About SASTF
History of the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Task Force
Created by House Bill 1590 during the 86th Legislative Session (Representative Donna Howard and Senator Kirk Watson), the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Task Force (SASTF) is housed in the Office of the Governor's Public Safety Office and seeks to establish a survivor-centered, trauma-informed, collaborative, and coordinated response to sexual violence experienced by adults and children in Texas.
As mandated by Texas Government Code § 772.0064, the SASTF Steering Committee includes the Office of the Governor, the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault (TAASA), and the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas (CACTX). The statute further mandates Task Force representation from agencies across Texas with duties related to the prevention, investigation, or prosecution of sexual assault and other sex offenses, as well as agencies that provide services to survivors. The SASTF also includes other members as designated by the Steering Committee.