HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 5363

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

________________________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, October 27, 2022.

The committee on House Ways and Means, to whom was referred the Bill relative to sexual assault counselor task force (House, No. 4330), reports recommending that the Bill establishing a task force on sexual assault counselors, ought to pass with an amendment substituting therefor the accompanying bill (House, No. 5363).

For the committee,

AARON MICHLEWITZ.

        FILED ON: 10/27/2022

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 5363

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

_______________

An Act establishing a task force on sexual assault counselors.

Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to establish forthwith a task force on sexual assault counselors, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public convenience.
 

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

(a) 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.

(b) 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 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.

(c) 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.

(d) 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.