California Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) 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 create the California Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) Advisory Council to promote swift, coordinated, competent, and efficient sexual assault intervention in every county, whose work shall be directed by a lead agency or department to be specified by the Governor. The bill would require the council to consist of representatives from specified entities, including sexual assault forensic examination teams, law enforcement agencies, county district attorneys' offices, crime laboratories, rape crisis centers, and hospitals. 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 submit, beginning on November 30, 2024, a biennial report to the Governor, Legislature, relevant legislative committees, and specified state agencies.