Bill Text: CA SR8 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Enrolled

California Senate Resolution 8 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Relative to violence against women

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-02-11 - Read. Adopted. (Ayes 31. Noes 0. Page 132.) [SR8 Detail]

Download: California-2013-SR8-Enrolled.html

BILL NUMBER: SR 8	ENROLLED
	BILL TEXT

	ADOPTED IN SENATE  FEBRUARY 11, 2013
	ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY  FEBRUARY 19, 1950
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JANUARY 31, 2013

INTRODUCED BY   Senators Yee, Corbett, Evans, Galgiani, Hancock,
Jackson, Liu, and Wolk

                        JANUARY 9, 2013

   Relative to violence against women


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
             HOUSE OR SENATE RESOLUTIONS DO NOT CONTAIN A DIGEST



   WHEREAS, The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) was developed with
the input of advocates from around the country and from all walks of
life, and addresses the real and most important needs of victims of
domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking.
VAWA is responsive, streamlined, and constitutionally and fiscally
sound, while providing strong accountability measures and appropriate
federal government oversight; and
   WHEREAS, VAWA represents the voices of women and their families,
and the voices of victims, survivors, and advocates; and
   WHEREAS, VAWA was first enacted in 1994, and has been the
centerpiece of the federal government's efforts to stamp out domestic
and sexual violence. Critical programs authorized under VAWA include
support for victim services, transitional housing, and legal
assistance; and
   WHEREAS, Domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and
stalking, once considered private matters to be dealt with behind
closed doors, have been brought out of the darkness; and
   WHEREAS, VAWA has been successful because it has had consistently
strong, bipartisan support for nearly two decades; and
   WHEREAS, While annual rates of domestic violence have dropped more
than 50 percent, domestic violence remains a serious issue. Every
day in the United States, three women are killed by abusive husbands
and partners. In California in 2010, there were 166,361 domestic
violence calls, including more than 65,000 that involved a weapon;
and
   WHEREAS, There is a need to maintain services for victims and
families at the local, state, and federal levels. Reauthorization
would allow existing programs to continue uninterrupted, and would
provide for the development of new initiatives to address key areas
of concern. These initiatives include the following:
   (a) Addressing the high rates of domestic violence, dating
violence, and sexual assault among women 16 to 24 years of age,
inclusive, by combating tolerant youth attitudes toward violence.
   (b) Improving the response to sexual assault with best practices,
training, and communication tools for law enforcement, as well as
health care and legal professionals.
   (c) Preventing domestic violence homicides through enhanced
training for law enforcement, advocates, and others who interact with
those at risk. A growing number of experts agree that these
homicides are predictable, and therefore preventable, if we know the
warning signs; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, That the Senate
requests the United States Congress to pass the Violence Against
Women Reauthorization Act of 2013, Senate Bill No. 47, sponsored by
Senator Leahy, and House Bill No. 11, sponsored by Congresswoman
Moore, and ensure the sustainability of vital programs designed to
keep women and families safe from violence and abuse; and be it
further
   Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.