2006-07-12T17:28:00.000-05:00

2006-2007 Federal Legislative Priorities and Updates

Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
On January 5, 2006 President Bush signed the VAWA 2005 Reauthorization into law!! Now that VAWA has been reauthorized, it is critical that all of the programs in VAWA receive full funding, especially the Sexual Assault Services Program (SASP) and the Rape Prevention Education (RPE) Grant Program. Click here to find out who your Members of Congress are and encourage them to fully fund VAWA—especially the SASP and RPE provisions of VAWA. To learn more about the new VAWA, click here.

Preserve the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Crime Victims Fund
The President's proposed FY 2006 budget would wipe out the VOCA fund account that supports federal, state and local victim services, and many sexual assault service providers in Wisconsin, by removing $1.267 billion from the Crime Victims Fund. The VOCA funds consist of fines and penalties collected from federal offenders, NOT tax payer dollars! WCASA supports efforts to preserve this funding.

Contact your Members of Congress to ask them to reject the President’s budget request to rescind the VOCA balance.

2006 State Legislative Victories

Alcohol-Facilitated Sexual Assault
Wisconsin Act 436, which adds alcohol to the definition of “intoxicant” for the purposes of sexual assault. With the signing of this law, Wisconsin now has one of the nation’s strongest intoxicant-facilitated sexual assault laws. This law is a huge victory for WCASA, sexual assault advocates, and survivors who have been worked for nearly 10 years pass this law! Act 436 went into effect on June 6, 2006.

Harassment Restraining Orders for Victims of Sexual Assault and Stalking
Wisconsin Act 272 specifically allows harassment restraining orders to be granted after a single incident of sexual assault, stalking, or child abuse. This law will provide victims of sexual assault with an important measure of protection by clarifying that a single incident of sexual assault is sufficient to grant a harassment restraining order. Act 272 went into effect on April 19, 2006.

Confidential Voter Registration for Victims of Sexual Assault and Stalking
WI Act 278 expands existing confidential voting provisions for victims of domestic violence so that victims of sexual assault or stalking may also request that their voter registration information be kept confidential. This new law also increases access to such confidential voter listings for victims by permitting a district attorney; any authorized representative of a sheriff, chief of police, or district attorney; or a domestic abuse victim service provider or a sexual assault victim service provider to sign an affidavit verifying the victim’s status. Act 278 went into effect on April 19, 2006.

Other Changes to Wisconsin’s Sexual Assault Laws
Numerous changes were made to Wisconsin’s sexual assault laws this past legislative session. For updated information regarding Wisconsin’s current sexual assault laws, please see WCASA’s information sheets.

2005-2006 WCASA State and Federal Legislative Summary