H 2446

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1482  FILED ON: 1/15/2025
 HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2446
  The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  _________________
  PRESENTED BY:
  Natalie M. Higgins
  _________________
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.
  _______________
  PETITION OF:
NAME:  DISTRICT/ADDRESS:  DATE ADDED:
Natalie M. Higgins  4th Worcester  1/15/2025
Lindsay N. Sabadosa  1st Hampshire  1/21/2025
Tara T. Hong  18th Middlesex  1/28/2025
Susannah M. Whipps  2nd Franklin  1/30/2025
Alyson M. Sullivan-Almeida  7th Plymouth  2/5/2025
James B. Eldridge  Middlesex and Worcester  2/8/2025
James K. Hawkins  2nd Bristol  2/12/2025
Steven George Xiarhos  5th Barnstable  2/28/2025
Danillo A. Sena  37th Middlesex  4/11/2025
  1 of 1
  HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1482  FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2446
    By Representative Higgins of Leominster, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2446) 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. 2195 OF 2023-2024.]
  The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  _______________
  In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
  (2025-2026)
  _______________
    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:
1There shall be a task force to make recommendations on establishing statewide
2 certification and updating training standards for sexual assault counselors.
3The task force shall be comprised of the following members: the commissioner of the
4 department of public health or a designee, who shall serve as chair; 1 member designated by the
5 governor’s council, who shall address sexual assault and domestic violence issues; 1 member
6 designated by Pathways for Change, Inc.; 1 member designated by Boston Area Rape Crisis
7 Center; 1 member designated by the Center for Hope & Healing; 1 member from the Victim
8 Rights Law Center, Inc.; 1 member designated by Jane Doe, Inc.; 1 member from the
9 Massachusetts office of victim assistance; and no more than 3 members who shall be a sexual
  1 of 2
10 assault survivor(s) designated by consensus of Pathways for Change, Inc., the Boston Area
11 Rape Crisis Center and the Center for Hope & Healing.
12The task force shall make recommendations on: (i) updating the statutory definition of
13 “rape crisis center” and “sexual assault counsellor” in section 20J of chapter 233 of the general
14 laws; (ii) the curriculum and number of training hours required for certification of rape crisis
15 center and program employees; (iii) the curriculum and number of training hours required for
16 volunteer positions; (iv) the appropriateness of “levels” of certification and corresponding
17 criteria for each if so; (v) a fee structure for certification; (vi) the feasibility of and costs
18 associated with establishing and maintaining licensure of rape crisis centers; and (vii) the
19 feasibility of providing continuing education and college credits with the completion of training
20 programs.
21The task force shall submit a report outlining its findings, along with any proposed
22 legislation, to the clerks of the senate and the house of representatives and to the chairs of the
23 senate and the house committees on ways and means not later than 12 months after the effective
24 date of this act.
  2 of 2