Bill Text: NJ A3658 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires institutions of higher education to provide advocates for victims of sexual assault.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-09-18 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Higher Education Committee [A3658 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-A3658-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman REED GUSCIORA
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
SYNOPSIS
Requires institutions of higher education to provide advocates for victims of sexual assault.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning sexual assaults occurring at institutions of higher education and supplementing P.L.1994, c.160 (C.18A:61E-1 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. In the event that an institution of higher education receives a report of an alleged sexual assault made by a student enrolled in the institution or made by an employee of the institution against another such student or employee, the institution shall immediately appoint an advocate for the victim of the sexual assault for the duration of the institution's investigation of the allegation of sexual assault.
b. The advocate shall notify the sexual assault victim of the existing available services, including but not limited to, medical treatment, counseling, legal options, forensic medical services, mental health and student services for victims of sexual assault, both on campus and in the community, whether or not the assault is reported to law enforcement authorities.
c. Nothing in this section shall be construed to preclude, or in any way restrict, an institution of higher education from responding to and investigating an allegation of sexual assault made pursuant to subsection a. of this section for the purpose of imposing disciplinary action on the alleged perpetrator of the assault.
2. This act shall take effect on the 60th day after the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill requires an institution of higher education, upon receiving a report of an alleged sexual assault made by a student or employee against another student or employee, to immediately appoint an advocate for the victim of the sexual assault for the duration of the institution's investigation of the allegation of sexual assault. Under the bill, the advocate will notify the sexual assault victim of the existing available services, including but not limited to, medical treatment, counseling, legal options, forensic medical services, mental health and student services for victims of sexual assault, both on campus and in the community, whether or not the assault is reported to law enforcement authorities.
The bill specifies that its provisions do not preclude, or in any way restrict, an institution of higher education from responding to and investigating an allegation of sexual assault for the purpose of imposing disciplinary action on the alleged perpetrator of the assault.
