Definitions.

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  • (1) "Certified advocate" means an individual who:
    • (a) is employed by or volunteers at a qualified institutional victim services provider;
    • (b) has completed at least 40 hours of training in counseling and assisting victims of sexual harassment, sexual assault, rape, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking; and
    • (c) acts under the supervision of the director or director's designee of a qualified institutional victim services provider.
  • (2)
    • (a) "Confidential communication" means information that is communicated by a victim, in the course of the victim seeking an institutional advocacy service, to:
      • (i) a certified advocate;
      • (ii) a qualified institutional victim services provider;
      • (iii) a person reasonably necessary for the transmission of the information;
      • (iv) an individual who is present at the time the information is transmitted for the purpose of furthering the victim's interests; or
      • (v) another individual, in the context of group counseling at a qualified institutional victim services provider.
    • (b) "Confidential communication" includes a record that is created or maintained as a result of the communication described in Subsection (2)(a).
  • (3) "Institutional advocacy service" means a safety planning, counseling, psychological, support, advocacy, medical, or legal service that:
    • (a) addresses issues involving:
      • (i) sexual harassment;
      • (ii) sexual assault;
      • (iii) rape;
      • (iv) domestic violence;
      • (v) dating violence; or
      • (vi) stalking; and
    • (b) is provided by a qualified institutional victim services provider.
  • (4)
    • (a) "Qualified institutional victim services provider" means an organization that:
      • (i) is affiliated with an institution;
      • (ii) employs or provides volunteer opportunities for certified advocates;
      • (iii) provides an institutional advocacy service to victims or families of victims; and
      • (iv) is designated by the affiliated institution as a qualified institutional victim services provider.
    • (b) "Qualified institutional victim services provider" may include an institution's:
      • (i) sexual assault center;
      • (ii) victim advocacy center;
      • (iii) women's center;
      • (iv) health center; or
      • (v) counseling service center.
  • (5) "Record" means a book, letter, document, paper, map, plan, photograph, film, card, tape, recording, electronic data, or other documentary material regardless of physical form or characteristics.
  • (6) "Victim" means an individual who seeks an institutional advocacy service.




Technically renumbered to avoid duplication of section number also enacted in HB54, Chapter 440.


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