HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4446

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, February 26, 2020.

The committee on Public Health, to whom was referred the 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, reports recommending that the accompanying bill (House, No. 4446) ought to pass.

For the committee,

JOHN J. MAHONEY.

        FILED ON: 2/3/2020

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4446

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 a designee, who shall serve as chair; 1 member designated by the governor’s council, who shall address sexual assault and domestic violence issues; 1 member designated by Pathways for Change, Inc.; 1 member designated by Boston Area Rape Crisis Center; 1 member designated by the Center for Hope & Healing; 1 member from the Victim Rights Law Center, Inc.; 1 member designated by Jane Doe, Inc.; 1 member from the Massachusetts office of victim assistance; and 1 member who shall be a sexual assault survivor designated by  consensus of  Pathways for Change, Inc., the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center and the Center for Hope & Healing.

The task force shall make recommendations on: (i) updating the statutory definition of “rape crisis center” and “sexual assault counsellor” in section 20J of chapter 233 of the general laws; (ii) the curriculum and number of training hours required for certification of rape crisis center and 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, to the clerks of the senate and the house of representatives and to the chairs of the senate and the house committees on ways and means not later than 12 months after the effective date of this act.