U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 

1 

89–010 

" ! SENATE 115TH CONGRESS

2d Session 

REPORT

2018

115–443 

Calendar No. 734 

UNITED STATES CENTER FOR SAFE SPORT 

AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2017 

R E P O R T 

OF THE

COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND 

TRANSPORTATION 

ON

S. 1426 

DECEMBER 19, 2018.—Ordered to be printed 


E:\Seals\Congress.#13
(II) 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION 

ONE HUNDRED FIFTEENTH CONGRESS

SECOND SESSION

JOHN THUNE, South Dakota, Chairman 

ROGER F. WICKER, Mississippi BILL NELSON, Florida 

ROY BLUNT, Missouri MARIA CANTWELL, Washington 

TED CRUZ, Texas AMY KLOBUCHAR, Minnesota 

DEB FISCHER, Nebraska RICHARD BLUMENTHAL, Connecticut 

JERRY MORAN, Kansas BRIAN SCHATZ, Hawaii 

DAN SULLIVAN, Alaska EDWARD J. MARKEY, Massachusetts 

DEAN HELLER, Nevada TOM UDALL, New Mexico 

JAMES M. INHOFE, Oklahoma GARY C. PETERS, Michigan 

MIKE LEE, Utah TAMMY BALDWIN, Wisconsin 

RON JOHNSON, Wisconsin TAMMY DUCKWORTH, Illinois 

SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO, West Virginia MARGARET WOOD HASSAN, New Hampshire 

CORY GARDNER, Colorado CATHERINE CORTEZ MASTO, Nevada 

TODD C. YOUNG, Indiana JON TESTER, Montana 

NICK ROSSI, Staff Director 

CRYSTAL TULLY, Deputy Staff Director 

JASON VAN BEEK, General Counsel 

KIM LIPSKY, Democratic Staff Director 

CHRISTOPHER DAY, Democratic Deputy Staff Director 

Calendar No. 734 

115TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! SENATE 2nd Session 115–443 

UNITED STATES CENTER FOR SAFE SPORT 

AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2017 

DECEMBER 19, 2018.—Ordered to be printed 

Mr. THUNE, from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

Transportation, submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany S. 1426] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, to 

which was referred the bill (S. 1426) to amend the Ted Stevens 

Olympic and Amateur Sports Act to expand the purposes of the 

corporation, to designate the United States Center for Safe Sport, 

and for other purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon with an amendment (in the nature of a substitute) 

and recommends that the bill (as amended) do pass. 

PURPOSE OF THE BILL

The purpose of S. 1426, the United States Center for Safe Sport 

Authorization Act of 2017, is to clarify that a central purpose of the 

United States National Olympic Committee (USOC) is to promote 

a safe environment in sports that is free from abuse, including 

emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, of any amateur athlete. This 

legislation also would designate the United States Center for Safe 

Sport (Center) as the independent organization to investigate and 

adjudicate abuse allegations in the Olympic movement. It would require the Center, among other things, to develop best practices and 

procedures for implementation by the various National Governing 

Bodies (NGBs) and Paralympic Sports Organizations (PSOs) that 

are responsible for administering Olympic and Paralympic sports 

at the national level and for athlete development in preparing for 

competition. 

2 

1Will Hobson & Steven Rich, ‘‘An Athlete Accused Her Coach of Sex Abuse. Olympic Officials 

Stayed on the Sideline,’’ Wash. Post, February 14, 2017, at https://www.washingtonpost.com/ 

sports/olympics/an-athlete-accused-her-coach-of-sex-abuse-olympic-officials-stayed-on-sideline/ 

2017/02/14/35a6fc76-d2eb-11e6-a783-cd3fa950f2fd_story.html. 2See, e.g., Rick Maese & Will Hobson, ‘‘USA Gymnastics Says it Alerted FBI to Dr. Accused 

of Sex Abuse in 2015,’’ Wash. Post, February 16, 2017, at https://www.washingtonpost.com/ 

sports/2017/02/16/a03f968c-f489-11e6-a9b0-ecee7ce475fc_story.html (alleging sexual abuse 

within USA Gymnastics); Marisa Kwiatkowski, et al., ‘‘A Blind Eye to Sex Abuse: How USA 

Gymnastics Failed to Report Cases,’’ Indianapolis Star, Aug. 4, 2016, at A9 (alleging failure to 

report sexual abuse within USA Gymnastics); Kelly Whiteside, ‘‘the USOC Eyes Agency to Fix 

Abuses,’’ USA Today, Mar. 8, 2013, at 6C (reporting claims of physical and emotional abuse in 

U.S. Speedskating and stating that ‘‘[s]exual abuse allegations have rocked swimming and other 

sports’’); Caitlin Giddings, ‘‘USA Cycling Opens Investigation into Missy Erickson’s Allegations 

of Sexual Abuse,’’ Bicycling, Feb. 17, 2017, at http://www.bicycling.com/racing/pro-cycling/ 

usa-cycling-opens-investigation-into-missy-ericksons-allegations-of-sexual-abuse (alleging sexual 

abuse within USA Cycling). 3The National Olympic Committee for the United States (USOC) is responsible for supporting, 

entering, and overseeing U.S. teams for the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Youth Olympic 

Games, Pan American Games, and Parapan American Games. The USOC supports NGBs by 

providing expertise in nutrition, biomechanics, medicine, physiology, psychology, strength and 

conditioning, and performance technology. About the USOC, Team USA, at http:// 

www.teamusa.org/About-the-USOC (last visited Oct. 20, 2017). 4Letter from Hon. John Thune, Chairman, S. Comm. on Commerce, Sci., & Transp., and Hon. 

Jerry Moran, Chairman, Subcomm. on Consumer Prot., Prod. Safety, Ins., & Data Sec., to Mr. 

Scott Blackmun, Chief Exec. Officer, U.S. Olympic Comm. (March 2, 2017) (on file with Comm.). 

To minimize the risk to the Center of litigation arising from actions performed in the course of the investigation, adjudication, and 

sharing of information of abuse allegations, as this bill contemplates and requires, S. 1426 would provide certain limitations 

on liability for the Center, NGBs, and PSOs. It would provide exceptions to these limitations on liability in instances in which the 

entity has acted with actual malice or outside the scope of its duties. Finally, in order to ensure independence, this bill would authorize to be appropriated $1 million annually for fiscal years (FYs) 

2017 through 2021 to the Center to supplement the funds it currently receives from the USOC, the NGBs, and other sources. 

BACKGROUND AND NEEDS

The issue of sexual abuse within the United States Olympic 

movement has received considerable media attention in recent 

months. In February 2017, reports detailed serious allegations of 

alleged sexual abuse within the sport of taekwondo, resulting in 

the criminal conviction of a USA Taekwondo coach.1 Additional 

misconduct has reportedly occurred under other sports’ NGBs, including gymnastics, speed skating, swimming, and cycling.2 The 

implication that such conduct may be systemic across NGBs raises 

serious concerns about the extent to which the USOC3 perceives 

and is acting upon its obligation to protect the health and safety 

of athletes. Following these reports, in March 2017, Chairman 

Thune and Senator Moran, who serves as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, Insurance, and 

Data Security, sent a letter to the USOC inquiring about the ability of the USOC and the NGBs to conduct effective, timely, and impartial investigations into allegations of misconduct.4

To address abuse and misconduct, the USOC is responsible for 

enforcing conduct and safety policies for staff who are in direct contact with athletes. The USOC also has instituted mandatory policy 

measures for NGBs and PSOs. For example, in 2010, the USOC 

convened a working group for safe training environments and subsequently implemented its recommendations. In 2017, the USOC 

established the Center as an independent entity to provide a single 

3 

5Press Release, U.S. Ctr. for SafeSport, The U.S. Center for SafeSport Opens (March 23, 

2017) (on file with Comm.). 6This chapter is known as the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act. 

source for investigation and resolution of abuse and misconduct allegations.5 The Center is tasked with enforcing abuse prevention 

policies, investigating and adjudicating such allegations, and providing training and education to NGBs and their members on how 

to implement best practices. 

The Center receives operational funding principally through cash 

and in-kind contributions from the USOC and NGBs. The Center 

contemplates additional fundraising from the private sector, including foundations, corporations, and individuals; however, in FY 

2017, the year the Center became operational, it received approximately 66 percent of its funding from the USOC and approximately 

33 percent of its funding from the NGBs. The Committee recognizes that additional sources of funding, including access to Federal 

funding, are needed to ensure the Center’s independence and longterm viability. In particular, not having to rely solely on USOC and 

NGB funding is critical to the Center’s ability to offer and administer its investigations and decisions with clear independence and 

autonomy from those entities. Indeed, their athletes and coaches 

may be the subject of sensitive investigations. 

In addition to fundraising, the Committee recognizes that access 

to adequate insurance coverage has been a challenge for the Center. Given the Center’s current work in addressing abuse allegations and the additional duties contemplated by this legislation, the 

Committee believes the Center’s tort liability exposure should be 

calibrated to allow the Center to continue its work to protect amateur athletes from abuse by limiting the risk of potential litigation 

arising in the course of its legitimate activities. Furthermore, the 

Committee believes that such liability protections would allow the 

Center to renegotiate its current insurance policy to receive more 

favorable terms. 

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS

Section 3 would amend chapter 2205 of title 36, United States 

Code,6 by adding a new section 220541(a)(1) designating the Center 

to serve as the independent national safe sport organization and be 

recognized worldwide as the independent national safe sport organization for the United States. This language is modeled off of the 

law authorizing the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) 

(21 U.S.C. 2001, et seq.). It is the Committee’s intention for the 

Center to exist on a similar footing with, and with the same independence as, USADA. 

Section 3 would add a new section 220541(a)(3) to require the 

Center to maintain an office, to develop, among other things, training, oversight practices, policies, and procedures to prevent the 

abuse, including emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, of amateur 

athletes participating in amateur athletic activities through NGBs 

and PSOs. This provision would ensure that policies and procedures exist at the NGB and PSO level to protect amateur athletes 

from abuse, training to prevent abuse is available to NGBs and 

PSOs, and there is sufficient oversight of the implementation of 

these anti-abuse protections. This provision would confer discretion 

4 

to the Center to tailor such training, oversight practices, policies, 

and procedures to the needs of the individual NGBs and PSOs, 

based on such factors as legal and governance structure, size, number of amateur athletes, history of prior misconduct, and other factors particular to each sport. The Committee is aware that certain 

NGBs and PSOs have instituted and currently enforce robust policies and procedures to prevent abuse, which may be sufficient for 

the purposes of this section. Where such policies and procedures 

exist, the Center may recognize the existing policies and procedures rather than develop policies and procedures de novo. The 

outreach and oversight contemplated under this provision may include, for instance, the sharing of information regarding accused 

violators, which can help prevent such violators from ‘‘sport hopping’’ in order to avoid being caught and prevent them from coaching amateur athletes in spite of alleged abusive behavior. 

Section 3 would add a new section 220541(a)(5) to require the 

Center to maintain an office for response and resolution to, among 

other things, establish mechanisms that allow for the reporting, investigation, and adjudication of alleged sexual abuse in violation of 

the Center’s policies and procedures. Section 220541(a)(6) would 

further require that these mechanisms provide fair notice and an 

opportunity to be heard and protect the privacy and safety of complainants. In an administrative proceeding to determine the opportunity of an individual to participate in amateur athletic competition, the requirement to provide ‘‘fair notice and an opportunity to 

be heard’’ is a lower standard than would be required as a matter 

of constitutional due process in a criminal proceeding. 

Section 3 would add a new section 220541(b) to allow the Center 

to utilize a neutral arbitration body and develop policies and procedures to resolve allegations of sexual abuse within its jurisdiction 

in order to determine the opportunity of any amateur athlete, 

coach, trainer, manager, administrator, or official, who is the subject of an allegation of sexual abuse, to participate in amateur athletic competition. It is not the purpose of such a proceeding to supplant any criminal or civil proceeding arising from alleged sexual 

abuse. The Committee contemplates that the policies and procedures developed under this section may include procedures to appeal the decision of the neutral arbitration body. 

Section 3 would add a new section 220541(c) to limit the liability 

of the Center and each NGB and PSO, including officers, employees 

and agents thereof. This provision states that these parties shall 

not be held liable for damages in any civil action for a variety of 

tort actions arising out of any actions or communications undertaken in the course of their duties. The Committee contemplates 

that these protection extend not only to actions for defamation, 

libel, slander, or damage to reputation, but also to related actions, 

including, but not limited to, false light, intrusion upon seclusion, 

tortious interference, and abuse of process. These liability protections would not apply in instances in which the Center, NGB, PSO, 

or officers, employees, or agents thereof act with actual malice or 

in cases where the action is unrelated to official duties. There is 

a presumption that the Center, NGB, PSO, or officers, employees, 

or agents thereof act pursuant to their duties under this Act and 

without actual malice. 

5 

7 U.S. Dep’t of Health & Hum. Servs., ‘‘Preventing Child Sexual Abuse Within Youth-serving 

Orgs.: Getting Started on Policies and Procs. (2007),’’ at https://www.cdc.gov/ 

violenceprevention/pdf/preventingchildsexualabuse-a.pdf. 8 Id. at 2. 

9 Id. at 11. 

Section 3 would add a new section 220542(a)(2)(A) to require that 

the Center develop, and that the NGBs and PSOs follow, policies 

and procedures to require adults within the NGBs and PSOs, 

among others, to report immediately any allegation of child abuse 

to law enforcement, the Center, and other appropriate entities. 

‘‘Child abuse’’ would be defined as ‘‘physical or sexual abuse or neglect of a child, including human trafficking and the production of 

child pornography,’’ consistent with the term’s definition in section 

212 of the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 13001a). 

Though the legislation contemplates elsewhere that the Center 

would develop, among other things, training to prevent abuse, including emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, in sports, section 

220542(a)(2)(A) would neither require mandatory reporting of other 

allegations of abuse beyond child abuse, as defined, nor would it 

preclude voluntary reporting of such allegations. 

Section 3 would add a new section 220542(a)(2)(C) to require that 

the Center develop, and that NGBs and PSOs follow, reasonable 

procedures to limit 1-on-1 interactions between an amateur athlete 

who is a minor and an adult (who is not the minor’s legal guardian) at a facility under the jurisdiction of an NGB or PSO without 

being in an observable and interruptible distance from another 

adult, except under exigent circumstances. Such procedures can 

contemplate the policies and procedures outlined in the Center for 

Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) guidelines entitled ‘‘Preventing Child Abuse Within Youth-serving Organizations: Getting 

Started on Policies and Procedures,’’ 7 which recommends organizations consider contextual issues and balance the need to keep youth 

safe with the need to nurture and care for them.8 With respect to 

1-on-1 interactions, the CDC states that ‘‘some organizations have 

a policy to limit 1-on-1 interactions between youth and adults (i.e., 

having at least two adults present at all times with youth). The 

goal of such a policy is to prevent the isolation of 1 adult and 1 

youth, a situation that elevates the risk for child sexual abuse. 

This strategy must be modified based on the mission of your organization.’’ 9

Section 3 would add a new section 220542(a)(2)(E) providing for 

oversight procedures, including a requirement that subject matter 

experts, unaffiliated with an NGB or PSO conduct regular and random audits. The Committee contemplates that such audits occur on 

a quadrennial basis. In determining whether a subject matter expert is unaffiliated with an NGB or PSO, the Committee contemplates that the Center apply criteria similar to the criteria set 

forth in section 3.4 of the USOC bylaws to determine whether a director would be considered an ‘‘independent director.’’ The purpose 

of these oversight procedures is to ensure that the NGBs and PSOs 

comply with the policies and procedures developed under the new 

section 220541(a)(3). In addition, these procedures are meant to ensure that all adult NGB and PSO members receive consistent sexual abuse prevention training, as well as minors, subject to parental consent. In this instance, ‘‘consistent training’’ would mean 

6 

training regarding the prevention of sexual abuse that is consistent 

with the training developed under section 220541(a)(3) for an individual NGB or PSO. 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

On May 17, 2017, the Committee held a hearing entitled ‘‘Current Issues in American Sports: Protecting the Health and Safety 

of American Athletes,’’ during which Committee members heard 

testimony regarding the Center’s efforts to address incidents of sexual abuse within the Olympic movement. Ms. Shellie Pfohl, the 

Center’s President and Chief Executive Officer, testified that 45 

million youth in the United States play sports, and that, among 

athletes and non-athletes, 1-in-10 youth in the United States are 

at risk of being sexually abused before the age of 18. Ms. Pfohl also 

testified that among the best practices that the Center endorses 

are risk-based policies to limit 1-on-1 contact between minor athletes and coaches, consistent with the standard for such contact 

recommended by the CDC. 

Chairman Thune introduced S. 1426 on June 22, 2017 (for himself and Ranking Member Nelson). Senators Moran (chairman of 

the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, Insurance, and Data Security), Blumenthal (ranking member of that 

subcommittee), Sullivan, Peters, and Klobuchar are also cosponsors. 

On June 29, 2017, the Committee met in open Executive Session, 

and, by voice vote, ordered S. 1426 reported favorably with an 

amendment (in the nature of a substitute). At the Executive Session, Senators Thune and Nelson both recognized a similar bill, 

S. 534, the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse Act of 

2014, sponsored by Senator Feinstein and previously reported by 

the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate. Both Senators stated their intention to work with Senator Feinstein to merge S. 1426 

and S. 534 for consideration by the full Senate. Provisions of 

S. 1426 were merged with S. 543 before S. 534 passed the Senate 

on November 14, 2017. 

ESTIMATED COSTS

In accordance with paragraph 11(a) of rule XXVI of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate and section 403 of the Congressional Budget 

Act of 1974, the Committee provides the following cost estimate, 

prepared by the Congressional Budget Office: 

S. 1426—United States Center for Safe Sport Authorization Act of 

2017 

S. 1426 would designate the United States Center for Safe Sport 

as the national safe sport organization for the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and would authorize the appropriation of $1 

million each year for fiscal years 2017–2021 for its operations. Currently, the Center operates as a non-profit entity that addresses 

sexual misconduct and abuse within national governing bodies recognized by the USOC. The bill also would specify the structure and 

duties of the Center and would require it to submit an annual report to Congress. CBO estimates that implementing the bill would 

7 

cost $4 million over the 2018–2022 period, assuming appropriation 

of the specified amounts. 

S. 1426 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, 

pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. CBO estimates that enacting S. 1426 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget 

deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 

2028. 

S. 1426 contains no intergovernmental mandates as defined in 

the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) and would impose no 

costs on state, local, or tribal governments. 

S. 1426 would impose a private-sector mandate, as defined in 

UMRA, by requiring the United States Center for Safe Sports to 

develop training, oversight practices, policies and procedures to 

prevent the abuse of any amateur athlete. The bill also would require additional procedures to be implemented by the Center to report such abuse. According to testimony, the United States Olympic 

Committee recently implemented such a program to prevent and 

report any abuse of athletes. Consequently, CBO estimates that the 

costs of complying with the mandates would be small and would 

fall well below the annual threshold established in UMRA for private-sector mandates ($156 million in 2017, adjusted annually for 

inflation). Moreover, the bill would authorize the appropriation of 

$1 million annually for fiscal years 2017–2021 to the Center to offset the costs of complying with the requirements of the bill. 

The CBO staff contacts for this estimate are Stephen Rabent (for 

federal costs) and Paige Piper-Bach (for private-sector mandates). 

The estimate was approved by Theresa Gullo, Assistant Director 

for Budget Analysis. 

REGULATORY IMPACT STATEMENT

In accordance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, the Committee provides the following evaluation of the regulatory impact of the legislation, as reported: 

NUMBER OF PERSONS COVERED

S. 1426, as reported, would not impose any new regulatory requirements on businesses. 

ECONOMIC IMPACT

Enactment of this legislation is not expected to have an adverse 

impact on the Nation’s economy. 

PRIVACY

S. 1426 would include a provision to require immediate reporting 

of allegations of child abuse of any amateur athlete who is a minor, 

and would establish a mechanism for reporting of other abuse allegations. It includes a provision to require the Center to establish 

a mechanism by which an NGB or PSO would share confidentially 

reports of suspected sexual abuse of an amateur athlete who is a 

minor. It would include a provision to require the Center to establish mechanisms that would allow for the reporting, investigation, 

and adjudication of alleged sexual abuse in violation of the Center’s 

8 

policies and procedures, but requires that these mechanisms protect the privacy of complainants, among other things. 

PAPERWORK

S. 1426 would require the Center to keep correct and complete 

records of account and to submit an annual report to Congress including an annual audit and description of its activities. 

CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING

In compliance with paragraph 4(b) of rule XLIV of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, the Committee provides that no provisions 

contained in the bill, as reported, meet the definition of congressionally directed spending items under the rule. 

SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

Section 1. Short title. 

This section would provide that the bill may be cited as the 

‘‘United States Center for Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017.’’ 

Section 2. Expansion of the purposes of the corporation. 

This section would amend the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur 

Sports Act (Stevens Act) to state that it is the purpose of the USOC 

to promote a safe environment in sports that is free from abuse, 

including emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, of any amateur 

athlete (defined in existing code as an athlete who meets the eligibility standards established by the NGB or PSO for the sport in 

which the athlete competes). 

Section 3. Designation of the United States Center for Safe Sport. 

This section would amend the Stevens Act by creating a new subchapter III, designating the Center, enumerating additional duties 

of the Center, requiring records audits and reports, and authorizing 

appropriations. 

Designation of the United States Center for Safe Sport 

The Center would serve as the independent national safe sport 

organization and would be recognized worldwide as the independent national safe sport organization for the United States. 

This section would establish the Center’s jurisdiction over the 

USOC, NGB, and PSO with regard to safeguarding athletes 

against abuse, including emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, in 

sports. This provision is modeled on similar language codifying the 

role of USADA. 

The Center would be required to maintain an office for education 

and outreach to develop training, oversight practices, policies and 

procedures to prevent the abuse, including emotional, physical and 

sexual abuse, of amateur athletes participating in amateur athletic 

activities through the NGBs and PSOs. The Center would be required to ensure that all NGBs and PSOs follow its policies and 

procedures for preventing abuse. The Center also would be required to maintain an office for response and resolution that would 

establish mechanisms for the reporting, investigation, and adjudication of allegations of sexual abuse committed in violation of the 

9 

Center’s policies and procedures to determine an individual’s opportunity to participate in amateur athletic competition. In so doing, 

this office would be required to provide fair notice and an opportunity to be heard, as well as to protect the privacy and safety of 

complainants. 

The Center, at its discretion, would be allowed to utilize a neutral arbitration body and develop policies and procedures to resolve 

allegations of sexual abuse within its jurisdiction. However, this 

section would contain a rule of construction to preserve the right 

otherwise existing in law of an amateur athlete to pursue civil remedies through the courts. 

This section would contain a limitation of liability that would 

provide that the Center, each NGB, and each PSO would not be liable for damages in any civil action for defamation, libel, slander, 

or damage to reputation, except when the Center, NGB, or PSO 

acts with actual malice or takes action not pursuant to this bill. 

Additional Duties 

The Center would be required to develop training, oversight practices, policies, and procedures for implementation by the NGBs and 

PSOs to prevent the abuse, including emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, of amateur athletes. These policies would include a requirement that all adult members of the NGBs and PSOs, or facilities under the jurisdiction of a NGB or PSO, in addition to other 

adults authorized to interact with amateur athletes, report immediately any allegation of child abuse of a minor amateur athlete to 

appropriate authorities, including the Center and law enforcement 

agencies, whenever such member or adult learns of facts leading 

them to suspect reasonably that a minor amateur athlete has suffered an incident of child abuse. The term ‘‘child abuse’’ would be 

defined to mean physical or sexual abuse or neglect of a child, including human trafficking and the production of child pornography. 

The Center would be required to implement a mechanism approved by a trained expert on child abuse that allows a complainant to report easily an incident of sexual abuse to the Center, NGB, 

PSO, law enforcement, or other appropriate authority. 

The Center would be required to include reasonable procedures 

to limit 1-on-1 interactions between minor amateur athletes and 

adults (other than the minor’s legal guardian) at facilities under 

control of an NGB or PSO except under exigent circumstances. 

Under this requirement, the reasonable procedures would allow for 

interactions that occur within an observable and interruptible distance from another adult. 

The Center would be required to prohibit any NGB or PSO from 

retaliating against any individual who reports sexual abuse of a 

minor amateur athlete as required under Center policies and procedures, or who reports an incident of child abuse pursuant to the 

Center’s established mechanisms. 

The Center would be required to establish oversight procedures, 

including regular and random audits conducted by subject matter 

experts, unaffiliated with an NGB or PSO, of each NGB or PSO to 

ensure that certain policies and procedures are followed correctly 

and that consistent training regarding prevention of sexual abuse 

is offered and given to all adult members and, subject to parental 

consent, to members who are minors. 

10 

The Center would be required to establish a mechanism by which 

an NGB or PSO can share confidentially a report of sexual abuse 

of an amateur athlete who is a minor by a member of the NGB or 

PSO, or an adult authorized by an NGB or PSO to interact with 

an amateur athlete who is a minor, with each of the other NGBs, 

PSOs, or facilities under the control of such entities, and to allow 

an NGB or PSO to withhold providing to an adult who is the subject of an allegation of sexual abuse the authority to interact with 

an amateur athlete who is a minor until the resolution of such allegation. This section would contain a rule of construction to clarify 

that nothing in this section would be construed as to limit the ability of an NGB or PSO to implement an interim measure to prevent 

an individual who is the subject of an allegation of sexual abuse 

from interacting with an amateur athlete prior to the Center exercising its jurisdiction over a matter. 

Records, Audits, and Reports 

This section would require the Center to keep correct and complete records of account and to submit an annual report to Congress including an annual audit that complies with the audit requirements for Patriotic and National Organizations and includes 

a description of the Center’s activities. 

Authorization of Appropriations 

This section would authorize to be appropriated to the Center $1 

million annually for FY 2017 through FY 2021. 

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, changes in existing law made by the bill, as 

reported, are shown as follows (existing law proposed to be omitted 

is enclosed in black brackets, new material is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in roman): 

TITLE 36. PATRIOTIC AND NATIONAL OBSERVANCES, 

CEREMONIES, AND ORGANIZATIONS 

SUBTITLE II. PATRIOTIC AND NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

PART B. ORGANIZATIONS

CHAPTER 2205. UNITED STATES OLYMPIC COMMITTEE

SUBCHAPTER I. CORPORATION

§ 220501. Short title and definitions 

(a) SHORT TITLE.—This chapter may be cited as the ‘‘Ted Stevens 

Olympic and Amateur Sports Act’’. 

(b) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this chapter— 

(1) ‘‘amateur athlete’’ means an athlete who meets the eligibility standards established by the national governing body or 

paralympic sports organization for the sport in which the athlete competes. 

(2) ‘‘amateur athletic competition’’ means a contest, game, 

meet, match, tournament, regatta, or other event in which 

amateur athletes compete. 

11 

(3) ‘‘amateur sports organization’’ means a not-for-profit corporation, association, or other group organized in the United 

States that sponsors or arranges an amateur athletic competition. 

(4) ‘‘Center’’ means the United States Center for Safe Sport 

designated under section 220541. 

ø(4)¿(5) ‘‘corporation’’ means the United States Olympic 

Committee. 

ø(5)¿ (6) ‘‘international amateur athletic competition’’ means 

an amateur athletic competition between one or more athletes 

representing the United States, individually or as a team, and 

one or more athletes representing a foreign country. 

ø(6)¿(7) ‘‘national governing body’’ means an amateur sports 

organization that is recognized by the corporation under section 220521 of this title. 

ø(7)¿(8) ‘‘paralympic sports organization’’ means an amateur 

sports organization which is recognized by the corporation 

under section 220521 of this title. 

ø(8)¿(9) ‘‘sanction’’ means a certificate of approval issued by 

a national governing body. 

§ 220503. Purposes 

The purposes of the corporation are— 

(1) to establish national goals for amateur athletic activities 

and encourage the attainment of those goals; 

(2) to coordinate and develop amateur athletic activity in the 

United States, directly related to international amateur athletic competition, to foster productive working relationships 

among sports-related organizations; 

(3) to exercise exclusive jurisdiction, directly or through constituent members of committees, over— 

(A) all matters pertaining to United States participation 

in the Olympic Games, the Paralympic Games, and the 

Pan-American Games, including representation of the 

United States in the games; and 

(B) the organization of the Olympic Games, the 

Paralympic Games, and the Pan-American Games when 

held in the United States; 

(4) to obtain for the United States, directly or by delegation 

to the appropriate national governing body, the most competent amateur representation possible in each event of the 

Olympic Games, the Paralympic Games, and Pan-American 

Games; 

(5) to promote and support amateur athletic activities involving the United States and foreign nations; 

(6) to promote and encourage physical fitness and public participation in amateur athletic activities; 

(7) to assist organizations and persons concerned with sports 

in the development of amateur athletic programs for amateur 

athletes; 

(8) to provide swift resolution of conflicts and disputes involving amateur athletes, national governing bodies, and amateur sports organizations, and protect the opportunity of any 

amateur athlete, coach, trainer, manager, administrator, or official to participate in amateur athletic competition; 

12 

(9) to foster the development of amateur athletic facilities for 

use by amateur athletes and assist in making existing amateur 

athletic facilities available for use by amateur athletes; 

(10) to provide and coordinate technical information on physical training, equipment design, coaching, and performance 

analysis; 

(11) to encourage and support research, development, and 

dissemination of information in the areas of sports medicine 

and sports safety; 

(12) to encourage and provide assistance to amateur athletic 

activities for women; 

(13) to encourage and provide assistance to amateur athletic 

programs and competition for amateur athletes with disabilities, including, where feasible, the expansion of opportunities 

for meaningful participation by such amateur athletes in programs of athletic competition for able-bodied amateur athletes; 

øand¿ 

(14) to encourage and provide assistance to amateur athletes 

of racial and ethnic minorities for the purpose of eliciting the 

participation of those minorities in amateur athletic activities 

in which they are underrepresentedø.¿; and 

(15) to promote a safe environment in sports that is free from 

abuse, including emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, of any 

amateur athlete. 

Subchapter III—United States Center for Safe Sport 

§ 220541. Designation of United States Center for Safe Sport 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The United States Center for Safe Sport (referred to in this subchapter as the ‘‘Center’’) shall— 

(1) serve as the independent national safe sport organization 

and be recognized worldwide as the independent national safe 

sport organization for the United States; 

(2) exercise jurisdiction over the corporation, each national 

governing body, and each paralympic sports organization with 

regard to safeguarding amateur athletes against abuse, including emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, in sports; 

(3) maintain an office for education and outreach that shall 

develop training, oversight practices, policies, and procedures to 

prevent the abuse, including emotional, physical, and sexual 

abuse, of amateur athletes participating in amateur athletic activities through national governing bodies and paralympic 

sports organizations; 

(4) ensure that the policies and procedures under paragraph 

(3) include requirements that all national governing bodies and 

paralympic sports organizations follow the policies and procedures of the Center; 

(5) maintain an office for response and resolution that shall 

establish mechanisms that allow for the reporting, investigation, and adjudication of alleged sexual abuse in violation of 

the Center’s policies and procedures; and 

(6) ensure that the mechanisms under paragraph (5) provide 

fair notice and an opportunity to be heard and protect the privacy and safety of complainants. 

(b) POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.— 

13 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Center may, in its discretion, utilize a 

neutral arbitration body and develop policies and procedures to 

resolve allegations of sexual abuse within its jurisdiction. 

(2) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section shall be 

construed as altering, superseding, or otherwise affecting the 

right of an amateur athlete to pursue criminal or civil justice 

through the courts. 

(c) LIMITATION ON LIABILITY.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 

Center, and each national governing body and paralympic 

sports organization, including any officer, employee, or agent 

thereof, shall not be liable for damages in any civil action for 

defamation, libel, slander, or damage to reputation arising out 

of any action or communication, if the action arises from the 

execution of the responsibilities or functions described in this 

section, section 220542, or section 220543. 

(2) EXCEPTION.—Paragraph (1) shall not apply in any action 

in which the Center, a national governing body, or a 

paralympic sports organization, or an officer, employee, or 

agent thereof, acted with actual malice, or provided information 

or took action not pursuant to this section, section 220542, or 

section 220543. 

§ 220542. Additional duties 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Center shall— 

(1) develop training, oversight practices, policies, and procedures for implementation by a national governing body or 

paralympic sports organization to prevent the abuse, including 

emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, of any amateur athlete; 

and 

(2) include in the policies and procedures developed under 

section 220541(a)(3)— 

(A) a requirement that all adult members of a national 

governing body, a paralympic sports organization, or a facility under the jurisdiction of a national governing body or 

paralympic sports organization, and all adults authorized 

by such members to interact with an amateur athlete, report immediately any allegation of child abuse (as defined 

in section 212 of the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 (42 

U.S.C. 13001a)) of an amateur athlete who is a minor to 

law enforcement authorities and other appropriate authorities, including the Center, whenever such members or 

adults learn of facts leading them to suspect reasonably 

that an amateur athlete who is a minor has suffered an incident of child abuse (as so defined); 

(B) a mechanism, approved by a trained expert on child 

abuse, that allows a complainant to report easily an incident of sexual abuse to the Center, a national governing 

body, law enforcement authorities, or other appropriate authorities; 

(C) reasonable procedures to limit one-on-one interactions 

between an amateur athlete who is a minor and an adult 

(who is not the minor’s legal guardian) at a facility under 

the jurisdiction of a national governing body or paralympic 

sports organization without being in an observable and inVerDate Sep 11 2014 03:52 Dec 28, 2018 Jkt 089010 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6603 E:\HR\OC\SR443.XXX SR443
14 

terruptible distance from another adult, except under exigent circumstances; 

(D) procedures to prohibit retaliation, by any national 

governing body or paralympic sports organization, against 

any individual who makes a report under subparagraph 

(A) or subparagraph (B); 

(E) oversight procedures, including regular and random 

audits conducted by subject matter experts, unaffiliated 

with a national governing body or a paralympic sports organization of each national governing body and paralympic 

sports organization to ensure that policies and procedures 

developed under that section are followed correctly and that 

consistent training is offered and given to all adult members and, subject to parental consent, to members who are 

minors, regarding prevention of sexual abuse; and 

(F) a mechanism by which a national governing body or 

paralympic sports organization can— 

(i) share confidentially a report of suspected sexual 

abuse of an amateur athlete who is a minor by a member of a national governing body or paralympic sports 

organization, or an adult authorized by a national governing body or paralympic sports organization to interact with an amateur athlete who is a minor, with each 

of the other national governing bodies, paralympic 

sports organizations, or facilities under the control of 

such entities; and 

(ii) withhold providing to an adult who is the subject 

of an allegation of sexual abuse authority to interact 

with an amateur athlete who is a minor until the resolution of such allegation. 

(b) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section shall be 

construed to limit the ability of a national governing body or 

paralympic sports organization to impose an interim measure to 

prevent an individual who is the subject of an allegation of sexual 

abuse from interacting with an amateur athlete. 

§ 220543. Records, audits, and reports 

(a) RECORDS.—The Center shall keep correct and complete records 

of account. 

(b) REPORT.—The Center shall submit an annual report to Congress, including— 

(1) an audit conducted and submitted in accordance with section 10101; and 

(2) a description of the activities of the Center. 

§ 220544. Authorization of appropriations 

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Center— 

(1) for fiscal year 2017, $1,000,000; 

(2) for fiscal year 2018, $1,000,000; 

(3) for fiscal year 2019, $1,000,000; 

(4) for fiscal year 2020, $1,000,000; and 

(5) for fiscal year 2021, $1,000,000. 

Æ