IIB 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1973 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
JUNE 5, 2017 
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 
AN ACT 
To prevent the sexual abuse of minors and amateur athletes 
by requiring the prompt reporting of sexual abuse to 
law enforcement authorities, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Protecting Young Vic-
tims from Sexual Abuse Act of 2017’’. 
SEC. 2. REQUIRED REPORTING OF CHILD AND SEXUAL 
ABUSE AT FACILITIES UNDER THE JURISDIC-
TION OF AMATEUR SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS 
RECOGNIZED BY THE UNITED STATES OLYM-
PIC COMMITTEE. 
(a) REPORTING REQUIREMENT.—Section 226 of the 
Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 13031) 
is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘A person who’’ and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘(1) COVERED
PROFESSIONALS.—A person 
who’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) COVERED INDIVIDUALS.—A covered indi-
vidual who learns of facts that give reason to suspect 
that a child has suffered an incident of child abuse 
shall as soon as possible make a report of the sus-
pected abuse to the agency designated by the Attor-
ney General under subsection (d).’’; 
(2) in subsection (b), in the matter preceding 
paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘subsection (a)’’ and in-
serting ‘‘subsection (a)(1)’’; 
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(3) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in paragraph (7), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(B) in paragraph (8), by striking the pe-
riod at the end and inserting a semicolon; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(9) the term ‘covered individual’ means an 
adult who is authorized by a national governing body 
or a member of a national governing body to inter-
act with a minor or amateur athlete at an amateur 
sports organization facility or at any event sanc-
tioned by a national governing body or a member of 
a national governing body; 
‘‘(10) the term ‘event’ includes travel, practice, 
competition, and health or medical treatment; and 
‘‘(11) the terms ‘amateur athlete’, ‘amateur 
sports organization’, and ‘national governing body’ 
have the meanings given such terms in section 
220501(b) of title 36, United States Code.’’; 
(4) in subsection (d), in the first sentence, by 
inserting ‘‘and for all covered facilities’’ after ‘‘re-
side’’; 
(5) in subsection (f), in the first sentence— 
(A) by striking ‘‘and on all’’ and inserting 
‘‘on all’’; and 
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(B) by inserting ‘‘and for all covered facili-
ties,’’ after ‘‘lands,’’; 
(6) in subsection (h), by inserting ‘‘and all cov-
ered individuals,’’ after ‘‘facilities,’’; and 
(7) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(i) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion shall be construed to require a victim of child abuse 
to self-report the abuse.’’. 
(b) PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO REPORT.—Section 
2258 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by in-
serting after ‘‘facility,’’ the following: ‘‘or a covered indi-
vidual (as described in subsection (a)(2) of such section 
226) who’’. 
SEC. 3. CIVIL REMEDY FOR PERSONAL INJURIES. 
Section 2255 of title 18, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Any person who, while a minor, 
was a victim of a violation of section 1589, 1590, 1591, 
2241(c), 2242, 2243, 2251, 2251A, 2252, 2252A, 2260, 
2421, 2422, or 2423 of this title and who suffers personal 
injury as a result of such violation, regardless of whether 
the injury occurred while such person was a minor, may 
sue in any appropriate United States District Court and 
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shall recover the actual damages such person sustains or 
liquidated damages in the amount of $150,000, and the 
cost of the action, including reasonable attorney’s fees and 
other litigation costs reasonably incurred. The court may 
also award punitive damages and such other preliminary 
and equitable relief as the court determines to be appro-
priate.’’; 
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘filed within’’ 
and all that follows through the end and inserting 
the following: ‘‘filed— 
‘‘(1) not later than 10 years after the date on 
which the plaintiff reasonably discovers the later 
of— 
‘‘(A) the violation that forms the basis for 
the claim; or 
‘‘(B) the injury that forms the basis for 
the claim; or 
‘‘(2) not later than 10 years after the date on 
which a legal disability ends.’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) VENUE; SERVICE OF PROCESS.— 
‘‘(1) VENUE.—Any action brought under sub-
section (a) may be brought in the district court of 
the United States that meets applicable require-
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ments relating to venue under section 1391 of title 
28. 
‘‘(2) SERVICE
OF
PROCESS.—In an action 
brought under subsection (a), process may be served 
in any district in which the defendant— 
‘‘(A) is an inhabitant; or 
‘‘(B) may be found.’’. 
SEC. 4. EXPANSION OF AUTHORITIES AND DUTIES OF AMA-
TEUR SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS RECOGNIZED 
BY THE UNITED STATES OLYMPIC COM-
MITTEE TO PREVENT THE ABUSE OF MINOR 
AND AMATEUR ATHLETES. 
(a) 
EXPANSION
OF
AUTHORITIES.—Section 
220523(a) of title 36, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (6), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and 
inserting a semicolon; 
(2) in paragraph (7), by striking the period and 
inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(8) develop training, oversight practices, poli-
cies, and procedures to prevent the abuse, including 
physical abuse and sexual abuse, of any minor or 
amateur athlete by any adult.’’. 
(b) ADDITIONAL DUTIES.—Section 220524 of such 
title is amended— 
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(1) by inserting ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—’’ before 
‘‘For the sport’’; 
(2) in paragraph (8), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and 
inserting a semicolon; 
(3) in paragraph (9), by striking the period and 
inserting a semicolon; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(10) develop and enforce policies, mechanisms, 
and procedures to prevent the abuse, including phys-
ical abuse and sexual abuse, of any minor or ama-
teur athlete, including— 
‘‘(A) requiring all adults authorized by a 
national governing body or a member of a na-
tional governing body to interact with a minor 
or amateur athlete at an amateur sports organi-
zation facility or at any event sanctioned by a 
national governing body or a member of a na-
tional governing body, to report facts that give 
reason to suspect child abuse, including sexual 
abuse, as required by relevant Federal or State 
law, to law enforcement authorities and other 
appropriate authorities, including an entity des-
ignated by the corporation to investigate and 
resolve such allegations; 
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‘‘(B) establishing a mechanism, approved 
by a trained expert on child abuse, that allows 
an individual to easily report an incident of 
child abuse as described in subparagraph (A) to 
the national governing body or another author-
ity, including an entity designated by the cor-
poration; 
‘‘(C) reasonable procedures designed to 
avoid one-on-one interactions between an ama-
teur athlete who is a minor and an adult (who 
is not the minor’s legal guardian) at an ama-
teur sports organization facility, at any event 
sanctioned by a national governing body, or any 
event sanctioned by a member of a national 
governing body, without being observable or in-
terruptible by another adult, except where the 
safety and welfare of the minor requires; 
‘‘(D) oversight procedures, including reg-
ular and random audits, not to exceed once a 
year, conducted by subject matter experts unaf-
filiated with the national governing body, of all 
members and adults described in subparagraph 
(A) to ensure that policies and procedures de-
veloped under this paragraph are followed cor-
rectly and that consistent training is offered 
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and given to all members regarding prevention 
of sexual abuse; and 
‘‘(E) requiring dedicated information and 
resources, which may include sexual assault 
hotlines and victims’ support resources, to be 
clearly listed on the national governing body’s 
official website; and 
‘‘(11) in the case of a national governing body 
with jurisdiction over more than one amateur sports 
organization facility or event, establish a mechanism 
by which— 
‘‘(A) the national governing body can— 
‘‘(i) receive a report of suspected sex-
ual misconduct by an adult authorized by 
a national governing body or a member of 
a national governing body to interact with 
a minor or amateur athlete at an amateur 
sports organization facility or at any event 
sanctioned by a national governing body or 
a member of a national governing body; 
and 
‘‘(ii) confidentially share a report re-
ceived under clause (i) with each of the 
other amateur sports organizations, facili-
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ties, or members under the jurisdiction of 
the national governing body; and 
‘‘(B) an amateur sports organization, facil-
ity, or member under the jurisdiction of the na-
tional governing body can— 
‘‘(i) review the reports received by the 
national governing body under subpara-
graph (A)(i) to assess any allegations of 
sexual misconduct made in such reports; 
and 
‘‘(ii) withhold providing to an adult 
who is the subject of an allegation of sex-
ual misconduct in a report reviewed under 
clause (i) authority to interact with a 
minor or amateur athlete at such organiza-
tion, facility, or event until the resolution 
of such allegation. 
‘‘(b) LIMITED LIABILITY FOR THE UNITED STATES 
OLYMPIC COMMITTEE, NATIONAL GOVERNING BODIES, 
AND AN ENTITY DESIGNATED BY THE UNITED STATES 
OLYMPIC COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE AND RESOLVE 
SEXUAL MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graphs (2), no civil or criminal action may be 
brought in any Federal or State court against the 
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United States Olympic Committee, a national gov-
erning body, or an amateur sports organization, fa-
cility, or event under the jurisdiction of a national 
governing body, or an entity designated by the 
United States Olympic Committee to investigate and 
resolve sexual misconduct allegations described in 
subsection (a)(11), including any director, officer, 
employee, or agent of such entity, if the action arises 
from the execution of the responsibilities or func-
tions described in subsection (a)(11). 
‘‘(2) INTENTIONAL, RECKLESS, OR OTHER MIS-
CONDUCT.—Paragraph (1) shall not apply to a civil 
or criminal action if the United States Olympic 
Committee, a national governing body, an amateur 
sports organization, facility, or event under the ju-
risdiction of a national governing body, or an entity 
designated by the United States Olympic Committee 
to investigate and resolve sexual misconduct allega-
tions described in subsection (a)(11), or a director, 
officer, employee, or agent of such entity acted or 
failed to act— 
‘‘(A) with reckless disregard for a risk of 
causing injury; or 
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‘‘(B) for a purpose unrelated to the per-
formance of any responsibility or function de-
scribed in subsection (a)(11). 
‘‘(3) LIMITED EFFECT.—Nothing in this section 
shall apply to any act or omission arising out of any 
responsibility or function not described in subsection 
(a)(11).’’. 
(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Section 220522 of 
such title is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) RULE
OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in sub-
section (a) shall be construed to limit the ability of a na-
tional governing body to develop a policy or procedure to 
prevent an individual who is the subject of an allegation 
of sexual misconduct from interacting with a minor or 
amateur athlete until such time as the national governing 
body, or an entity with applicable jurisdiction resolves 
such allegation.’’. 
(d) REVIEW OF RECOGNITION OF AMATEUR SPORTS 
ORGANIZATIONS
AS NATIONAL GOVERNING BODIES.— 
Section 220521(d) of title 36, United States Code, is 
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amended by striking ‘‘may’’ each place it appears and in-
serting ‘‘shall’’. 
Passed the House of Representatives May 25, 2017. 
Attest: 
KAREN L. HAAS, 
Clerk. 
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