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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
457 |
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TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
S.D. 1 |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that sexual violence is prevalent on college campuses. Nationally, one in five women is sexually assaulted while in college. Approximately one-third of these sexual assaults are perpetrated on women who are first-year students between the ages of seventeen and nineteen. Also, women aged sixteen to twenty-four are at the highest risk for experiencing abuse by an intimate partner.
Although data on sexual violence on college campuses is not widely available and incidents are underreported, it is evident that Hawaii's college students are not unaffected by this problem. For example, in 2011, the University of Hawaii at Manoa alone reported twelve forcible sex offense occurrences on campus. In 2012 the campus reported eleven occurrences, and in 2013 the campus reported eight occurrences. In addition, in the Hawaii commission on the status of women's survey on sexual and relationship violence, conducted during the 2010 academic year, thirty-nine female respondents reported being sexually assaulted since starting school at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Three of these respondents did not tell anyone about the sexual assault immediately after it happened. Fifteen respondents reported being raped since starting school at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
The legislature further finds that violence against women is a continuing problem that must be addressed. Ending campus sexual violence is a combined endeavor of effective response and intervention with awareness education to change attitudes and behaviors. The federal government has recognized the need for institutions of higher education to have systems in place to investigate and report instances of sexual violence. However, just as importantly, universities are obligated to provide comprehensive ongoing prevention education; bystander intervention training; and training to students, faculty, and staff to address these criminal acts.
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in the administration of any education program receiving federal financial assistance and bans sexual harassment, discrimination against pregnant and parenting students, and the use of stereotypes and other barriers to limit a person's access to a particular educational field. The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 is aimed at ending violence against women and girls and remedying laws and social practices that, in the past, have fostered and justified violence against women and girls. The Act improves institutional responses to violence to ensure that survivors of sexual assault have access to necessary services. Further, it provides access to services for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender survivors who frequently are excluded from services, and it also ensures that survivors of sexual assault in Native American communities and in the United States territories have access to justice.
The legislature finds that compliance with federal mandates to effectively address campus sexual violence requires additional resources as follows:
(1) Staff, including investigators, coordinators, educational specialists, and trainers; and
(2) Materials, including online training materials for staff and students and professional development and operating supplies.
The purpose of this Act is to provide sufficient resources to the University of Hawaii to ensure compliance with federal mandates to address campus sexual violence.
SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2015-2016 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 for staff and materials to comply with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 at each of the University of Hawaii system campuses.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. No later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular sessions of 2016 and 2017, the University of Hawaii shall submit to the legislature a report regarding the:
(1) Use of the appropriation made pursuant to section 3 of this Act; and
(2) Status of the University's compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2525.
Report Title:
University of Hawaii; Appropriation; Title IX and VAWA Compliance
Description:
Appropriates moneys for positions and materials to comply with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013. Requires a report to the legislature on the use of the appropriation and the status of compliance. Effective 7/1/2525. (SD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.