SCR 17-APRIL 2018:SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH  4:49:29 PM CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS announced that the next order of business would be SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 17, Proclaiming April 2018 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. 4:49:43 PM EDRA MORLEDGE, Staff, Senator Kevin Meyer, Alaska State Legislature, stated that SCR 17 was a resolution that proclaims April 2018 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. This was part of a national campaign to raise public awareness about sexual assault and to educate communities and individuals on how to prevent sexual violence. MS. MORLEDGE stated that Senator Meyer first brought this resolution forward in 2001 when he was a Representative. The reason the sponsor continues to bring forward resolutions on an annual basis rather than to place it in statute permanently was to bring attention to the issue and to continually educate our communities throughout the state. 4:50:35 PM MS. MORLEDGE reported that sexual assault statistics nationwide are staggering, such that one in five women have been victims of violent sexual assault during their lifetimes. Unfortunately, those statistics are much higher. In fact, the 2015 Alaska victimization survey reports that one-third of adult women in Alaska have experienced sexual assault. MS. MORLEDGE informed members that sexual assault was preventable. It represents a public health, criminal justice, and human rights issue. She pointed out the importance of educating the public. MS. MORLEDGE stated the 2018 sexual assault awareness month campaign has focused on "embrace your voice." She hoped that this resolution would help to strengthen that effort across Alaska. MS. MORLEDGE offered her belief that members heard the companion bill, HCR 22 last month. She hoped both resolutions would help to educate Alaskans. 4:51:45 PM CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS announced that SCR 17 would be held over.