BILL ANALYSIS
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SCR 39|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SCR 39
Author: Alquist (D), et al
Amended: As introduced
Vote: 21
WITHOUT REFERENCE TO COMMITTEE OR FILE
SUBJECT : Sexual Assault Awareness Month
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This resolution provides that the month of April
be designated henceforth as Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
ANALYSIS :
This resolution makes the following findings and
declarations:
1.The American Medical Association has stated that a
"women is raped every 46 seconds in the United States"
and that sexual assault is a "silent epidemic."
2.In California, there were 9,918 forcible rapes reported
in 2003.
3.It is estimated by the Bureau of Justice Statistics that
over 70 percent of rapes are never reported to the
police.
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4.67 percent of all victims of sexual assault reported to
law enforcement were under 18 years of age, and 34
percent of all victims were under 12 years of age.
5.One of every seven victims of sexual assault reported to
law enforcement agencies were under six years of age,
and 40 percent of the offenders who victimized children
under six years of age were under 18 years of age.
6.Women, children, and men are all victims of sexual
assault and it is estimated that one in three women, one
in four girls, one in six boys, and one in 11 men will
be victims at least once in their lifetimes.
7.Rape and sexual assault impacts women, children, and men
of all racial, cultural, and economic backgrounds.
8.Women, children, and men suffer multiple types of sexual
violence, including acquaintance rape, stranger rape,
sexual assault by an intimate partner, gang rape,
incest, stalking, serial rape, ritual abuse, sexual
harassment, child sexual molestation, prostitution,
pornography, and stalking.
9.In addition to the immediate physical and emotional
costs, sexual assault may also have associated severe
and long-lasting consequences of posttraumatic stress
disorder, substance abuse, major depression,
homelessness, eating disorders, and suicide.
10.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have
identified sexual assault as a significant, costly, and
preventable health issue.
11.Women, children, and men in our state have the right to
be safe from sexual violence in their homes, at school,
at work, and on the streets.
12. It is our responsibility to support rape survivors by
treating them with dignity, compassion, and respect.
13.It is crucially important to hold perpetrators
responsible for sexual attacks, and to prevent sexual
violence at every opportunity.
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14.A coalition of rape crisis centers, known as the
California Coalition Against Sexual Assault, has emerged
to directly confront this crisis with the cooperation of
law enforcement agencies, churches, health care
providers, and other helping professionals from
California's diverse communities.
15.It is important to recognize the compassion and
dedication of the individuals involved in this effort,
applaud their commitment, and increase public
understanding of this significant problem.
16.It is important to recognize the strength, courage, and
challenges of the victims and survivors of sexual
assault and their families and friends as they struggle
to cope with the reality of sexual assault.
17. It is important to recognize that not all victims of
sexual assault survive, either at the time of the
assault or later, due to the horrific long-term trauma
that sexual assault often inflicts upon victims.
18.There are rape prevention and education efforts underway
throughout California to challenge the societal myths
and behaviors that perpetuate rape and to engage
communities in a common goal of ending sexual assault.
This resolution provides that henceforth the month of April
be designated as Sexual Assault Awareness month.
FISCAL EFFECT : Fiscal Com.: No
RJG:cm 4/19/05 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: NONE RECEIVED
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