HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2632        FILED ON: 1/20/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2462

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Natalie Higgins

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to sexual assault counselor task force.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Natalie Higgins

4th Worcester

1/20/2017

Jack Lewis

7th Middlesex

 

Denise Provost

27th Middlesex

 

Carmine L. Gentile

13th Middlesex

 

Juana B. Matias

16th Essex

 

David M. Rogers

24th Middlesex

 

Jonathan D. Zlotnik

2nd Worcester

 

Michelle M. DuBois

10th Plymouth

 

Solomon Goldstein-Rose

3rd Hampshire

 

Bud Williams

11th Hampden

 

Mike Connolly

26th Middlesex

 

David Paul Linsky

5th Middlesex

 

Jennifer E. Benson

37th Middlesex

 

Paul Tucker

7th Essex

 

James J. O'Day

14th Worcester

 


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2632        FILED ON: 1/20/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2462

By Ms. Higgins of Leominster, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2462) of Natalie Higgins and others for legislation to establish a task force relative to the certification and training of sexual assault counselors.  Public Health.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)

_______________

 

An Act relative to sexual assault counselor task force.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

There shall be a task force to make recommendations on establishing statewide certification and updating training standards for sexual assault counselors.

The task force shall be comprised of the following members: the commissioner of the department of public health or their designee, who shall serve as chair; 1 representative designated by the governor’s council to address sexual assault and domestic violence; 1 representative from each of the 3 Massachusetts Independent rape crisis centers; 1 representative from the Victim Rights Law Center; 1 representative designated by Jane Doe, Inc.; 1 representative from Massachusetts office of victim assistance; and 1 sexual assault survivor designated by one of the 3 Massachusetts independent rape crisis centers.

The task force shall make recommendations on: (i) updating the statutory definition of “rape crisis center” and ''sexual assault counsellor'', defined in section 20J of Chapter 233; (ii) the curriculum and number of training hours required for certification of rape crisis center/program employees; (iii) the curriculum and number of training hours required for volunteer positions; (iv) the appropriateness of “Levels” of certification and corresponding criteria for each if so; (v) a fee structure for certification; (vi) the feasibility of and costs associated with establishing and maintaining licensure of rape crisis centers; and (vii) the feasibility of providing continuing education and college credits with the completion of training programs. 

The task force shall submit a report outlining its findings, along with any proposed legislation, with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives and the senate and house committees on ways and means not later than December 31, 2017.