Legislature(2017 - 2018)BUTROVICH 205
02/27/2018 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SCR17 | |
| SB204 | |
| SB192 | |
| SB207 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SCR 17 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 204 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 192 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 207 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SCR 17-APRIL 2018: SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH
3:32:06 PM
CHAIR MEYER announced the consideration of Senate Concurrent
Resolution 17 (SCR 17). He disclosed that he is the sponsor of
the resolution.
3:32:36 PM
CHRISTINE MARASIGAN, Staff, Senator Meyer, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, provided an overview of SCR 17 as
follows:
Senate Concurrent Resolution 17 would proclaim April
2018 as "Sexual Assault Awareness Month;" this is part
of a national campaign to raise public awareness about
sexual assault and educate communities and individuals
on how to prevent sexual violence.
We bring the resolution forward each year in order to
bring attention to sexual violence and the measures
being taken by organizations such as the Alaska
Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, the
Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual
Assault, and Standing Together Against Rape.
As I'm sure you know, sexual assault statistics
nationwide are staggering. The Center for Disease
Control's National Intimate Partner and Sexual
Violence Survey reports that in the United States one-
in-five women and one-in-seventy-one men have been
victims of violent sexual assault in their lifetime.
In Alaska unfortunately, those rates are much higher;
in fact, the 2015 Alaska Victimization Survey reports
that one-third of adult women in Alaska have
experienced sexual violence.
This year the 2018 Sexual Assault Awareness Month
campaign focuses on "Embrace Your Voice" to encourage
and inform individuals on how they can use their words
to promote safety, respect, equality to stop sexual
violence before it happens. Individuals can embrace
their voices to show their support for survivors,
standup to victim blaming, promote everyday consent,
and practice healthy communications; we hope that SCR
17 will help strengthen that effort across the state.
3:34:13 PM
CHAIR MEYER disclosed that he has presented the resolution since
2001.
MS. MARASIGAN detailed that HCR 7 was passed on April 10, 2001
and Chair Meyer has carried the resolution since 2015.
CHAIR MEYER noted that the resolution has been brought up every
year, but some years there were other sponsors. He said the
resolution has always passed.
MS. MARASIGAN noted that Senators MacKinnon and Costello carried
the resolution in 2010 and 2011 respectively while serving in
the House.
CHAIR MEYER said the resolution has easily passed in previous
years but noted that the legislation was held up in the other
body last year and did not pass. He asserted that he is going to
push HCR 7 as hard as possible because the problem is serious in
Alaska and needs to be a top priority.
3:35:53 PM
CHAIR MEYER opened public testimony.
3:36:35 PM
ALIZA KAZMI, Policy Specialist, Alaska Network on Domestic
Violence and Sexual Assault, Juneau, Alaska, testified in
support of SCR 17. She stated that the Alaska Network on
Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault appreciates Chair Meyer's
sponsorship of HCR 7. She said the resolution is important to
spur awareness and tools for every Alaskan to take action to
prevent sexual assault which is extremely pervasive in Alaska.
CHAIR MEYER commented that as a past board member of Stand
Together Against Rape, sexual assault is a very serious issue
and a statistic that the state does not want to be number one
in. He opined that a lot of folks have gotten tired of him
bringing the resolution up every year, but he said the topic is
something that needs to constantly be in front of folks as a
reminder of the need to stop sexual assault and even sexual
harassment.
3:37:42 PM
CHAIR MEYER closed public testimony
3:38:42 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL moved to report SCR 17, version 30-LS1267\A from
committee with individual recommendations and zero fiscal note.
3:38:56 PM
CHAIR MEYER announced that being no objection, the motion
carried.