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.