Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H2446 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1482 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2446
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Natalie M. Higgins
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act relative to sexual assault counselor task force.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Natalie M. Higgins4th Worcester1/15/2025Lindsay N. Sabadosa1st Hampshire1/21/2025Tara T. Hong18th Middlesex1/28/2025Susannah M. Whipps2nd Franklin1/30/2025Alyson M. Sullivan-Almeida7th Plymouth2/5/2025James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester2/8/2025James K. Hawkins2nd Bristol2/12/2025Steven George Xiarhos5th Barnstable2/28/2025 1 of 2
16	16	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1482 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
17	17	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2446
18	18	By Representative Higgins of Leominster, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2446) of
19	19	Natalie M. Higgins and others for legislation to establish a sexual assault counselor task force.
20	20	Public Health.
21	21	[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
22	22	SEE HOUSE, NO. 2195 OF 2023-2024.]
23	23	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
24	24	_______________
25	25	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
26	26	(2025-2026)
27	27	_______________
28	28	An Act relative to sexual assault counselor task force.
29	29	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
30	30	of the same, as follows:
31	31	1 There shall be a task force to make recommendations on establishing statewide
32	32	2certification and updating training standards for sexual assault counselors.
33	33	3 The task force shall be comprised of the following members: the commissioner of the
34	34	4department of public health or a designee, who shall serve as chair; 1 member designated by the
35	35	5governor’s council, who shall address sexual assault and domestic violence issues; 1 member
36	36	6designated by Pathways for Change, Inc.; 1 member designated by Boston Area Rape Crisis
37	37	7Center; 1 member designated by the Center for Hope & Healing; 1 member from the Victim
38	38	8Rights Law Center, Inc.; 1 member designated by Jane Doe, Inc.; 1 member from the
39	39	9Massachusetts office of victim assistance; and no more than 3 members who shall be a sexual 2 of 2
40	40	10assault survivor(s) designated by consensus of Pathways for Change, Inc., the Boston Area
41	41	11Rape Crisis Center and the Center for Hope & Healing.
42	42	12 The task force shall make recommendations on: (i) updating the statutory definition of
43	43	13“rape crisis center” and “sexual assault counsellor” in section 20J of chapter 233 of the general
44	44	14laws; (ii) the curriculum and number of training hours required for certification of rape crisis
45	45	15center and program employees; (iii) the curriculum and number of training hours required for
46	46	16volunteer positions; (iv) the appropriateness of “levels” of certification and corresponding
47	47	17criteria for each if so; (v) a fee structure for certification; (vi) the feasibility of and costs
48	48	18associated with establishing and maintaining licensure of rape crisis centers; and (vii) the
49	49	19feasibility of providing continuing education and college credits with the completion of training
50	50	20programs.
51	51	21 The task force shall submit a report outlining its findings, along with any proposed
52	52	22legislation, to the clerks of the senate and the house of representatives and to the chairs of the
53	53	23senate and the house committees on ways and means not later than 12 months after the effective
54	54	24date of this act.