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Cuomo Signs 'Enough Is Enough' Legislation To Combat Campus Sex Assaults

ALBANY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- New York state's private colleges and universities have a new, affirmative sexual consent policy to combat campus sexual violence.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the "Enough Is Enough" measure into law Tuesday at New York University at an event that included U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Congressman Charles Rangel.

The bill has a "yes means yes'' definition of consent requiring a clear, affirmative agreement between partners.

"The other person has to say yes. They have to say yes. It's yes on both sides," Cuomo said.

Cuomo Signs 'Enough Is Enough' Legislation To Combat Campus Sex Assaults

It also creates a victim's bill of rights and boosts training for law enforcement, faculty and students.

"They have a right to a counselor, they have a right to have it investigated by campus police, or they have the right to go to law enforcement right now," Cuomo said.

New York's public universities adopted the policy last year.

Cuomo made the measure a priority in this year's legislative session, even writing a supportive op-ed in Billboard Magazine with pop artist Lady Gaga.

The governor declared the measure is needed because one out of five women who go to college can expect to be the victim of a sexual assault, WCBS 880's Rich Lamb reported.

"Assault and rape are crimes," Cuomo said. "If you commit a crime or you assault or your rape someone in this state it will be prosecuted and investigated as a crime."

Last year, California, Pelosi's home state, adopted a "yes means yes'' law for all schools receiving state financial aid money.

(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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