HALT Campus Sexual Violence Act

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to increase transparency and reporting on campus sexual violence, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Hold Accountable and Lend Transparency on Campus Sexual Violence Act HALT Campus Sexual Violence Act 2. Disclosure of Enforcement Actions (a) Disclosure of program reviews and open investigations The Department of Education Organization Act is amended— (1) in section 203(b) ( 20 U.S.C. 3413(b) (3) The Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights shall make publicly available on the Department’s website a list of institutions under investigation, the sanctions (if any) or findings issued pursuant to such investigations, and a copy of program reviews and resolution agreements entered into with the Secretary or Attorney General under title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 ( 20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq. 42 U.S.C. 2000c et seq. (4) Not later than 30 days after the termination of the resolution agreements described in paragraph (3), the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights shall transmit to the Secretary, the President, and the Congress, and make publicly available on the Department’s website, the letter terminating the Department of Education's monitoring of such agreements. ; and (2) in section 205 ( 20 U.S.C. 3415 (c) The Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education shall make publicly available on the Department’s website a list of institutions under investigation, the sanctions (if any) or findings issued pursuant to such investigations, and a copy of program reviews and resolution agreements entered into with the Secretary or Attorney General under subsection 485(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1092(f) . (b) Inspector General Not later than January 1, 2016, the Inspector General of the Department of Education shall submit to Congress and make publicly available a report reviewing compliance with paragraphs (3) and (4) of section 203(b) of the Department of Education Organization Act ( 20 U.S.C. 3413(b) 20 U.S.C. 3415 3. Authority to Levy Fines Section 203(c) of the Department of Education Organization Act ( 20 U.S.C. 3413 (1) by striking and (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (4) and inserting ; and (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (5) to impose a civil penalty to be paid by an institution of higher education that has violated a law under the jurisdiction of the Office for Civil Rights, the amount of which shall be determined by the gravity of the violation, and the imposition of which shall not preclude other remedies available under Federal law. . 4. Climate surveys Paragraph (1) of section 485(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1092(f) (K) Beginning October 1, 2017, statistics based upon a sexual violence climate survey conducted not later than April 1, 2016, and every 2 years thereafter— (i) which is developed and approved by the Secretary, in consultation with the Director of the Centers for Disease Control of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Attorney General, except that the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey developed by the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may be used for purposes of this subparagraph until the sexual violence climate survey has been developed; and (ii) which assesses the occurrence on campus or in a noncampus building or property during the preceding calendar year for which data is available of— (I) instances of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking; (II) indicators of discrimination, and positive and negative trends for intimate relationships regardless of gender or sexual orientation; (III) the effectiveness of campus policies designed to improve relationships between students regardless of gender or sexual orientation; (IV) the effectiveness of current processes for complaints on and investigations into sex-based, race-based, national origin-based, sexual-orientation based, gender-identity based, and disability based harassment, assault, discrimination, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking; (V) perpetration of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking; and (VI) any other issues relating to sex-based, race-based, national origin-based, sexual-orientation based, gender-identity based, and disability-based discrimination, harassment, assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and assault, as appropriate. . 5. Creation of a private right of action Section 485(f)(14) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(14) (14) (A) Subject to subparagraph (C), an aggrieved individual may allege a violation of this subsection in a judicial proceeding. A court may award an aggrieved individual all appropriate relief, including equitable relief, compensatory damages, cost of the action, and remedial action. (B) This paragraph shall not be construed to preclude an aggrieved individual from obtaining other remedies under any other provision of law or to require such individual to exhaust any administrative complaint process or notice-of-claim requirement before seeking redress under this paragraph. (C) For actions brought pursuant to this paragraph, the statute of limitations period shall be determined in accordance with section 1658(a) of title 28, United States Code. The tolling of any such limitations period shall be determined in accordance with section 1979 of the Revised Statutes of the United States ( 42 U.S.C. 1983 . 6. Increase of Clery Act penalties Section 485(f)(13) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(13) (1) by striking in the same amount and (2) by inserting before the period at the end the following: , expect that such section shall be applied by substituting $100,000 $25,000 7. Notification of policies aimed at prevention of sexual violence (a) In general Paragraph (8) of section 485(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1092(f) (D) The statement of policy described in subparagraph (A) shall be— (i) written using simple and understandable language and clear formatting; and (ii) made available and posted on the institution’s public website, and in conspicuous places, including places in and around student housing, residence halls, student health centers, student recreation centers, the main student center on campus, and academic buildings where students congregate and are likely to see it. (E) The statement of policy described in subparagraph (A) shall be provided, on an annual basis, to each student group, student team, or student organization which is part of such institution, is recognized by the institution, or permitted by the institution to use its name or facilities or is known by the institution to act as an unaffiliated student group, student team, or student organization, and each institution of higher education described in subparagraph (A) shall ensure that each such group, team, or organization distributes a copy of such policy to each of its members as well as each of its applicants for membership, including plebes, pledges, or similar applicants. (F) An institution’s compliance with subparagraph (E) with respect to an unaffiliated student group, student team, or student organization shall not constitute evidence of the institution's recognition or endorsement of such unaffiliated group, team, or organization. . (b) Comptroller General Review Not later than August 1, 2017, the Comptroller General shall report to the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, and Labor of the Senate on— (1) the implementation of section 485(f)(8) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(8) (A) the extent to which institutions of higher education have developed the statement of policy required under subparagraph (A) of such section; (B) how institutions of higher education are— (i) distributing such statement of policy; and (ii) determining whether the policy is received and understood by students; and (C) the Secretary of Education’s oversight of the compliance of institutions of higher education with respect to the statement of policy requirements under such section, including efforts, in consultation with the Attorney General, to provide technical assistance to institutions of higher education in complying with such requirements; and (2) any changes in the numbers of dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking incidents reported to campus security authorities or local police agencies as indicated by the annual security reports distributed under of section 485(f)(1) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(1) 8. Campus sexual violence task force (a) Campus sexual violence task force Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Education and the Attorney General shall create a joint interagency task force to be known as the Campus Sexual Violence Task Force (1) provide pertinent information to the Secretary of Education, Attorney General, Congress, and the public with respect to campus sexual violence prevention, investigations, and responses, including the creation of a consistent, public complaint processes for violations of title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 ( 20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq. 20 U.S.C. 1092(f) (2) provide recommendations to institutions of higher education for establishing sexual assault prevention and response teams; (3) develop recommendations for institutions of higher education on providing survivor resources, including healthcare, rape kits, sexual assault nurse examiners, and access to confidential advocacy and support services; (4) develop recommendations for best practices for responses and prevention with respect to sexual violence for educational institutions, taking into consideration an institution’s size and resources; (5) solicit input from survivors, advocates from national, State, and local anti-sexual violence advocacy organizations, institutions of higher education, and other public stakeholders; (6) assess the Department of Education’s ability under section 902 of the Education Amendments of 1972 ( 20 U.S.C. 1682 20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq. (7) create a plan described in subsection (c). (b) Personnel details (1) Authority to detail Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the head of an element of any Federal agency is that is funded under the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 ( 42 U.S.C. 13925 et seq. (2) Basis for detail A personnel detail made under paragraph (1) may be made— (A) for a period of not more than 3 years; and (B) on a reimbursable or nonreimbursable basis. (c) Additional plan Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Campus Sexual Violence Task Force shall submit to Congress a plan for recruiting, retaining, and training a highly-qualified workforce employed by the Department of Education to carry out investigation of complaints alleging a violation of title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 ( 20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq. 20 U.S.C. 1092(f) 20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq. 20 U.S.C. 1092(f) (1) an assessment of the capabilities of the current workforce carrying out such investigation and enforcement; (2) an examination of issues of recruiting, retention, and the professional development of such workforce, including the possibility of providing retention bonuses or other forms of compensation for the purpose of ensuring the Department of Education has the capacity, in both personnel and skills, needed to properly perform its mission and provide adequate oversight of educational institutions; (3) an assessment of the benefits of outreach and training with both law enforcement agencies and institutions of higher education with respect to such workforce; (4) developing best practices for interviewing and investigating sexual violence, including guidance on evidentiary standards for administrative responses; (5) an examination of best practices for making institutions of higher education aware of the most effective campus sexual violence prevention, investigation, and response practices and identifying areas where more research should be conducted; and (6) strategies for addressing such other matters as the Secretary of Education considers necessary to campus sexual violence prevention, investigation, and responses. (d) Annual report The Campus Sexual Violence Task Force shall report to Congress on an annual basis, and make publicly available, a report of its activities and any update of the plan required under subsection (c), including the number of complaints received regarding sexual violence (including violence on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity), the number of open investigations, the average time to complete an investigation, the number of investigations initiated based on complaints, and the number of investigations initiated by the Department of Education. (e) Authorization of appropriations (1) Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 There are authorized to be appropriated for training, hiring, and retaining a workforce exclusively dedicated to investigation and enforcement of title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 ( 20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq. (2) Section 485(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 There are authorized to be appropriated for training, hiring, and retaining a workforce exclusively dedicated to investigation and enforcement of section 485(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1092(f) (f) Definitions In this section: (1) The term educational institution (2) The terms elementary school secondary school 20 U.S.C. 7801 (3) The term institution of higher education 20 U.S.C. 1002 (4) The term sexual assault (A) the Uniform Crime Report of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and (B) the final regulations published by the Department of Education in the Federal Register on October 20, 2014 for Appendix A of subpart D of part 668, Code of Federal Regulations (79 Fed. Reg. 62752). 9. Conforming amendments Section 485(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1092(f) (1) in paragraph (1)(F)(i)(II), by striking sex offenses, forcible or nonforcible sexual assault (2) by amending paragraph (6)(A)(v) to read as follows: (v) The term sexual assault (I) the Uniform Crime Report of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and (II) the final regulations published by the Department of Education in the Federal Register on October 20, 2014, for Appendix A of subpart D of part 668, Code of Federal Regulations (79 Fed. Reg. 62752). .

Summary: Hold Accountable and Lend Transparency on Campus Sexual Violence Act or the HALT Campus Sexual Violence Act This bill amends the Department of Education Organization Act to require the Department of Education (ED) to make publicly available on its website: a list of the institutions of higher education (IHEs) under investigation, sanctions or investigation findings, and a copy of program reviews and resolution agreements entered into with ED or the Department of Justice (DOJ), under title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX) or title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the letter terminating the ED's monitoring of such agreements; and a list of the IHEs under investigation, and a copy of the program reviews, sanctions or investigation findings, and resolution agreements entered into with ED or DOJ, under the provisions of the Higher Education Act of 1965 known as the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). ED may impose a civil penalty on an IHE that has violated a law under the jurisdiction of its Office for Civil Rights. The bill amends the Clery Act to direct ED to develop a biennial sexual violence climate survey and include statistics from such survey in the annual campus security report provided to current and prospective students and employees. An individual may allege a violation of the Clery Act in a judicial proceeding. The maximum penalty for substantially misrepresenting the number, location, or nature of the crimes required to be reported under the Clery Act is increased. The IHE's annual statement of its policy regarding domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking must: use simple and understandable language and clear formatting; be made available and posted on its public website and in conspicuous places in and around student housing and other campus buildings; be provided to each student group, team, or organization that has a specified connection to the IHE or is known by the IHE to act on an unaffiliated basis; and ensure that each of those groups distributes a copy of such policy to each of its members or applicants for membership. ED and DOJ are directed to create a joint interagency Campus Sexual Violence Task Force.