Substitute House Bill No. 5399, also known as Public Act No. 24-127, aims to improve the criminal justice response to adult victims of sexual assault by establishing a Sexual Assault Criminal Justice Response, Enhancement and Model Policy Advisory Council. This council, effective July 1, 2024, will evaluate and develop a model policy for the criminal justice system's response to sexual assault, covering aspects such as law enforcement procedures, data accuracy, risk assessments, and offender programming. The bill mandates that police officers at sexual assault incidents provide immediate assistance, inform victims of services, and refer them to the Office of Victim Services. It also requires the Police Officer Standards and Training Council to distribute the model policy to law enforcement units, which must adopt a policy that meets or exceeds its standards. Annual reports to the General Assembly will include recommendations for changes and updates to the model policy.
Additionally, the bill enhances the provision of information on counseling and supportive services for individuals affected by domestic violence and sexual assault. It requires that such information be made available in multiple languages by the Department of Education, ambulance companies, and emergency transportation or treatment services. Starting from the school year commencing July 1, 2020, local and regional boards of education must provide this information to students, parents, or guardians who express concerns about safety at home due to domestic violence or sexual assault. The bill includes insertions to the current law to incorporate sexual assault into the provisions for safety information and support, with no deletions mentioned in the provided text.