Sec. 102. Actions to address sexual assault at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall, acting through the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, develop a comprehensive policy on the prevention of and response to sexual assaults involving employees of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, members of the commissioned officer corps of the Administration, and individuals who work with or conduct business on behalf of the Administration. The comprehensive policy developed under subsection
(a)shall, at a minimum, address the following matters: Prevention measures. Education and training on prevention and response. Clear procedures an individual should follow in the case of an occurrence of sexual assault, including— a specification of the person or persons to whom an alleged occurrence of sexual assault should be reported by an individual and options for confidential reporting, including— options for after-hours contact; and procedures for assistance while working in a remote scientific field camp, at sea, or in another field status; a specification of any other person whom the victim should contact; and procedures on the preservation of evidence necessary for investigation of the alleged occurrence. Easy and ready availability of information regarding the procedures described in paragraph (3). Investigation of complaints by command and law enforcement personnel. Medical treatment of victims. Confidential reporting of incidents. Victims advocacy and intervention, including establishment of victim advocates as described in subsection (c). Oversight by the Assistant Administrator of the Office of Marine and Aviation Operations of administrative and disciplinary actions in response to substantiated incidents of sexual assault. Liaison and collaboration with other Federal agencies on the provision of services to victims of sexual assault. Uniform collection of data on the incidence of sexual assaults and on disciplinary actions taken in substantiated cases of sexual assault. The Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary, shall establish victim advocates to advocate for victims of sexual assaults involving employees of the Administration, members of the commissioned officer corps of the Administration, and individuals who work with or conduct business on behalf of the Administration. For purposes of this subsection, a victim advocate is a permanent employee of the Administration who— is trained in matters relating to sexual assault and the comprehensive policy developed under subsection (a); and serves as a victim advocate voluntarily and in addition to the employee's other duties as an employee of the Administration. The primary duties of a victim advocate established under paragraph
(1)shall include the following: Supporting victims of sexual assault and informing them of their rights and the resources available to them as victims. Acting as a companion in navigating investigative, medical, mental and emotional health, and recovery processes relating to sexual assault. Helping ensure the safety of victims of sexual assault. The Secretary shall ensure that at least 1 victim advocate established under paragraph
(1)is stationed— in each region in which the Administration conducts operations; and in each marine and aviation center of the Administration. In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary shall establish a telephone number at which a victim of a sexual assault can get in touch with a victim advocate. The Secretary shall ensure that the telephone number established under subparagraph
(A)is monitored at all times. The Secretary shall ensure that the policy developed under subsection
(a)is available to all employees of the Administration and members of the commissioned officer corps of the Administration, including those employees and members who conduct field work for the Administration.