Legislature(2001 - 2002)
03/08/2001 03:40 PM Senate STA
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SCR 6-APRIL 2001 SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH
JOHN JOERIGHT, staff to Senator Leman, introduced the resolution as
legislative desire to increase public awareness of the prevalence
of sexual assault and abuse in Alaska by proclaiming April 2001
Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
Sexual assault crimes in Alaska are the highest, per capita, in the
nation at 2.4 times the national average. It is estimated that one
in four Alaska women will be an assault or abuse victim in her
lifetime. Greater awareness is needed because unreported incidents
are about eight times higher than the documented occurrences.
Thirty-six other states have declared April Sexual Assault
Awareness Month to better coordinate national efforts in
preventing, educating and promoting a better understanding of
sexual assault. The Statewide Sexual Violence Prevention
Conference, to be held September 5-7, 2001, will undoubtedly have a
greater impact with the passage of SCR 6.
He pointed out the need to delete the word "first" on page 2, line
10, because this isn't the first conference to be held.
TRISHA GENTLE, Director of the Council on Domestic Violence and
Sexual Assault, expressed support for the resolution and thanked
the sponsor and the committee for their efforts in heightening the
public awareness of domestic violence and sexual assault problems
in Alaska.
LAUREE HUGONIN, Director of Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and
Sexual Assault, also thanked the sponsor and committee. She
explained that activities are usually planned throughout the month;
communities plan marches and candle light ceremonies and provide
time and place for victims to speak out about crimes perpetrated
against them. The recognition that the resolution would provide
would be appreciated.
CHAIRMAN THERRIAULT asked for questions. There were none.
He proposed deleting the word "first" from page 2, line 10, as
amendment 1 because this isn't the first conference. There was no
objection.
He spoke with Senator Leman's staff about rewording lines 6 and 7
on page 1 and they agreed that it could be improved. He asked
Senator Phillips for his input.
SENATOR PHILLIPS said it was a formal resolution and the word "our"
on line 6 was informal.
CHAIRMAN THERRIAULT suggested substituting "Alaska" for "our."
SENATOR DAVIS asked whether "one in four" referred to Alaskan or
national statistics.
LAUREE HUGONIN said she thought it was a national statistic that
one in four women and one in six men will be sexually abused by the
time they are eighteen.
ANNETTE KREITZER, staff to Senator Leman, clarified that it is a
national, not Alaskan, statistic.
CHAIRMAN THERRIAULT proposed amendment 2, page 1, line 6, to read,
"Whereas one in four women in America are likely," thereby dropping
the specific reference to mothers, daughters, sisters or wives and
making it a collective.
ANNETTE KREITZER said that they struggled with the word "will,"
just as Chairman Therriault had, when rewording line 6. Since they
were quoting a national statistic, the word "will" is more accurate
because one in four women will experience sexual assault. This is
very different than one in four women are likely to experience
sexual assault.
CHAIRMAN THERRIAULT said he had no objection to that being an
amendment to amendment 2. There were no objections and the
amendment was adopted.
He asked for other amendments and noted that there was a zero
fiscal note. There were no other amendments.
SENATOR DAVIS moved CSSCR 6(STA) and zero fiscal note from
committee with individual recommendations. There were no
objections.
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