SR0058 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0058 LRB102 15300 MST 20655 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Sexual Assault Survivors Emergency Treatment Act is primarily focused on sexual assault survivors generally, and child sexual abuse has distinct circumstances and responses; and

WHEREAS, Child sexual abuse has various adverse effects on the psychological, physical, behavioral, and interpersonal well-being of the victim; and

WHEREAS, Child victims of sexual and physical abuse are at a higher risk of suffering from depression, low self-esteem, post traumatic stress disorder, psychotic syndromes, suicide or attempted suicide, anti-social personality disorders, drug and alcohol abuse, and increased risk of re-victimization; and

WHEREAS, Child victims of sexual abuse deserve to have an acute specialized medical response/exam that is developmentally appropriate, trauma-informed, evidenced-based, and provided by a medical specialist with pediatric expertise; and

WHEREAS, The research conducted on child sexual assault indicates that in cases of child sexual abuse when the investigation is conducted carefully and conscientiously then answers to questions of safety begin to emerge; and

WHEREAS, The research conducted on child sexual assault cases indicates one in 10 children are affected; 73% of child victims do not tell anyone about the abuse for at least a year, 45% of victims do not tell anyone for at least 5 years, and some children never disclose; 90% of child sexual abuse victims know their abuser; and

WHEREAS, The State has a responsibility to protect these youth from mistreatment, further traumatization, and exploitation; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the Child Sexual and Physical Abuse Task Force is created to investigate, assess, and make recommendations on the Sexual Assault Survivors Emergency Treatment ACT and its implementation to ensure that child development and children's unique medical needs are addressed in the medical response to child sexual abuse within this Act; in addition to the goals stated above, The Task Force shall:

(1) Evaluate current training, mentoring, and certification programming for pediatric sexual abuse medical exam providers to ensure all align with national accreditation standards;

(2) Conduct a comprehensive review, evaluation, and streamlining of the complaint process for practitioners and providers;

(3)Prepare a peer review of all processes relating to the implementation, accreditation, and programmatic structure of the Sexual Assault Survivors Emergency Treatment Act;

(4) Conduct a comprehensive review of pediatric evidence available to ensure that the implementation of the Sexual Assault Survivors Emergency Treatment Act is appropriate for pediatric populations; and

(5) Conduct a comprehensive review of the examination process for becoming a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner – Pediatrics in Illinois to ensure that this accreditation is efficient, effective, and appropriate; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall consist of the following members:

(1) The President of the Senate or his or her designee, who shall serve as Chairperson;

(2) The Minority Leader of the Senate or his or her designee;

(3) The Director of the Department of Children and Family Services or the (DCFS) Director of Legislative Affairs;

(4) The Director of the Department of Public Health or the (DPH) Director of Legislative Affairs;

(5) The Director of the Illinois State Police or the (ISP) Director of Government Relations;

(6) The Attorney General or the (AG) Chief of Legislative Affairs;

(7) The Director of the Guardianship and Advocacy Commission or his or her designee; and

(8) The following members appointed by the Director of the Department of Children and Family Services:

(a) One member representing a coalition of Children's Advocacy Centers in Illinois;

(b) Five members representing Children Advocacy Centers; appointees must be geographically diverse: four members representing each CAC region and one representing a county with a population less than 100,000 people;

(c) Five members representing Certified Pediatric Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners – SANE-Ps; appointees must be geographically diverse: four members, each representing only one CAC region and one representing a county with a population less than 100,000 people;

(d) Five Pediatrician Board Certified/Eligible in Child Abuse and Neglect; appointees must be geographically Diverse: four members representing only one CAC region and one representing a county with a population less than 100,000 people;

(e) Five general pediatricians with expertise in child sexual abuse;

(f) One member representing a statewide association of pediatricians;

(g) One member representing a statewide association of hospitals;

(h) One member representing a statewide association of physicians;

(i) One member representing children's justice prosecutor with experience prosecuting sexual and physical abuse of minors;

(j) One member who serves as a law enforcement officer (juvenile division or Child Death Review Team) with experience investigating sexual and physical abuse of minors; and

(k) One pediatrician who is board certified in child abuse pediatrics at an independent free-standing children's hospital located in Chicago and serves as an assistant professor of pediatrics (child abuse) at a medical school located in Chicago; and be it further

RESOLVED, That members of the Task Force shall be appointed within 30 days after the adoption of this resolution and shall serve without compensation; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Illinois State Police shall provide administrative support to the Task Force; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall hold at least four meetings, and the first meeting must be held within 30 days after appointments are finalized or at the call of the Chairperson; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force must report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly no later than April, 30, 2021, and upon the filing of its report is dissolved; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, and the state agencies represented on the Task Force.