Sec. 432. Training and education programs for covered misconduct prevention and response
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Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall revise the curriculum of the Coast Guard with respect to covered misconduct prevention and response training— to include— information on procedures and responsibilities with respect to reporting requirements, investigations, survivor health and safety (including expedited transfers, no-contact orders, military and civilian protective orders, and temporary separations), and whistleblower protections; information on Department of Veterans Affairs resources available to veterans, active-duty personnel, and reserve personnel; information on the right of any member of the Coast Guard to seek legal resources outside the Coast Guard; general information regarding the availability of legal resources provided by civilian legal services organizations, presented in an organized and consistent manner that does not endorse any particular legal services organization; and information on the capability, operations, reporting structure, and requirements with respect to the Chief Prosecutor of the Coast Guard; and to address the workforce training recommendations set forth in the memorandum of the Coast Guard titled Commandant’s Directed Actions—Accountability and Transparency , issued on November 27, 2023.
In revising the curriculum under this subsection, the Commandant shall solicit input from individuals outside the Coast Guard who are experts in sexual assault and sexual harassment prevention and response training. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall ensure that all members and civilian employees of the Coast Guard are provided with annual covered misconduct prevention and response training and education for the purpose of strengthening individual knowledge, skills, and capacity relating to the prevention of and response to covered misconduct.
The training and education referred to in paragraph (1)— shall be provided as part of— initial entry and accession training; annual refresher training; initial and recurring training courses for covered first responders; new and prospective commanding officer and executive officer training; and specialized leadership training; and shall be tailored for specific leadership levels, positions, pay grades, and roles. The training and education referred to in paragraph
(1)shall include the information described in subsection (a)(1)(A). Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall ensure that— training for covered first responders includes the covered misconduct prevention and response training described in subsection (b); and such covered misconduct prevention and response training is provided to covered first responders on a recurring basis. In addition to the information described in subsection (a)(1)(A), the initial and recurring covered misconduct prevention and response training for covered first responders shall include information on procedures and responsibilities with respect to— the provision of care to a victim of covered misconduct, in accordance with professional standards or practice, that accounts for trauma experienced by the victim and associated symptoms or events that may exacerbate such trauma; and the manner in which such a victim may receive such care. Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall ensure that training for prospective commanders and executive officers at all levels of command includes the covered misconduct prevention and response training described in subsection (b). In addition to the information described in subsection (a)(1)(A), the covered misconduct prevention and response training for prospective commanding officers and executive officers shall be— tailored to the responsibilities and leadership requirements of members of the Coast Guard as they are assigned to command positions; and revised, as necessary, to include information on— fostering a command climate— that does not tolerate covered misconduct; in which individuals assigned to the command are encouraged to intervene to prevent potential incidents of covered misconduct; and that encourages victims of covered misconduct to report any incident of covered misconduct; the possible variations in the effect of trauma on individuals who have experienced covered misconduct; potential differences in the procedures and responsibilities, Department of Veterans Affairs resources, and legal resources described in subsection (a)(1)(A) depending on the operating environment in which an incident of covered misconduct occurred; the investigation of alleged incidents of covered misconduct, including training on understanding evidentiary standards; available disciplinary options, including administrative action and deferral of discipline for collateral misconduct, and examples of disciplinary options in civilian jurisdictions; and the capability, operations, reporting structure, and requirements with respect to the Chief Prosecutor of the Coast Guard. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall provide for the inclusion of an initial covered misconduct prevention and response training module in the training for each new member of the Coast Guard, which shall be provided not later than 14 duty days after the date of accession. In addition to the information described in subsection (a)(1)(A), the initial training module referred to in subparagraph
(A)shall include a comprehensive explanation of Coast Guard— policy with respect to covered misconduct; and procedures for reporting covered misconduct. The Commandant shall provide for the inclusion of a detailed covered misconduct prevention and response training module in the training for each new member of the Coast Guard, which shall be provided not later than 60 duty days after the date on which the initial training module described in paragraph (1)(A) is provided. The detailed training module referred to in subparagraph
(A)shall include the information described in subsection (a)(1)(A). In this section: The term covered first responder includes sexual assault response coordinators, victim advocates, Coast Guard medical officers, Coast Guard security forces, Coast Guard Investigative Service agents, judge advocates, special victims’ counsel, chaplains, and related personnel. The term covered misconduct has the meaning given such term in section 2519 of title 14, United States Code.