Bill Text: MI SR0188 | 2017-2018 | 99th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: A resolution to declare September 25, 2018, as Youth Consent Day.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-09-26 - Referred To Committee On Government Operations [SR0188 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2017-SR0188-Introduced.html
Senators Young and Hertel offered the following resolution:
Senate Resolution No. 188.
A resolution to declare September 25, 2018, as Youth Consent Day.
Whereas, One in five women, at least six percent of men, and over 40 percent of members of the LGBT community enrolled in a Michigan college or university will be sexually assaulted during their time as a student; and
Whereas, Forty-eight percent of middle and high school students between the ages of 12 and 18 reported being sexually harassed at school; and
Whereas, Nearly half of bisexual women who are rape survivors experienced their first rape between ages 11 and 17; and
Whereas, An estimated 80 percent of sexual assaults are not reported when the victim is a college-age female student; and
Whereas, Although the majority of 7th-12th grade girls say that harassment regularly happens and hurts their ability to learn, only 80 percent of U.S. schools report zero percent harassment; and
Whereas, Fewer than 25 percent of women on college campuses who experience rape describe the event as rape; and
Whereas, Young female victims of nonconsensual sexual acts are more likely to experience depression, Posttraumatic stress disorder, self-blame, and alcohol and/or drug abuse; and
Whereas, Despite the existence of nationwide sexual assault prevention programs and the passage of the Campus Sexual Violence Elimination (Campus SaVE) Act by Congress, there is no Michigan-specific awareness day focusing on the issue and importance of consent; and
Whereas, Sexual assault ed\ucation on college campuses has been shown to increase bystander intervention to prevent sexual assault, improve outcomes for individuals at risk, and increase pro-social attitudes and opposition to rape; and
Whereas, Approximately 25.3 percent of rapes occur due to a personal matter, and the closer the relationship between the female victim and the offender, the less likely the rape will be reported; and
Whereas, Almost 67 percent of sexual assaults are committed by someone known to the victim; and
Whereas, Sexual assaults on college campuses are most likely to occur during the first three months of the school year. Nonconsensual sexual activity is equivalent to sexual assault; now, therefore, be it
Resoved by the Senate, That the members of this legislative body declare September 25, 2018, as Youth Consent Day.
