BILL NUMBER: AB 1475	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 26, 2015

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Cooper

                        FEBRUARY 27, 2015

   An act to  amend Section 11164 of the Penal Code,
   add Chapter 12 (commencing with Section 13898) to
Title 6 of Part 4 of the Penal Code,  relating to  child
  sexual  abuse.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1475, as amended, Cooper.  Child Abuse and Neglect
Reporting Act.  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.  
   Existing law, the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act, defines
"sexual abuse" as sexual assault or sexual exploitation for purposes
of mandating certain persons to report suspected cases of child abuse
or neglect. The failure to report known or suspected instances of
child abuse, including sexual abuse, under the act is a misdemeanor.
Existing law provides that the intent and purpose of this act is to
protect children from abuse and neglect, and requires all persons
participating in the investigation of suspected child abuse or
neglect to consider the needs of the child victim.  

   This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to this
statement of intent. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


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.
   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 predator date rape, and human sex
trafficking.
   (c) Evaluation of the cost-effectiveness and feasability 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.  
  SECTION 1.    Section 11164 of the Penal Code is
amended to read:
   11164.  (a) This article shall be known, and may be cited, as the
Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act.
   (b) The intent and purpose of this article is to protect children
from abuse and neglect. In any investigation of suspected child abuse
or neglect, all persons participating in the investigation of the
case shall consider the needs of the child victim and shall do
whatever is necessary to prevent psychological harm to the child
victim.