State Representative Maureen Bauer of South Bend is joining lawmakers from across the country in an effort to strengthen sexual assault laws involving drugs or alcohol.

Bauer is among 22 lawmakers from 16 states working to address uncertainty in how those cases are handled. Indiana House Democrats say state courts have recognized that a person who is voluntarily intoxicated cannot legally consent, but state law does not clearly spell out those protections.

Bauer says a person’s right to consent should not depend on how they became intoxicated, and says the law should make that clear.

The effort comes as Cornell University has suspended parties and other social events at fraternity houses for the rest of the school year, following a lawsuit alleging fraternity members assaulted an intoxicated student.