HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1217 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2195
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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 | 1/18/2023 |
Kathleen R. LaNatra | 12th Plymouth | 1/24/2023 |
Lindsay N. Sabadosa | 1st Hampshire | 1/24/2023 |
Andres X. Vargas | 3rd Essex | 1/24/2023 |
Susannah M. Whipps | 2nd Franklin | 1/24/2023 |
Tram T. Nguyen | 18th Essex | 1/25/2023 |
Jack Patrick Lewis | 7th Middlesex | 1/26/2023 |
James K. Hawkins | 2nd Bristol | 1/27/2023 |
Christine P. Barber | 34th Middlesex | 1/30/2023 |
Thomas M. Stanley | 9th Middlesex | 2/3/2023 |
Alyson M. Sullivan-Almeida | 7th Plymouth | 2/10/2023 |
Kate Lipper-Garabedian | 32nd Middlesex | 2/23/2023 |
Carlos González | 10th Hampden | 3/10/2023 |
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1217 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2195
By Representative Higgins of Leominster, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2195) of Natalie M. Higgins and others for legislation to establish a sexual assault counselor task force. Public Health. |
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 4330 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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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 no more than 3 members who shall be a sexual assault survivor(s) 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.