State Senator Mike Bohacek (R-Michiana Shores) was recently awarded one of four 2022 Legislative Excellence Awards from the Indiana Prosecuting Attorney’s Council (IPAC) Board of Directors.
Each year, IPAC presents several legislators with the Legislative Excellence Award, which acknowledges the work done in the name of expanding public safety. The recipients were selected for their work on legislation during the 2022 session that helped survivors of rape, human trafficking and child sexual abuse.
“I am honored to have been selected to receive an award for my work on legislation helping clarify the definition of rape,” Bohacek said. “It’s important to me to create and pass bills that will genuinely make changes in the lives of Hoosiers, and it is great to see people like those at IPAC that appreciate the work my colleagues and I do.”
Bohacek worked with State Rep. Sharon Negele (R-Attica) on House Enrolled Act 1079, which changed the definition of rape to include situations where someone’s physical or verbal attempts to refuse the sexual actions of another are ignored. Prior to the passage of HEA 1079, Indiana law only charged someone with rape if the victim was threatened, forced or if the victim was mentally incapacitated or unaware that the intercourse is occurring.
IPAC testified in favor of HEA 1079 and supported it throughout the legislative process.
“Rep. Negele and I worked diligently to create legislation we could be proud to carry,” Bohacek said. “No one deserves to go through anything this traumatizing, and I hope this law helps Hoosiers who have been sexually assaulted to get the legal justice they deserve.”
Other recipients of the 2022 Legislative Excellence Awards include Negele, State Rep. Wendy McNamara (R-Evansville) and State Sen. Mike Crider (R-Greenfield).
To read more about the 2022 IPAC award winners, click here.
State Sen. Mike Bohacek (R-Michiana Shores) represents Senate District 8, which includes Starke County and portions of LaPorte, Marshall and St. Joseph counties.
