California Adopts New Sex Crime Rule
California adopted the new sex crime rule, becoming the first state in the United States to make it mandatory for students on state-funded campuses to have a clear and active consent before they indulge in any kind of sexual activity, BBC reports.
"The conversation on sexual assault on our college campuses turned an important corner today from chatter to action. Students at every California college campus will have basic protections to promote prevention, accountability and healing," said state Sen. Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles), who sponsored the bill, SB 967.
Democratic Governor Jerry Brown revealed Sunday that he signed the "yes means yes" bill, which mentions requirements to be followed by colleges while probing an on-campus sexual assault case, Associated Press states, Times Union reports. This, Brown hopes, will help change the perception of rape as the bill states that consent can be described as voluntary agreement instead of lack of resistance.
The "yes means yes" law defines consent as "an affirmative, conscious and voluntary agreement to engage in sexual activity". Under the law, students from both parties must give an "affirmative consent" before engaging in sexual activities. The law would be applicable to all public colleges and other institutions that receive state funds for student aid.
States and universities across the United States are being pushed to change their way of handling rape allegations. Last month, California lawmakers approved de León's SB 967. On-campus sexual assault victims and women's advocacy groups appealed to Brown Sept. 16, urging him to sign the bill, The Los Angeles Times reports.
Gov. Brown signed a total of 62 bills and vetoed 14 Sunday. He is required to take action on a number of other bills before Tuesday midnight's bill-signing deadline.
