Sec. 2. Department of State policy and procedures on prevention and response to harassment, discrimination, sexual assault, and related retaliation
469 words·~2 min read·
/bill/116/hr/8465/ih/section-2A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall develop a comprehensive policy for the Department of State on the prevention of and response to harassment, discrimination, sexual assault, and related retaliation involving employees, contractors, and officials of the Department. The policy developed under subsection
(a)may include elements as the Secretary deems necessary, but shall include, at a minimum, the following: Prevention measures. Education and training on prevention and response, as provided in this Act. Investigation of complaints. Medical treatment of victims. Mechanisms for confidential reporting of incidents by staff and service contractors, to include online and telephonic methods. Victim advocacy, intervention, and counseling for covered employees of the Department who are victims of harassment, discrimination, sexual assault, and related retaliation that shall be made available, irrespective of where such covered employees are located, to assist and guide such victims. Supportive services, including counseling and victim advocacy, that shall be made available irrespective of whether the victim identifies the accused individual. Oversight and review of administrative and disciplinary actions, to include termination, for employees and officials of the Department of State. Review by appropriate authority of administrative separation actions involving victims of harassment, discrimination, sexual assault, and related retaliation. Uniform collection of data on the incidence of violations and on disciplinary actions taken in cases of harassment, discrimination, sexual assault, and related retaliation. Procedures for disciplinary action in cases of harassment, discrimination, sexual assault, and related retaliation by employees or officials of the Department. Workforce communications relating to harassment, discrimination, sexual assault, and related retaliation prevention, discipline, and reporting, to include printed and electronic materials made available in both English and the working languages at overseas posts, made available for all staff. Acknowledgment of the challenges facing vulnerable groups including women, people of color, entry-level officers, locally employed staff, and the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community. Policies regarding the retention of documents relating to complaints, investigations, and disciplinary action. The Secretary of State shall review Department of State processes for victim reporting and resolution of complaints, as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act, to ensure that the Department’s procedures are clear and easily accessible to all covered employees. Such review shall be included in the report to be submitted in section 7. The Secretary of State shall ensure that the policy developed under subsection
(a)is implemented uniformly by the bureaus and offices of the Department of State. The Department of State is directed to coordinate with other United States government agencies which provide personnel to serve in overseas posts under Chief of Mission authority to develop interagency policies for addressing, reporting, and discipline for incidents of harassment, discrimination, sexual assault, or related retaliation occurring between covered employees and non-covered employees.