5683441 Resolution 21-219, Sexual Assault Victim Rights Task Force Report Extension Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2015

A RESOLUTION

 

21-219

IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

 

September 22, 2015

 

To declare the existence of an emergency with respect to the need to amend the Sexual Assault Victims’ Rights Act of 2014 to extend the date by which the Sexual Assault Victim Rights Task Force shall submit its report to the Council and the Sexual Assault Response Team.

 

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited as the “Sexual Assault Victim Rights Task Force Report Extension Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2015”.

 

Sec. 2. (a) Title II of the Sexual Assault Victims’ Rights Act of 2014, effective November 20, 2014 (D.C. Law 20-139; D.C. Official Code § 4-561.01 et seq.) (“Act”) requires the Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants to establish a Sexual Assault Victim Rights Task Force (“Task Force”) to study nationally recognized best practices and develop recommendations regarding:

(1) The development and implementation of an effective mechanism for submitting, tracking, and investigating complaints regarding the handling of, or response to, a sexual assault report or investigation by any agency or organization involved in the response;

(2) Whether a need exists for additional sexual assault victim advocates;

(3) Whether a need exists to expand the right to a sexual assault victim advocate beyond the hospital and law enforcement interview settings, such as meetings and conversations with prosecutors; and

(4) Whether a need exists to expand the right to a sexual assault victim advocate to juvenile sexual assault victims.

(b) The Act requires the Task Force to submit its report of the results of its assessments, developments, and recommendations to the Council and the Sexual Assault Response Team by September 30, 2015.

(c) The Task Force has met monthly since October 2014 and is now primarily considering its recommendations relating to juvenile sexual assault victims.

(d) The Task Force has committed to producing a draft report for public comment by October 14, 2015, and to holding an open meeting no later than November 18, 2015.

(e) The emergency act would extend the date by which the Task Force must submit its report to January 31, 2016, to enable it to complete consideration of its recommendations and to finalize the report following the open meeting.

            Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia determines that the circumstances enumerated in section 2 constitute emergency circumstances making it necessary that the Sexual Assault Victim Rights Task Force Report Extension Emergency Amendment Act of 2015 be adopted after a single reading.

 

Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.