Professionalizing the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator Act of 2021
Bill: S.1799 | Sponsor: Sen. Hawley, Josh (R-MO)
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Professionalizing the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator Act of 2021
This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to submit a report on establishing a Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC) Military Occupational Specialty (MOS). The report must include a recommendation on the required rank and experience of a SARC MOS.
DOD must brief the congressional defense committees on the report.

To professionalize the position of Sexual Assault Response Coordinator 
                in the military, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Professionalizing the Sexual Assault 
Response Coordinator Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE COORDINATOR MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL 
              SPECIALTY.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the 
congressional defense committees a report on the optimal execution of a 
Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC) Military Occupational 
Specialty (MOS).
    (b) Elements.--The report required under subsection (a) shall 
include the following elements:
            (1) A recommendation on the required rank and experience of 
        a SARC MOS.
            (2) Recommendations for strengthening recruitment and 
        retention of members of the Armed Forces of the required rank 
        and experience identified under paragraph (1), including--
                    (A) designating SARC as a secondary MOS instead of 
                a primary MOS;
                    (B) providing initial or recurrent bonuses or duty 
                stations of choice to service members who qualify for 
                the SARC MOS;
                    (C) limiting the amount of time that a service 
                member who has qualified for the SARC MOS can serve as 
                a SARC in a given period of time; or
                    (D) requiring evaluations for service members who 
                have qualified for the SARC MOS and are serving as a 
                SARC to be completed by an officer of the rank of O-6 
                or higher.
            (3) Recommendations for standardizing training and 
        education for service members seeking a SARC MOS or serving as 
        a SARC, including by institutionalizing relevant academies for 
        each of the services.
            (4) An analysis of the impact of a SARC MOS on the talent 
        management of the existing SARC program, including recruitment 
        and retention.
            (5) An analysis of the requirements for a SARC-specific 
        chain of command.
            (6) A plan to execute a SARC MOS within two years.
            (7) Analysis of the cost of a SARC MOS program.
            (8) Any other matter the Secretary of Defense considers 
        relevant for inclusion.
    (c) Briefing.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall provide the 
congressional defense committees a briefing on the report required 
under subsection (a).
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