Chapter 725 of the 2020 Acts of Assembly amended the Code of Virginia to include § 32.1-162.15:11, which established the Task Force on Services for Survivors of Sexual Assault (Task Force) to assist with the implementation of the treatment and transfer requirements placed on hospitals and pediatric health care facilities for adult and pediatric survivors of sexual assault. The Code also mandates that the Task Force submit a report to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 1 of each year regarding its activities and the status of implementation. The Code tasks the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) with providing staff support to the Task Force. VDH assisted the Task Force with preparing this report.

From October 2023 to September 2024, the Task Force convened 12 times to advance its work. A summary of the status of the Task Force’s work is outlined below.

2024 STATUS UPDATE

In 2024, the Task Force continued to prioritize work on the development of model treatment and transfer plans and transfer agreements for adult survivors of sexual assault, educational materials to support entities in implementing the model plans and agreements, and telemedicine recommendations. The composition of the Task Force allowed for input from hospitals, pediatric health care facilities, and subject matter experts to inform the development of these model documents and education materials. The Task Force approved a model adult transfer agreement, adult transfer plan, and adult treatment plan. At the time of this report, the Task Force is finalizing the educational materials and telemedicine recommendations and expect to finish those by the end of 2024.

In 2025, the Task Force plans to focus efforts on the remaining requirements identified in Code of Virginia § 32.1-162.15:11:

• Work with treatment hospitals and approved pediatric health care facilities to develop plans to employ or contract with sexual assault forensic examiners for treatment services to survivors of sexual assault by sexual assault forensic examiners, including plans for implementation of on-call systems to ensure availability of sexual assault forensic examiners

• Work with treatment hospitals and approved pediatric health care facilities to identify and recommend processes to ensure compliance related to creation, storage, and retention of photographic and other documentation and evidence

• Distribute educational materials regarding implementation to hospitals, health care providers, rape crisis centers, children's advocacy centers, and others