Bill Text: NY J00447 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 2019, as Sexual Assault Awareness Month in the State of New York

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-02-27 - ADOPTED [J00447 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-J00447-Introduced.html

---

Senate Resolution No. 447

BY: Senator BIAGGI

        MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
        April 2019, as Sexual Assault Awareness Month in the
        State of New York

  WHEREAS,  It  is  the intent of this Legislative Body to commemorate
and increase awareness of  issues  that  are  of  significance  for  the
citizens of this great Nation and Empire State; and

  WHEREAS,  Attendant  to  such  concern,  and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this  Legislative  Body  is  justly  proud  to
memorialize  Governor  Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 2019, as Sexual
Assault Awareness Month in the State of New York,  in  conjunction  with
the observance of National Sexual Assault Awareness Month; and

  WHEREAS,  Sexual  assault  harms  our  communities,  with statistics
showing that every 98 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted; one in
six women and one in 71 men will  survive  a  sexual  assault  in  their
lifetimes; and

  WHEREAS,  On  college  campuses, one in five women and one in 16 men
are sexually assaulted during their time in college; and the Center  for
Disease  Control reports that a staggering 25 million Americans are rape
survivors; and

  WHEREAS, Rape is the most under-reported crime in the nation; 63% of
sexual assaults  are  not  reported  to  police;  many  people  who  are
traumatized  by rape, experience the fear of reliving the assault during
the criminal investigation; and

  WHEREAS, Research suggests that rape has a more severe impact  on  a
person  than  other  types of trauma; 81% of women and 35% of men report
significant short- or long-term impacts such  as  Post-Traumatic  Stress
Disorder (PTSD); and

  WHEREAS,  More  must  be done to help lift the stigma and shame that
victims of sexual assault face,  and  raise  awareness  about  treatment
options  for  PTSD and other mental health issues that often result from
the emotional trauma of sexual assault; and

  WHEREAS, The 2019 theme focuses on consent, and  the  slogan  is  "I
Ask";  the  campaign  will  champion  the power of asking, whether it be
asking  to  hold  someone's  hand,  for  permission  to  share  personal
information with others, or if a partner is interested in sex; and

  WHEREAS,  We  must  work  together  to educate our communities about
sexual  violence  prevention,  supporting  survivors  and  speaking  out
against harmful attitudes and actions which condone sexual assault; and

  WHEREAS,  When  we  actively  get  involved,  we  can  decrease  the
incidence of sexual violence  by  increasing  education,  awareness  and
community  involvement, and by supporting the victims of sexual assault;
now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
memorialize  Governor  Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 2019, as Sexual
Assault Awareness Month in the State of New York,  in  conjunction  with
the  observance  of  National  Sexual Assault Awareness Month; and be it
further

  RESOLVED,  That  copies  of  this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the  State  of
New  York,  the  Joyful  Hearts Foundation, Rise, and the New York State
Coalition Against Sexual Assault.