Rep. Faris offered the following resolution:

House Resolution No. 392.

            A resolution to declare September 25, 2018, as Youth Consent Day in the state of Michigan.

            Whereas, One in five women, at least 6% of men, and over 40% of members of the LGBT community enrolled in a Michigan college or university will be sexually assaulted during their time as a student; and

            Whereas, Forty-eight percent of middle and high school students between the ages of 12 and 18 reported being sexually harassed at school; and

            Whereas, An estimated 80% of sexual assaults are not reported when the victim is a college-age female student; and

            Whereas, Although the majority of 7th to 12th grade girls say harassment regularly happens and hurts their ability to learn, 80% of U.S. schools report zero harassment; and

            Whereas, Fewer than 25% of women on college campuses who experience rape describe the event as rape; and

            Whereas, Young female victims of nonconsensual sexual acts are more likely to experience depression, PTSD, self-blame, and alcohol and/or drug abuse; and

            Whereas, Despite the existence of nationwide sexual assault prevention programs and passage of The Campus Sexual Violence Elimination (SaVE) Act by Congress, there is no Michigan-specific awareness day focusing on the issue and importance of consent; and

            Whereas, Sexual assault education on college campuses has been shown to increase bystander intervention to prevent sexual assault, improve outcomes for individuals at risk, and increase pro-social attitudes and opposition to rape; and

            Whereas, Approximately 25.3% of rapes occur due to a personal matter. The closer the relationship between the female victim and the offender, the less likely the rape will be reported; and

            Whereas, Almost 67% of sexual assaults are committed by someone known to the victim; and

            Whereas, Sexual assaults on college campuses are most likely to occur during the first three months of the school year. In Michigan, nonconsensual sexual activity is equivalent to sexual assault; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body declare September 25, 2018, as Youth Consent Day in the state of Michigan.