHAIR COGHILL thanked Chief Mallard for his testimony.
8:59:22 AM
ROWENA PALOMAR, Executive Director, Advocates for Victims of
Violence, testified in support of SCR 6. She provided an
overview of sexual assault in Valdez, which holds the record for
the most sexual assaults by one man in Alaska. She said her job
is to let victims know that there is help available for them.
Valdez now has a Sexual Assault Response Team (SART).
VICE CHAIR COGHILL thanked Ms. Palomar.
9:03:07 AM
SARALYN TABACHNIK, Executive Director, AWARE, Inc., testified in
support of SCR 6, noting it was very comprehensive. She voiced
appreciation for the recognition for individual community,
agency, and statewide prevention efforts. She spoke about one of
those efforts, "Girls on the Run." It is an international
program that began in 1996 in North Carolina and has grown to
over 1 million girls. It envisions a world where every girl
knows and activates her limitless potential and is free to
boldly pursue her dream. In Juneau, a pilot program of Girls on
the Run was started in 2008. She described the program's
curriculum, results, and successes throughout the state.
9:08:02 AM
MS. TABACHNIK concluded with the resolution's comprehensive
approach to preventing sexual abuse. She voiced appreciation for
the long-term investment.
SENATOR COGHILL thanked Ms. Tabachnik.
SENATOR MCGUIRE thanked Ms. Tabachnik. She asked what could be
done to engage young men more.
9:10:52 AM
MS. TABACHNIK pointed out a program called "Boys Run" that
incorporates Native values. She hoped to partner with other
agencies on it.
9:13:11 AM
LAUREE MORTON, Executive Director, State Council on Domestic
Violence and Sexual Assault, testified in support of SCR 6. She
related that many of the programs the committee heard today
involve increasing protective factors and building resiliency
among young people because they are then less likely to engage
in violent behaviors in sexual assault, and in domestic
violence. She noted two additional programs, "Coaching Boys into
Men," working with male athletes, and "Talk Now, Talk Often," a
program for parents.
She voiced appreciation for the committee's efforts toward
ending domestic violence and sexual assault.
VICE CHAIR COGHILL thanked Ms. Morton. He appreciated learning
more about available programs.
SENATOR STOLTZE said the resolution has a zero fiscal note.
9:16:39 AM
SENATOR STOLTZE moved to report SCR 6 from committee with
individual recommendations and attached zero fiscal note. There
being no objection, the motion carried.
VICE CHAIR COGHILL announced SCR 6 moved out of committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SCR6 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SSTA 3/10/2015 8:30:00 AM |
SCR 6 |
| SCR6 Draft Fiscal Note - SSTA 3-9-15.pdf |
SSTA 3/10/2015 8:30:00 AM |
SCR 6 |
| SCR6 DVSA Dashboard 2014.pdf |
SSTA 3/10/2015 8:30:00 AM |
SCR 6 |
| SCR6 CDVSA Annual Report 2014.pdf |
SSTA 3/10/2015 8:30:00 AM |
SCR 6 |
| SB42 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SSTA 3/10/2015 8:30:00 AM |
SB 42 |
| SB42 ADF&G Brief on Personal Use Fishing.pdf |
SSTA 3/10/2015 8:30:00 AM |
SB 42 |
| SB42 Regulations of the Board of Fisheries.pdf |
SSTA 3/10/2015 8:30:00 AM |
SB 42 |
| SB42 Fiscal Note - DFG-CO 3-6-15.pdf |
SSTA 3/10/2015 8:30:00 AM |
SB 42 |