Legislature(2007 - 2008)CAPITOL 106
02/27/2007 03:00 PM House HEALTH, EDUCATION & SOCIAL SERVICES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HCR3 | |
| HJR10 | |
| Overview: System of Early Education Development | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| *+ | HCR 3 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HJR 10 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HCR 3-SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH 3:05:52 PM CHAIR WILSON announced that the first order of business would be HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 3, Relating to proclaiming April 2007, as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. 3:06:54 PM REPRESENTATIVE KEVIN MEYER, Alaska State Legislature, presented HCR 3, as prime sponsor, paraphrasing from a statement, which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: Sexual assault is a difficult and uncomfortable issue to discuss, however, given the status of this crime in our state, as leaders, we must continue to address and educate Alaskans on this issue. HCR 3 acknowledges the problem of sexual assault in our state and the need for greater awareness, prevention, and education. By observing this month, schools, community organizations, state agencies, and individuals are encouraged to seek out or sponsor activities that educate and work to increase the public's awareness of sexual assault in our state. The statistics relating to these crimes should provide a sobering reality to all Alaskans: Sexual assault is one of the most violent and underreported crimes in Alaska. Alaska's forcible rape rate is 2.5 times larger than the national average. Alaska's rape rate is larger than California's and Washington's rape rate combined. Alaska has six times the national average of reported child sexual assault. These statistics are just based on what is reported to law enforcement officials and child protection services. In 2006, the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault conducted a survey in Alaska focused on the public opinion on domestic violence and sexual assault. Seventy-five percent of Alaskans polled have experienced or know someone who has experienced domestic violence or sexual assault. Over the course of the past few years, the Legislature has made a great effort to increase penalties for sexual assault offenders and to make our laws tougher to combat this plague on our state. However, we also need to encourage and work together with service providers and agencies in our state to increase awareness and education on this issue. As a society, we must make a statement that sexual assault will not be tolerated and that we support organizations that assist sexual assault survivors and their loved ones. 3:09:38 PM REPRESENTATIVE MEYER summarized that this resolution brings an awareness to this issue and confirms that it will not be tolerated. He pointed out that this resolution has been brought in previous years. Responding to a comment, he said that a permanent resolution may be in order. 3:11:16 PM REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH stated that generational violence exists in Alaska, and bringing a resolution forward, on an annual basis, serves to focus the attention of the legislature and the state on this recurring issue. Some homes experience domestic violence, or sexual assault, on a daily basis. The legislature, as a whole, has been bringing more attention to this issue for the last six years, and as such providing support for the victims, enforcement officials, and incidence responders. Increased accountability for perpetrators has also resulted from this campaign. 3:13:05 PM CHAIR WILSON asked whether public service announcements (PSAs) are increased during the awareness month. REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH responded that all Alaskan citizens, and networking agencies, are requested to "reach out" to the community, at this particular time; including requests for additional PSAs. Referring to the STAR (Standing Together Against Rape), program, she said that it pays for additional PSAs to increase awareness. 3:13:49 PM REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER commented that the statistics for these abuses correlates with the statistics for Alaska's high rate of alcohol abuse. She asked if the pro-active efforts to encourage reporting of sexual assaults may contribute to Alaska's high national ranking. REPRESENTATIVE MEYER responded that alcohol and drugs "play a big part" in sexual assault. He reported that he introduced a bill, three years ago, to have alcohol included as an aggravator in sexual assault cases. He deferred to Representative Fairclough for further response. REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH added that 80 percent of reported sexual assault cases indicate alcohol involvement. The percentage may be equal, if not higher, in domestic violence cases, she speculated. Speaking to the incidence rate, she conceded that it is possible that the reporting is more accurate in Alaska than in other states. The reporting rate by children has increased, due to the outreach in the schools. The children may be reporting more, however, the 500 annually reported, statewide, adult cases have remained a constant. 3:18:12 PM REPRESENTATIVE NEUMAN suggested that awareness, and societal tolerance levels, have changed over the years. The "swept under the rug" approach does not occur as frequently. By having this resolution brought before the legislature on an annual basis, it keeps the conversation alive and before the legislature. He relayed that only 27 percent of committed crimes are ever reported. Further, if this does not directly affect your life, it can be overlooked. Bringing this before the legislature each year provides a certain level of awareness, and encourages involvement. Less tolerance in society is important to cultivate. He opined that mandatory sentencing for sexual molesters has played a significant role. 3:22:51 PM CHAIR WILSON restated that the percentage of alcohol involvement is integral to the issue. 3:23:14 PM REPRESENTATIVE ROSES echoed the importance of educating the school children, to cultivate long range effects. Additionally, he relayed that when legislation was passed requiring the public teachers to report any suspected incidences of abuse to authorities, the statistics soared. 3:24:43 PM REPRESENTATIVE ANDREA DOLL, Alaska State Legislature, stated support for HCR 3, and said that she is pleased to have this brought to the community for discussion. As a past worker at the AWARE (Aiding Women in Abuse and Rape Emergencies) Incorporated Shelter, she recounted an incident to illustrate the difficulty of abuse as a topic for conversation, but emphasized how important it is to have such conversations. 3:26:43 PM CHRISTINE ASHENBRENNER, Interim Program Administrator, Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, stated support for HCR 3, and stressed the importance of having an annual awareness month. She related a rape story, from her time as a volunteer at AWARE: In the winter, ... [the rape victim] walked through a neighborhood looking for a light on, because she didn't want to bother anybody. ... [This resolution] keeps the light on across the state, ... it is very important that we keep talking about this, take it out of the closet, say it is wrong, ... hold perpetrators accountable, and support victim services. REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER commented that it gives new meaning to the phrase: "We're keeping the light on for you." 3:28:31 PM REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH moved to report HCR 3 out of committee with individual recommendations. There being no objection, HCR 3 was so moved.
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