Legislature(2011 - 2012)CAPITOL 106
03/22/2012 08:00 AM House STATE AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HCR28 | |
| HB347 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 347 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HCR 28 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HCR 28-SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH
8:07:32 AM
CHAIR LYNN announced that the first order of business was HOUSE
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 28, Proclaiming the month of April
2012 to be Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
8:07:43 AM
RACHEL KALLANDER, Staff, Representative Cathy Munoz, Alaska
State Legislature, presented HCR 28 on behalf of the House
Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee (HCRA),
sponsor, on which Representative Munoz is chair. She stated
that Alaska has the highest rates of sexual assault in the
country, estimated at 2.5 times the national average; it is an
epidemic that, until stopped, will continue to devastate
Alaska's individuals, families, and communities. She said HCR
28, along with the governor's "Choose Respect" campaign,
hopefully will send a message to Alaskans that sexual violence
is not to be tolerated, silenced, or covered up. Ms. Kallander
said the resolution recognizes the many volunteers, staff, and
agencies that provide victims of sexual assault with safety,
options, and justice. She said claiming April as sexual assault
awareness month is "an honorable recognition of the great need
in Alaska to combat this epidemic ... by speaking out, listening
to those who have been harmed, and removing the veil of silence
from this issue." She encouraged co-sponsorship of HCR 28.
8:10:17 AM
MS. KALLANDER, in response to Chair Lynn, said the sponsor could
work with the Office of the Governor to come up with a list of
those to whom copies of the proposed concurrent resolution would
be sent.
8:11:18 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PETERSEN asked what would be done to make the
public aware of the designation of April 2012 as Sexual Assault
Awareness Month.
MS. KALLANDER indicated that a resolution has been made [in
Alaska] since 2001, and she said many communities and states
across the country have had similar legislation since the 1990s.
She said she would bring this issue up with the sponsor, and she
expressed her hope that the delivery of this campaign's message
would be aligned with the Choose Respect campaign.
CHAIR LYNN suggested that a presentation could be made by the
governor in conjunction with HCR 28.
8:12:37 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON, in response to Ms. Kallander's urging
committee members to co-sponsor HCR 28, offered her
understanding that the committee could not do so because HCR 28
is being presented by the House State Affairs Standing Committee
already.
CHAIR LYNN suggested that [a member of the committee] could make
a statement when HCR 28 reaches the House floor.
8:13:41 AM
ROWENA PALOMAR, Executive Director, Advocates for Victims of
Violence (AVV), related that AVV is a shelter for victims of
domestic violence and sexual assault, and stated her support of
the designation of April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. She
said the proposed legislation will send the message to victims
that there are people ready to listen and help. Ms. Palomar
listed the following activities AVV has planned in Valdez for
April Sexual Assault Awareness Month: reading of the
proclamation at the Valdez City Council meeting on April 2; a
Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event on April 3, which will be led by
men walking in high heels and flip flops to get an idea of the
position a woman is in when assaulted; partnering with the
school district to have students draw depictions on t-shirts
showing how they want to be protected, and displaying those t-
shirts in the school; and holding a women of distinction event
honoring female role models in the community. She expressed
thanks to Ms. Kallander and emphasized the importance of women
coming forward to tell their stories.
8:19:01 AM
MS. PALOMAR, in response to Representative Seaton and Chair
Lynn, stated her preference that all Aprils be designated as
Sexual Assault Awareness Month - not just 2012.
8:19:45 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON suggested finding out what the sponsor
would like to do.
8:20:29 AM
MS. KALLANDER said she does not know the position of the sponsor
regarding that question, but once again offered her
understanding that similar resolutions have been passed each
year since 2001.
8:21:03 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON said she carried a resolution that made
February Heart Awareness month, and she said the American Heart
Association stated a preference for the resolution to be made
each year. However, she noted that that resolution is still in
the possession of the Senate, so it is too late for 2012. She
said she thinks it would be a good idea to pass HCR 28 as a one-
time resolution that would make every succeeding April Sexual
Assault Awareness Month.
MS. PALOMAR concurred.
8:22:23 AM
CHAIR LYNN offered his understanding that that would require a
bill, not just a resolution.
8:22:42 AM
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG echoed the chair's remark.
CHAIR LYNN said National Guard Day just passed in the form of a
bill. He commented that no one knows today what legislative
schedules will be a year from now.
8:23:53 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER said he would resist making a permanent
designation, because people are uncomfortable talking about the
issue and there is value in bringing it up each year. He said
he would like a direct response from the sponsor on the issue
before making this decision.
CHAIR LYNN said it was unfortunate that Gavel to Gavel was not
present to televise this meeting.
8:25:16 AM
MS. KALLANDER stated a preference to speak with all involved
agencies before the committee considered changing the proposed
concurrent resolution to be perpetual.
CHAIR LYNN suggested that that conversation take place before
considering the issue again next year.
8:26:41 AM
SARALYN TABACHNICK, Executive Director, Aiding Women in Abuse
and Rape Emergencies (AWARE); Chair, Alaska Network on Domestic
Violence and Sexual Assault (ANDVSA), testified in support of
HCR 28. She said the resolution states many reasons that this
designation is important for Alaska, and she expressed
appreciation for the committee's focus on the issue. She
related that a 2010 survey revealed that over 37 percent of
adult women in Alaska experience sexual violence in their
lifetime. She said the survey did not count the number of men
or children who have been victims of sexual violence. She
stated that bringing awareness to the issue through HCR 28 will
invite individuals and communities to speak about sexual
assault, which will allow for greater intervention and
prevention services. She said, "It helps take away the shame
and take away the blame."
MS. TABACHNICK listed the following activities planned in Juneau
for April: a training to engage men in the work of AWARE, on
April 3; a healing art exhibit on April 6; and the annual
waterfront race on April 7. She said next week the governor
will hold his Choose Respect march, which will take place in 120
communities in Alaska. She said AWARE appreciates the
legislature's support for victims of sexual assault and
violence.
CHAIR LYNN pointed out that the elderly are also victims of
sexual assault.
8:29:56 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER asked Ms. Tabachnick to clarify that she
was talking about the normal response of the victims to feel
shame and blame themselves.
MS. TABACHNICK answered that is correct.
CHAIR LYNN remarked that often there is shame and blame with
family members who question why they were not aware of abuse
going on within the family.
8:32:01 AM
LAUREE MORTON, Executive Director, Council on Domestic Violence
& Sexual Assault (CDVSA), Department of Public Safety, said she
is currently in Fairbanks, Alaska, overseeing the training of
eight sexual assault response teams, comprised of law
enforcement officers, advocates, health care providers, and
prosecutors. She stated her belief that it is important for
"the leaders of the state to say with one voice that help is
available, survivors will be believed, and offenders will be
held accountable." She talked about the opportunity the
legislature has to spread awareness, not only through HCR 28,
but through constituent outreach. She spoke of safety at home
and work, noting that coworkers and relatives are more likely
than others to commit acts of sexual violence.
MS. MORTON expressed her appreciation of the acknowledgment in
HCR 28 of "the people who are dedicated to this work and the
call to assist them in this effort." She said there are heroes
around the state who respond to help victims of sexual assault.
She thanked the committee for its "constant support and work on
these issues over the years," and she asked for the committee's
support of HCR 28.
8:35:10 AM
CHAIR LYNN, after ascertaining that there was no one else who
wished to testify, closed public testimony.
8:35:26 AM
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG reported that legal holidays are listed
in AS 44.12.010. He said Martin Luther King Day was first set
up as a "day of honor," then it moved to become a statute. He
said, "There are a whole bunch of those statutes," ranging from
AS 44.12.030 to AS 44.12.118. He offered some examples. He
suggested that the committee may want to consider designating
sexual awareness in statute.
8:37:34 AM
MS. KALLANDER said that is an important question for next year,
and she said she will speak with the sponsor and other agencies.
8:38:54 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER moved to report HCR 28 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes. There being no objection, HCR was reported out of the
House State Affairs Standing Committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| 01 HCR28 Version A.pdf |
HSTA 3/22/2012 8:00:00 AM |
HCR 28 |
| 02 HCR28 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HSTA 3/22/2012 8:00:00 AM |
HCR 28 |
| 03 HCR28 Council DSV 2012 Dashboard Findings.pdf |
HSTA 3/22/2012 8:00:00 AM |
HCR 28 |
| 04 HCR28 2010 Alaska Victimization Survey.pdf |
HSTA 3/22/2012 8:00:00 AM |
HCR 28 |
| 05 HCR 28 HSTA Zero Fiscal Note 3-21-12.pdf |
HSTA 3/22/2012 8:00:00 AM |
HCR 28 |
| 01 HB0347A.pdf |
HSTA 3/22/2012 8:00:00 AM SSTA 4/13/2012 9:00:00 AM |
HB 347 |
| 02 HB 347 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HSTA 3/22/2012 8:00:00 AM SSTA 4/13/2012 9:00:00 AM |
HB 347 |
| 03 HB347 Sectional Analysis.pdf |
HSTA 3/22/2012 8:00:00 AM SSTA 4/13/2012 9:00:00 AM |
HB 347 |
| 04 HB347 Legislative Research 3-9-2012.pdf |
HSTA 3/22/2012 8:00:00 AM SSTA 4/13/2012 9:00:00 AM |
HB 347 |
| 05 HB347-DCCED-DCRA-02-24-12.pdf |
HJUD 4/2/2012 1:00:00 PM HSTA 3/22/2012 8:00:00 AM SSTA 4/13/2012 9:00:00 AM |
HB 347 |