“Enough Is Enough” Legislation Set For Cuomo Signature

Governor Cuomo is in New York City to sign his signature “Enough is Enough” Legislation to Combat Sexual Assault on College Campuses. The bill signing takes place at 12 noon at the New York University School of Law. 

Last year, all 64 SUNY campuses said “Enough is Enough” and adopted a first-of-its-kind sexual assault prevention policy. But until today, thousands of students still weren’t protected. After today, all college campuses—public and private—in New York State will be safe places for students.

This on-campus sexual assault prevention and response legislation was first proposed by Governor Cuomo in January 2015. The package of legislation, passed by the Assembly and Senate last month, includes:

  • A statewide definition of affirmative consent, defining consent as a knowing, voluntary, and mutual decision among all participants to engage in sexual activity;
  • A statewide amnesty policy, to ensure that students reporting incidents of sexual assault or other sexual violence are granted immunity for certain campus policy violations, such as drug and alcohol use;
  • A Students’ Bill of Rights, which campuses will be required to distribute to all students in order to specifically inform sexual violence victims of their legal rights and how they may access appropriate resources. The Bill of Rights clearly states that students are given the right to know they can report sexual assaults to outside law enforcement, including the State Police;
  • Comprehensive training requirements for administrators, staff, and students, including at new student orientations.;
  • Reporting requirements for campuses to annually submit aggregate data on reported incidents of sexual violence and their adjudication and handling to the State Education Department;
  • A new unit within the State Police called the “sexual assault victims unit” specialized in advanced training in responding to sexual assaults and related crimes that shall also provide assistance to campus police or local law enforcement, as well as training to college campus communities;
  • A commitment of $10 million to help combat campus sexual assault through various partners, split in the following manner: $4.5 million to rape crisis centers to provide services and resources to students, $4.5 million to the State Police to create sexual assault victims unit, and $1 million to colleges and universities; and
  • A requirement for first responders to notify survivors of their right to contact outside law enforcement.

 

 

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