Massachusetts S 1590: An Act relative to public safety in hoisting regulations

Bill Text

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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 703 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1590

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Michael O. Moore
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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
resolve:
Resolve establishing a sexual assault counselor certification task force.
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PETITION OF:

NAME: DISTRICT/ADDRESS:
Michael O. Moore Second Worcester
Susannah M. Whipps 2nd Franklin 1/30/2025
James B. Eldridge Middlesex and Worcester 2/20/2025
James K. Hawkins 2nd Bristol 2/20/2025

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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 703 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1590
By Mr. Moore, a petition (accompanied by resolve, Senate, No. 1590) of Michael O. Moore,
Susannah M. Whipps, James B. Eldridge and James K. Hawkins 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. 1432 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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Resolve establishing a sexual assault counselor certification task force.

1 Resolved, There shall be a task force to make recommendations on establishing statewide
2 certification and updating training standards for sexual assault counselors.
3 The 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
10 assault survivor(s) designated by consensus of Pathways for Change, Inc., the Boston Area Rape
11 Crisis Center and the Center for Hope & Healing.

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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
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.
21 The 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.