Two North Country politicians voted in favor of legislation that would help protect students against sexual violence on college campuses.

Sen. Joseph Griffo (R-Rome) said “College should be a safe and positive learning experience for all those who attend, and no student should have that opportunity devastated by any form of sexual violence. I am proud that this legislation promises to help prevent sexual assaults on campuses across New York State, encourages victims to come forward when they are taken advantage of, and offers a fair process to handle those who are accused. This is a major step toward turning around a troubling trend that has broken too many promising lives, and I believe it will make our state’s colleges safer places for students to learn, live and foster rewarding relationships.”

Griffo represents the 47th Senate District. It includes a swath running through the middle of St. Lawrence County, from Massena to Fine, including Potsdam.

Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell, (D-Theresa) voted in favor of the bill would require all colleges and universities in New York to adopt uniform prevention and response policies and procedures to address sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.

Russell’s 116th Assembly District includes all St. Lawrence County communities along the St. Lawrence River, plus Canton and Potsdam.

“Sexual assault is a deplorable and devastating crime that cannot be tolerated and the prevalence of sexual assault in colleges is deeply troubling," Russell said. "College is an experience in one’s life that represents learning, exploration, and wonder; it is imperative that being sexually assaulted not be on the minds of students. I believe these measures are steps in the right direction that will better protect students and offer the opportunity to fully enjoy the unique experiences of college.”

The legislation was developed while working closely with victim’s rights advocates, law enforcement professionals, legal experts, and higher education professionals. It would help prevent sexual assaults and provide more support to victims by improving the ability of educational institutions to appropriately respond if a crime occurs.

The bill would provide $10 million in state funding to help implement these new measures by creating a new Sexual Assault Victims Unit within the Division of State Police ($4.5 million); supporting prevention, education, and victim services provided on campuses by rape crisis centers ($4.5 million); and by supporting on-campus training, among other related expenses ($1 million).

Provisions of the bill include:

· A statewide, uniform definition of affirmative consent to sexual activity, defined as “a knowing, voluntary, and mutual decision among all participants to engage in sexual activity”

· Amnesty for alcohol and/or drug use to encourage bystanders to report sexual assaults, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking without the risk of being charged with an alcohol or drug use violation of the institution's code of conduct

· A Students’ Bill of Rights, distributed annually to the campus community, that includes the opportunity to report a sexual assault to law enforcement or the institution, to be protected from retaliation, and to access services and resources

· Requirements for institutions to notify students about the rights and resources available to them and how the institution will respond to reports of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. Institutions would be required to provide victims with a short statement of their rights at the first instance of disclosure of a sexual assault

· Options for confidential disclosure by requiring institutions to utilize plain language to notify students about the laws surrounding confidentiality and privacy, to list confidential and private resources that students can reach out to, and to provide technical information about how institutions will respond to requests for confidentiality. The bill also allows privacy in legal challenges to conduct findings, absent a waiver or court determination · Year-round, ongoing campaigns to be developed and implemented by institutions about sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking education and prevention. The bill also directs institutions to conduct annual surveys to assess the campus climate and disclose the results without any personally identifying information; and

· Reporting of aggregate data to the State Education Department: Requires institutions to annually publish reports of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault, including the total number of reports received, open and closed investigations, outcomes of such investigations, and penalties imposed on perpetrators.