Bill Text: CA AB1475 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Chaptered

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Bill Title: Sexual assault response team.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2015-08-13 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 210, Statutes of 2015. [AB1475 Detail]

Download: California-2015-AB1475-Chaptered.html

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BILL NUMBER: AB 1475	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	CHAPTER  210
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  AUGUST 13, 2015
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  AUGUST 13, 2015
	PASSED THE SENATE  JULY 13, 2015
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  JULY 16, 2015
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JULY 7, 2015
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 22, 2015
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 26, 2015

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Cooper

                        FEBRUARY 27, 2015

   An act to add Chapter 12 (commencing with Section 13898) to Title
6 of Part 4 of the Penal Code, relating to sexual abuse.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1475, Cooper. Sexual assault response team.
   Existing law authorizes any county to establish and implement a
sexual assault felony enforcement (SAFE) team program for the purpose
of reducing violent sexual assault offenses in the county through
proactive surveillance and arrest of habitual sexual offenders and
strict enforcement of registration for sex offenders, and to provide
community education about ways to protect individuals and families
from sexual assault.
   This bill would authorize each county to establish an interagency
sexual assault response team (SART) program for the purpose of
providing a forum for interagency cooperation and coordination to
effectively address the problem of sexual assault. The members of the
team would be representatives of specified public and private
agencies and organizations. The bill would require each SART to,
among other things, evaluate the effectiveness of individual agency
and interagency protocols and systems by conducting case reviews
involving sexual assault.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Chapter 12 (commencing with Section 13898) is added to
Title 6 of Part 4 of the Penal Code, to read:
      CHAPTER 12.  COUNTY SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE TEAM (SART) PROGRAM


   13898.  (a) Each county may establish and implement an interagency
sexual assault response team (SART) program for the purpose of
providing a forum for interagency cooperation and coordination, to
assess and make recommendations for the improvement in the local
sexual assault intervention system, and to facilitate improved
communication and working relationships to effectively address the
problem of sexual assault in California.
   (b) Each SART program shall be established and implemented
pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
   13898.1.  (a) Each SART may consist of representatives of the
following public and private agencies or organizations:
   (1) Law enforcement agencies.
   (2) County district attorneys' offices.
   (3) Rape crisis centers.
   (4) Local sexual assault forensic examination teams.
   (5) Crime laboratories.
   (b) Dependent upon local needs and goals, each SART may include
representatives of the following public and private agencies or
organizations:
   (1) Child protective services.
   (2) Local victim and witness assistance centers.
   (3) County public health departments.
   (4) County mental health services departments.
   (5) Forensic interview centers.
   (6) University and college Title IX coordinators.
   (7) University and college police departments.
   13898.2.  The program established pursuant to this chapter shall
have the following objectives:
   (a) Review of local sexual assault intervention undertaken by all
disciplines to promote effective intervention and best practices.
   (b) Assessment of relevant trends, including drug-facilitated
sexual assault, the incidence of predatory date rape, and human sex
trafficking.
   (c) Evaluation of the cost-effectiveness and feasibility of a per
capita funding model for local sexual assault forensic examination
teams to achieve stability for this component of the SART program.
   (d) Evaluation of the effectiveness of individual agency and
interagency protocols and systems by conducting case reviews of cases
involving sexual assault.
   (e) Plan and implement effective prevention strategies and
collaborate with other agencies and educational institutions to
address sexual assault perpetrated by strangers, sexual assault
perpetrated by persons known to the victim, including, but not
limited to, a friend, family member, or general acquaintance of the
victim, predatory date rape, risks associated with binge alcohol
drinking, and drug-facilitated sexual assault.