IB 
Union Calendar No. 85 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1973 
[Report No. 115–136, Part I] 
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. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 6, 2017 
Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana (for herself, Ms. FRANKEL of Florida, and Mr. 
GOODLATTE) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Edu-
cation and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by 
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall with-
in the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
MAY 22, 2017 
Additional sponsors: Mrs. ROBY, Mr. JEFFRIES, Mr. SESSIONS, Mr. COS-
TELLO of Pennsylvania, Ms. TENNEY, Mr. PAULSEN, Ms. BROWNLEY of 
California, Mr. CA´RDENAS, Mr. ROE of Tennessee, Mr. KNIGHT, Mr. 
MESSER, Mrs. WALORSKI, Mr. GUTIE´RREZ, and Mr. MEEHAN 
MAY 22, 2017 
Reported from the Committee on the Judiciary with an amendment 
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
MAY 22, 2017 
The Committee on Education and the Workforce discharged; committed to the 
Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered 
to be printed 
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on April 6, 2017] 
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A BILL 
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. 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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 Attorney 
General under subsection (d).’’; 
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(2) in subsection (b), in the matter preceding 
paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘subsection (a)’’ and in-
serting ‘‘subsection (a)(1)’’; 
(3) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in paragraph (7), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(B) in paragraph (8), by striking the period 
at the end and inserting a semicolon; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(9) the term ‘covered facility’ means a facility 
over which a national governing body has jurisdic-
tion; 
‘‘(10) the term ‘covered individual’ means an 
adult who is authorized by a covered facility or by a 
national governing body to interact with a minor or 
amateur athlete at the covered facility or at any event 
sanctioned by the covered facility; and 
‘‘(11) the term ‘national governing body’ has the 
meaning given the term in section 220501(b) of title 
36, United States Code.’’; 
(4) in subsection (d), in the first sentence, by in-
serting ‘‘and for all covered facilities’’ after ‘‘reside’’; 
(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 insert-
ing after ‘‘facility,’’ the following: ‘‘or a covered individual 
(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 amend-
ed— 
(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 
shall recover the actual damages such person sustains or 
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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 appropriate.’’; 
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘filed within’’ 
and all that follows through the end and inserting the 
following: ‘‘file— 
‘‘(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 requirements re-
lating 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— 
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‘‘(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— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—’’ before 
‘‘For the sport’’; 
(2) in paragraph (8), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and 
inserting a semicolon; 
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(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 amateur 
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 re-
solve such allegations; 
‘‘(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-
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ity, including an entity designated by the cor-
poration; 
‘‘(C) procedures to ensure that covered indi-
viduals are instructed to avoid one-on-one situa-
tions with any amateur athlete who is a minor 
(other than such an athlete for whom the covered 
individual is a legal guardian) at an amateur 
sports organization facility, at any event sanc-
tioned by a national governing body, or any 
event sanctioned by a member of a national gov-
erning body, without being observable or inter-
ruptible by another adult; and 
‘‘(D) oversight procedures, including regular 
and random audits, not to exceed once a year, 
conducted by subject matter experts unaffiliated 
with the national governing body, of all members 
and adults described in subparagraph (A) to en-
sure that policies and procedures developed 
under this paragraph are followed correctly and 
that consistent training is offered and given to 
all members regarding prevention of sexual 
abuse; and 
‘‘(11) in the case of a national governing body 
with jurisdiction over more than one amateur sports 
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organization facility or event, establish a mechanism 
by which— 
‘‘(A) the national governing body can— 
‘‘(i) receive a report of suspected sexual 
misconduct by an adult authorized by a na-
tional governing body or a member of a na-
tional 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-
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 
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‘‘(ii) withhold providing to an adult 
who is the subject of an allegation of sexual 
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 MIS-
CONDUCT 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 
United States Olympic Committee, a national gov-
erning body, or an amateur sports organization, facil-
ity, or event under the jurisdiction of a national gov-
erning 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 exe-
cution of the responsibilities or functions described in 
subsection (a)(11). 
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‘‘(2) INTENTIONAL, RECKLESS, OR OTHER MIS-
CONDUCT.—Paragraph (1) shall not apply to a civil 
or criminal action if the United States Olympic Com-
mittee, a national governing body, an amateur sports 
organization, facility, or event under the jurisdiction 
of a national governing body, or an entity designated 
by the United States Olympic Committee to inves-
tigate and resolve sexual misconduct allegations de-
scribed 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 
‘‘(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 subsection 
(a) shall be construed to limit the ability of a national gov-
erning body to develop a policy or procedure to prevent an 
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individual who is the subject of an allegation of sexual mis-
conduct 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.—Sec-
tion 220521(d) of title 36, United States Code, is amended 
by striking ‘‘may’’ each place it appears and inserting 
‘‘shall’’. 
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Union Calendar No. 85 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 1973 
[Report No. 115–136, Part I] 
A BILL 
To prevent the sexual abuse of minors and amateur 
athletes by requiring the prompt reporting of sex-
ual abuse to law enforcement authorities, and for 
other purposes. 
MAY 22, 2017 
Reported from the Committee on the Judiciary with an 
amendment 
MAY 22, 2017 
The Committee on Education and the Workforce dis-
charged; committed to the Committee of the Whole 
House on the State of the Union and ordered to be 
printed 
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