Wolk gets "A" for votes on sexual assault bills

California Coalition Against Sexual Assault gives Assemblywoman 100 percent score

SACRAMENTO–Assemblywoman Lois Wolk (D-Davis) earned a perfect score recently on the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault’s Legislative Report Card, which rates California legislators on their votes on bills to strengthen laws regarding sexual assault.

The Coalition’s scorecard grades members of the State Senate and Assembly on their votes on nine key bills sponsored by the organization or its membership in 2005—including legislation on victim services funding, prison rape, and the statute of limitations for various sex crimes. The scorecard also reflects members’ votes on Assembly Bill 22 to establish the nation’s toughest laws to combat human trafficking, and AB 632 to create a state board to find the best ways to treat and track registered sex offenders in California.

“Sexual assault is so traumatic that many victims never report the crime,” said Assemblywoman Wolk, who received a 100 percent on the scorecard. “As a legislator, I am proud to work to defend these silent victims.

“I have worked to provide sexual assault victims with easier access to counseling, advocacy, legal assistance, shelter, and other important services. As a legislator, I authored legislation to make funds available for the creation of centers to provide these services in every county. We’ve taken some big strides on this issue, but there is more we can do to protect Californians from sexual violence, and to help victims get on with their lives.”

The California Coalition Against Sexual Assault, founded in 1980, promotes advocacy, public policy, training and technical assistance on sexual assault issues throughout California. For more information on the Coalition or its scorecard, visit the group’s website at www.calcasa.org.