2025 SESSION

HOUSE SUBSTITUTE

25108292D

HOUSE BILL NO. 2520

AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE

(Proposed by the Governor

on March 24, 2025)

(Patron Prior to Substitute—Delegate Cole)

A BILL to direct the Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs to convene a work group to study the efficacy of existing responses to address sexual offenses within the Virginia Department of Military Affairs and the Virginia National Guard; report.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. § 1. That the Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs shall convene a work group to study the efficacy of existing responses to address sexual offenses within the Virginia Department of Military Affairs and the Virginia National Guard. The Virginia National Guard currently utilizes the federally funded Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) program, and it operates a Sexual Assault Response Workforce (SARW) model that consists of the Supervisory Principal Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC), three regional SARCs, three Victim Advocates, and two SARW program specialists. The work group shall study the policies, procedures, practices, and efficacy of the SAPR program in the Commonwealth to determine if a state response is needed to improve efficacy. The work group shall submit a report on its findings and legislative recommendations to the General Assembly by November 1, 2025.