The SAVE Act promises to create justice and equity for sexual assault survivors

March 1, 2013 |
Valor

CALCASA is pleased to announce that Senator Mark Desaulnier (D-Concord) has authored SB 782 – the Sexual Assault Victims’ Equity (SAVE) Act. Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley and CALCASA are co-sponsors of the SAVE Act.
Sexual assault victim equity is about creating a just and equitable world for victims of sexual assault. CALCASA commends Senator Desaulnier for his leadership and demonstrated commitment to promoting justice for rape victims. 2014 is the year to pass the SAVE Act. It is the year for the California legislature to send a strong and unified message.
A recent survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that there are 8.6 million survivors of sexual assault in California. According to 2011-12 fiscal year reports from the California Emergency Management Agency (CALEMA), rape crisis centers served 31,790 sexual assault victims. While this is a sizable number, it is a small percentage of the actual number of survivors in the state.
Sexual violence remains largely understood and certainly underfunded, as is evidenced by the mere $45,000 allocated to California’s rape crisis safety-net from the State General Fund. SB 782 creates a mechanism to increase the state’s financial commitment to the elimination of sexual violence, thereby ensuring that victim/survivors are able to access services. The SAVE Act follows the precedent established in Texas and most recently in Illinois of imposing a per patron fee on alcohol serving sexually oriented businesses (strip clubs), and designating those revenues to fund the treatment and prevention of sexual violence.
CALCASA looks forward to working with Senator Desaulnier, District Attorney O’Malley, the California legislature and a broad coalition of supporters to pass the SAVE Act. 2014 is the year in which California’s rape and sexual assault survivors are ensured justice and equity.
Click here to read the Press Release.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article mis-attributed a quote to Senator Desaulnier, which was incorrect.