Article 3. Training Of Sexual Assault Investigators of California Penal Code >> Title 6. >> Part 4. >> Chapter 4. >> Article 3.

The Office of Emergency Services shall establish an advisory committee which shall develop a course of training for district attorneys in the investigation and prosecution of sexual assault cases, child sexual exploitation cases, and child sexual abuse cases and shall approve grants awarded pursuant to Section 13837. The courses shall include training in the unique emotional trauma experienced by victims of these crimes. It is the intent of the Legislature in the enactment of this chapter to encourage the establishment of sex crime prosecution units, which shall include, but not be limited to, child sexual exploitation and child sexual abuse cases, in district attorneys' offices throughout the state.

The committee shall consist of 11 members. Five shall be appointed by the Director of Emergency Services, and shall include three district attorneys or assistant or deputy district attorneys, one representative of a city police department or a sheriff or a representative of a sheriff's department, and one public defender or assistant or deputy public defender of a county. Six shall be public members appointed by the Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, and shall include one representative of a rape crisis center, and one medical professional experienced in dealing with sexual assault trauma victims. The committee members shall represent the points of view of diverse ethnic and language groups. Members of the committee shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be reimbursed for their expenses actually and necessarily incurred by them in the performance of their duties. Staff support for the committee shall be provided by the Office of Emergency Services.

(a) The office shall reimburse each county for the costs of salaries and transportation to the extent necessary to permit up to 10 percent of the staff of the district attorney to complete the course of training established pursuant to this chapter. The office shall prescribe the manner in which the training shall be obtained. The training shall be offered at least twice each year in both northern and southern California.
  (b) The office shall seek certification from the State Bar of the course as a course which may be taken to complete the Criminal Law Specialist Certificate.