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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1482 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2446
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. 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
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
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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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:
1 There shall be a task force to make recommendations on establishing statewide
2certification and updating training standards for sexual assault counselors.
3 The task force shall be comprised of the following members: the commissioner of the
4department of public health or a designee, who shall serve as chair; 1 member designated by the
5governor’s council, who shall address sexual assault and domestic violence issues; 1 member
6designated by Pathways for Change, Inc.; 1 member designated by Boston Area Rape Crisis
7Center; 1 member designated by the Center for Hope & Healing; 1 member from the Victim
8Rights Law Center, Inc.; 1 member designated by Jane Doe, Inc.; 1 member from the
9Massachusetts office of victim assistance; and no more than 3 members who shall be a sexual 2 of 2
10assault survivor(s) designated by consensus of Pathways for Change, Inc., the Boston Area
11Rape Crisis Center and the Center for Hope & Healing.
12 The 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
14laws; (ii) the curriculum and number of training hours required for certification of rape crisis
15center and program employees; (iii) the curriculum and number of training hours required for
16volunteer positions; (iv) the appropriateness of “levels” of certification and corresponding
17criteria for each if so; (v) a fee structure for certification; (vi) the feasibility of and costs
18associated with establishing and maintaining licensure of rape crisis centers; and (vii) the
19feasibility of providing continuing education and college credits with the completion of training
20programs.
21 The task force shall submit a report outlining its findings, along with any proposed
22legislation, to the clerks of the senate and the house of representatives and to the chairs of the
23senate and the house committees on ways and means not later than 12 months after the effective
24date of this act.