HLS 24RS-1506 ORIGINAL 2024 Regular Session HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 103 BY REPRESENTATIVE MOORE HEALTH: Requests the Department of Children and Family Services to study the feasibility of implementing a 233 helpline as an additional resource for sexual abuse victims in this state 1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION 2To urge and request the Department of Children and Family Services to study the feasibility 3 of implementing a 233 helpline as an additional resource for sexual abuse victims in 4 this state. 5 WHEREAS, the Louisiana Department of Health identifies unwanted exposure to 6sexually explicit material, language, or contact as sexual abuse; and 7 WHEREAS, the Newcomb Institute at Tulane University conducted the Louisiana 8Study on Violence Experiences Across the Lifespan (LaVEX) during the summer of 2023 9and surveyed more than one thousand adults across the state on a comprehensive range of 10experiences of violence, which included instances of verbal abuse, cyberbullying, sexual 11assault, and gun violence; and 12 WHEREAS, according to the LaVEX study, forty-one percent of adults in Louisiana 13have experienced sexual violence or harassment in their lifetime, twenty-nine percent of 14adults in Louisiana have been verbally sexually harassed, and eleven percent of adults in 15Louisiana have experienced sexual assault; and 16 WHEREAS, the LaVEX study also found that women often experienced such abuse 17at the hands of a romantic or sexual partner; and 18 WHEREAS, forty-two percent of women have experienced physical or sexual 19violence from a partner with only ten percent of these women reporting their partner; and Page 1 of 3 HLS 24RS-1506 ORIGINAL HCR NO. 103 1 WHEREAS, organizations like the Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault 2(LaFASA), the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), and Sexual Trauma 3Awareness & Response (STAR) exist to address sexual abuse concerns in this state and offer 4resources to survivors; and 5 WHEREAS, such sexual abuse initiatives provide support services to survivors and 6statewide sexual assault crisis centers through education, professional training, technical 7assistance, and community engagement; and 8 WHEREAS, the Department of Children and Family Services has implemented a 9hotline for child abuse and neglect, which includes reports of sexual trafficking; and 10 WHEREAS, expansion of such services could be beneficial to Louisiana residents 11who are currently facing or have faced sexual abuse, reported or otherwise; and 12 WHEREAS, the Department of Children and Family Services should research and 13consider the implementation of a 233 helpline as an additional resource for sexual abuse 14victims in this state. 15 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 16urge and request the Department of Children and Family Services to study the feasibility of 17implementing a 233 helpline as an additional resource for sexual abuse victims in this state 18and submit its findings in the form of a written report by February 1, 2025 to the House and 19Senate committees on health and welfare. 20 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the report shall include information about means 21of funding for creating a helpline and determining costs for a marketing campaign to boost 22awareness of the 233 helpline initiative. 23 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the 24secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services. DIGEST The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)] HCR 103 Original 2024 Regular Session Moore Requests the Dept. of Children and Family Services to study the feasibility of implementing a 233 helpline as an additional resource for sexual abuse victims in this state. Page 2 of 3 HLS 24RS-1506 ORIGINAL HCR NO. 103 Requests a written report of its findings to be submitted to the House and Senate committees on health and welfare by Feb. 1, 2025. Page 3 of 3