Ensuring Fairness for Students Act

To amend title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 to ensure due process in grievance proceedings. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Ensuring Fairness for Students Act 2. Ensuring due process in title IX claims Section 901 of the Education Amendments of 1972 ( 20 U.S.C. 1681 (d) Ensuring due process (1) Sexual harassment In this section, the term sexual harassment (2) Implementation requirement Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of the Ensuring Fairness for Students Act (3) Grievance process Each grievance process implemented under paragraph (2) shall comply with each of the following: (A) Give both parties— (i) written notice of the allegation; (ii) an equal opportunity to select an advisor of the party’s choice (who may be, but does not need to be, an attorney); and (iii) an equal opportunity to submit and review evidence throughout the investigation of the allegation. (B) Use personnel who are trained in compliance with requirements under this title to objectively evaluate all relevant evidence without prejudgment of the facts at issue and free from conflicts of interest or bias for or against either party. (C) Protect both parties’ privacy by requiring a party’s written consent before using the party’s medical, psychological, or similar treatment records during the grievance process. (D) Obtain both parties’ voluntary, written consent before using any kind of informal resolution process, such as mediation or restorative justice. (E) Not use an informal resolution process, as described in subparagraph (D), in cases where an employee of the educational institution is alleged to have sexually harassed a student. (F) Apply a presumption that the respondent is not responsible during the grievance process, so that the educational institution bears the burden of proof and the standard of evidence is applied correctly. (G) Ensure the decision-maker is not the same person as the investigator or the Title IX Coordinator (who is the individual designated as a responsible employee in section 106.8(a) of title 34, Code of Federal Regulations, as such section is in effect on the date of enactment of the Ensuring Fairness for Students Act (H) For educational institutions that are— (i) postsecondary institutions, hold a live hearing and— (I) allow cross-examination by the advisors of the parties; and (II) not permit cross-examination by the parties personally; and (ii) elementary schools or secondary schools, provide an opportunity for each party to submit written questions for the other party and any witness to answer. (I) Offer both parties an equal opportunity to appeal. (J) Protect any individual, including complainants, respondents, and witnesses, from retaliation for reporting sexual harassment or participating (or refusing to participate) in the grievance process. (K) Document and keep records of all sexual harassment reports and investigations. .

Summary: Ensuring Fairness for Students Act This bill requires educational institutions to implement a specified grievance process for investigating and adjudicating formal complaints of sexual harassment (i.e., Title IX claims). Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in federally funded education programs or activities, including in public elementary and secondary schools and in colleges and universities. Among other elements, this grievance process must (1) provide both parties with a written notice of the allegation, an equal opportunity to select an advisor of each party's choice, and an opportunity to submit and review evidence throughout the investigation; (2) apply a presumption of innocence during the process; and (3) give both parties an equal opportunity to appeal.