SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1913        FILED ON: 1/20/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1432

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Michael O. Moore

_________________

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 resolve:

Resolve establishing a sexual assault counselor certification task force.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

 

Michael O. Moore

Second Worcester

 

Natalie M. Higgins

4th Worcester

 

Susannah M. Whipps

2nd Franklin

1/25/2023

Jack Patrick Lewis

7th Middlesex

1/26/2023

Hannah Kane

11th Worcester

3/2/2023

James B. Eldridge

Middlesex and Worcester

3/14/2023

Bruce E. Tarr

First Essex and Middlesex

3/22/2023

Carol A. Doherty

3rd Bristol

7/26/2023


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1913        FILED ON: 1/20/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1432

By Mr. Moore, a petition (accompanied by resolve, Senate, No. 1432) of Michael O. Moore, Natalie M. Higgins, Susannah M. Whipps, Jack Patrick Lewis and others that provisions be made for an investigation and study by a task force relative to establishing a sexual assault counselor certification task force.  Public Health.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1488 OF 2021-2022.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

_______________

 

Resolve establishing a sexual assault counselor certification task force.

 

Resolved, there shall be a task force on sexual assault counselors that shall 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 be familiar with sexual assault and domestic violence issues; 1 member from the Massachusetts office of victim’s assistance; 1 member designated by Pathways for Change, Inc.; 1 member designated by Boston Area Rape Crisis Center, Inc.; 1 member designated by The Center for Hope and Healing, Inc.; 1 member from the Victim Rights Law Center, Inc.; 1 member designated by Jane Doe, Inc.: The Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence; and 3 members who shall be sexual assault survivors designated by consensus of Pathways for Change, Inc, the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center Inc. and The Center for Hope and Healing, Inc.

The task force shall make recommendations on: (i) the statutory definitions of “rape crisis center” and “sexual assault counselor” in section 20J of chapter 233 of the General Laws; (ii) the curriculum and number of training hours required for certification of employees of rape crisis centers and programs (iii) the curriculum and number of training hours required for volunteer positions at a rape crisis center; (iv) the appropriateness of “levels” of certification as a sexual assault counselor and corresponding criteria for each level; (v) a fee structure for certification as a sexual assault counselor; (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 upon 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 house of representatives and the senate and the chairs of the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than 12 months after the effective date of this act.