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The Badger Herald

Independent Student Newspaper Since 1969

The Badger Herald

Independent Student Newspaper Since 1969

The Badger Herald

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Senate votes to redefine assault law

The state Senate unanimously passed a bill Tuesday that would reform Wisconsin's sexual assault laws by defining alcohol as an intoxicant in rape cases.

Senate Bill 526, an effort led by Sen. Cathy Stepp, R-Sturtevant, would change the wording of the term "intoxicant" in sexual assault cases to include alcoholic beverages.

Jill Groblewski, spokesperson for the Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault, said the WCASA supports the bill in hopes that it will reduce rape.

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"Alcohol is the No. 1 intoxicant used to facilitate rape," Groblewski said. "We hope the bill will deter someone from intentionally getting a person drunk in order to commit sexual assault."

Under state law, someone under the influence of an intoxicant is incapable of consenting to sexual intercourse and thus is illegal to have sex with that person. If passed by the Assembly and signed by Gov. Jim Doyle, alcohol would be considered an intoxicant.

Ald. Austin King, District 8, said he, himself, has been working on this bill for years and praised the Senate for passing the legislation.

"This bill remedies a horrible wrong of over a decade ago when [alcohol] was explicitly removed as an intoxicant," King said. "Many people have already been denied justice because of this technicality."

According to the bill, an "intoxicant" is defined as a "controlled substance, controlled substance analog, or other drug" or any combination of the three. An alcoholic beverage is currently considered an intoxicant only when it was combined with one of these.

Sex with a person intoxicated enough can result in second-degree sexual assault, which includes a fine of $100,000 or up to 40 years in prison.

The bill is being fast-tracked through the Assembly Committee on Judiciary, Corrections and Privacy, and the full Assembly and Senate, as it has received bipartisan support throughout the process. No senator voted against it on Tuesday.

"I was thrilled by the bipartisan support this received today," King added.

Wisconsin is the last state in the U.S. to define alcohol as an intoxicant in sexual assaults.

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