Sec. 6. Working group
584 words·~3 min read·
/bill/114/s/2566/is/section-6A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The Attorney General and the Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this section as the Secretary ) shall establish a joint working group (referred to in this section as the Working Group ) to develop, coordinate, and disseminate best practices regarding the care and treatment of sexual assault survivors and the preservation of forensic evidence. The Working Group shall consult with— stakeholders in law enforcement, prosecution, forensic laboratory, counseling, forensic examiner, medical facility, and medical provider communities; and representatives from not less than 3 national organizations and State coalitions with demonstrated expertise in sexual assault prevention, sexual assault advocacy, or representation of sexual assault victims, particularly representatives of underserved or ethnic minority communities.
The Working Group shall be composed of the following members: The Administrator of the Health Resource and Services Administration. The Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Director of the Indian Health Service. The Director of the Office for Victims of Crime. The Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs. The Director of the Office on Violence Against Women. Other governmental or nongovernmental agency heads at the discretion of the Attorney General or the Secretary.
The Working Group shall— improve the coordination of the dissemination and implementation of best practices and protocols regarding the care and treatment of sexual assault survivors and the preservation of evidence to hospital administrators, physicians, forensic examiners, and other medical associations and leaders in the medical community; develop and implement, where appropriate, clinical guidelines and other incentives to encourage the adoption and implementation of best practices and protocols regarding the care and treatment of sexual assault survivors and the preservation of evidence among hospital administrators, physicians, forensic examiners, and other medical associations and leaders in the medical community; improve the coordination of the dissemination and implementation of best practices regarding the care and treatment of sexual assault survivors and the preservation of evidence to State attorneys general, United States attorneys, heads of State law enforcement agencies, forensic laboratory directors and managers, and other leaders in the law enforcement community; develop and implement, where appropriate, incentives to encourage the adoption or implementation of best practices regarding the care and treatment of sexual assault survivors and the preservation of evidence among State attorneys general, United States attorneys, heads of State law enforcement agencies, forensic laboratory directors and managers, and other leaders in the law enforcement community; collect feedback from stakeholders, practitioners, and leadership throughout the Federal and State law enforcement, victim services, forensic science practitioner, and health care communities to inform development of future best practices or clinical guidelines regarding the care and treatment of sexual assault survivors; and perform other activities, such as activities relating to development, dissemination, outreach, engagement, or training associated with advancing victim-centered care for sexual assault survivors.
Not later than 120 days after its first meeting, the Working Group shall submit to the Attorney General, the Secretary, and Congress an operating plan for carrying out the activities of the Working Group. The Working Group shall— hold its first meeting not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act; and meet not fewer than 2 times and not more than 5 times each year. Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Working Group shall submit to the Attorney General, the Secretary, and Congress a report containing the findings and recommended actions of the Working Group.