Statewide sexual assault response team advisory council.

Existing law authorizes 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. Existing law requires each SART to, among other things, evaluate the effectiveness of individual agency and interagency protocols and systems by conducting case reviews involving sexual assault. This bill would require an unspecified department to establish a statewide sexual assault response team (SART) advisory council to advocate for the establishment and advancement of SARTs in the state for the purpose of promoting swift, coordinated, competent, and efficient sexual assault intervention in every county. The bill would require the council to consist of representatives from sexual assault forensic examination teams, law enforcement agencies, county district attorneys' offices, crime laboratories, and rape crisis centers, as specified. The bill would establish procedures for the council and require the council to, among other things, review statewide sexual assault intervention, advise county sexual assault response team programs, and make recommendations to the Legislature and appropriate state agencies.