A bill to improve provisions of law relating to sexual harassment and assault prevention at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and for other purposes.

To improve provisions of law relating to sexual harassment and assault prevention at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and for other purposes. 1. Improvements relating to sexual harassment and assault prevention at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (a) Anonymous reporting Subtitle C of title XXXV of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 ( 33 U.S.C. 894 (1) in section 3541(b)(3)(B) ( 33 U.S.C. 894(b)(3)(B) confidentially anonymously (2) in section 3542(b)(5)(B) ( 33 U.S.C. 894a(b)(5)(B) confidentially anonymously (b) Investigative requirement Such subtitle is amended— (1) by redesignating sections 3546 and 3547 as sections 3548 and 3549, respectively; and (2) by inserting after section 3545 the following: 3546. Investigation requirement (a) Requirement To investigate (1) In general The Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, shall ensure that each allegation of sexual assault reported under section 3541 and each allegation of sexual harassment reported under section 3542 is investigated thoroughly and promptly. (2) Sense of Congress on commencement of investigation It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary should ensure that an investigation of an alleged sexual assault reported under section 3541 or sexual harassment reported under section 3542 commences not later than 48 hours after the time at which the allegation was reported. (b) Notification of delay In any case in which the time between the reporting of an alleged sexual assault or sexual harassment under section 3541 or 3542, respectively, and commencement of an investigation of the allegation exceeds 48 hours, the Secretary shall notify the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives of the delay. 3547. Criminal referral If the Secretary of Commerce finds, pursuant to an investigation under section 3546, evidence that a crime may have been committed, the Secretary shall refer the matter to the appropriate law enforcement authorities, including the appropriate United States Attorney. . (c) Clerical amendment The table of contents in section 2(b) of such Act is amended by striking the items relating to sections 3546 and 3547 and inserting the following new items: Sec. 3546. Investigation requirement. Sec. 3547. Criminal referral. Sec. 3548. Annual report on sexual assaults in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Sec. 3549. Sexual assault defined. . August 13, 2020 Reported without amendment

Summary: This bill directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to ensure that allegations of sexual assault and sexual harassment are investigated thoroughly and promptly. NOAA must ensure that such allegations are investigated within 48 hours after they are reported. If pursuant to an investigation NOAA finds evidence that a crime has been committed it must refer the matter to the appropriate law enforcement authorities, including the appropriate United States Attorney's office.