HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 861 FILED ON: 1/15/2019
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1912
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Natalie M. Higgins
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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.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: | Date Added: |
Natalie M. Higgins | 4th Worcester | 1/15/2019 |
Jack Patrick Lewis | 7th Middlesex | 1/18/2019 |
Carmine Lawrence Gentile | 13th Middlesex | 1/22/2019 |
Mary S. Keefe | 15th Worcester | 1/23/2019 |
Michael O. Moore | Second Worcester | 1/29/2019 |
Kay Khan | 11th Middlesex | 1/29/2019 |
James B. Eldridge | Middlesex and Worcester | 1/31/2019 |
Brian M. Ashe | 2nd Hampden | 2/1/2019 |
David M. Rogers | 24th Middlesex | 2/1/2019 |
James K. Hawkins | 2nd Bristol | 2/1/2019 |
Michelle M. DuBois | 10th Plymouth | 2/1/2019 |
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 861 FILED ON: 1/15/2019
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1912
By Ms. Higgins of Leominster, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1912) of Natalie M. Higgins and others for legislation to establish a task force relative to the certification and training of sexual assault counselors. Public Health. |
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 2462 OF 2017-2018.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)
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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, 2019.