Legislators proposed a bill Monday that would require the University of California and all other college campuses in the state to adopt new policies and prevention programs concerning campus sexual and domestic violence.
California Sen. Kevin de Leόn (D-Los Angeles) and two other legislators introduced Senate Bill 967 to address sexual violence on college campuses, an issue that has gained increasing attention in recent months.
Claire Conlon, spokeswoman for de Leόn, said the goal of the bill is to have accused persons prove they were given consent rather than placing the burden of consent on a sexual assault survivor. Under current law, the sexual assault survivor must prove he or she did not give consent.
The bill would also prohibit an accused person from using self-intoxication or recklessness as a defense. It includes an explicit provision that an individual is unable to give consent for sexual activity if the individual is asleep, unconscious, incapacitated from drugs or alcohol, or unable to communicate due to a mental or physical condition.
The bill would require every college campus in the state to adopt policies concerning campus sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking. The bill also states that governing boards – such as the UC Board of Regents – must enter into agreements with on-campus and community-based organizations to provide services to survivors. Under the bill, the governing boards will also be required to implement comprehensive prevention programs.
The bill’s aim is to help survivors know that their complaints will be taken care of, said Conlon.
Current laws require campuses to implement procedures to ensure that students, faculty and staff who are survivors of sexual assault receive treatment and information. Campuses must also have an agreement with local law enforcement agencies relating to certain violent crimes.
UCLA students recently took action to promote sexual assault advocacy.
Savannah Badalich, the Undergraduate Students Association Council student wellness commissioner, and USAC President John Joanino started an advocacy and research campaign called 7,000 in Solidarity in September.
In November, the UC Office of the President revamped the UC policy on sexual harassment and violence to make sure it complies with revisions in the Violence Against Women Act.
UCLA is undergoing an audit of sexual assault policies and procedures to examine whether the university’s management of sexual assault cases are in keeping with Title IX, a federal provision that protects students from sex-based discrimination in federally funded education programs.
“We need to do more to prevent sexual assaults on campus. When they do occur, we need a system that holds perpetrators accountable rather than victimizes survivors a second time,” de Leόn said in a statement released Monday.
The California Coalition Against Sexual Assault is listed as supporting the new bill.
Compiled by Alisha Rosenwein-Noss, Bruin contributor.