Speak Out Act
Bill: S.4524 | Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. (D-NY)
Policy area: Law

Summary:
Speak Out Act
This act prohibits the judicial enforceability of a nondisclosure clause or nondisparagement clause agreed to before a dispute arises involving sexual assault or sexual harassment in violation of federal, tribal, or state law.

[117th Congress Public Law 224]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



[[Page 2289]]

                              SPEAK OUT ACT

[[Page 136 STAT. 2290]]

Public Law 117-224
117th Congress

                                 An Act


 
  To limit the judicial enforceability of predispute nondisclosure and 
nondisparagement contract clauses relating to disputes involving sexual 
   assault and sexual harassment. <<NOTE: Dec. 7, 2022 -  [S. 4524]>> 

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Speak Out 
Act.>> 
SECTION 1. <<NOTE: 42 USC 19401 note.>>  SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Speak Out Act''.
SEC. 2. <<NOTE: 42 USC 19401.>>  FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Sexual harassment and assault remain pervasive in the 
        workplace and throughout civic society, affecting millions of 
        Americans.
            (2) Eighty-one percent of women and 43 percent of men have 
        experienced some form of sexual harassment or assault throughout 
        their lifetime.
            (3) One in 3 women has faced sexual harassment in the 
        workplace during her career, and an estimated 87 to 94 percent 
        of those who experience sexual harassment never file a formal 
        complaint.
            (4) Sexual harassment in the workplace forces many women to 
        leave their occupation or industry, or pass up opportunities for 
        advancement.
            (5) In order to combat sexual harassment and assault, it is 
        essential that victims and survivors have the freedom to report 
        and publicly disclose their abuse.
            (6) Nondisclosure and nondisparagement provisions in 
        agreements between employers and current, former, and 
        prospective employees, and independent contractors, and between 
        providers of goods and services and consumers, can perpetuate 
        illegal conduct by silencing those who are survivors of illegal 
        sexual harassment and assault or illegal retaliation, or have 
        knowledge of such conduct, while shielding perpetrators and 
        enabling them to continue their abuse.
            (7) Prohibiting nondisclosure and nondisparagement clauses 
        will empower survivors to come forward, hold perpetrators 
        accountable for abuse, improve transparency around illegal 
        conduct, enable the pursuit of justice, and make workplaces 
        safer and more productive for everyone.
SEC. 3. <<NOTE: 42 USC 19402.>>  DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Nondisclosure clause.--The term ``nondisclosure clause'' 
        means a provision in a contract or agreement that

[[Page 136 STAT. 2291]]

         requires the parties to the contract or agreement not to 
        disclose or discuss conduct, the existence of a settlement 
        involving conduct, or information covered by the terms and 
        conditions of the contract or agreement.
            (2) Nondisparagement clause.--The term ``nondisparagement 
        clause'' means a provision in a contract or agreement that 
        requires 1 or more parties to the contract or agreement not to 
        make a negative statement about another party that relates to 
        the contract, agreement, claim, or case.
            (3) Sexual assault dispute.--The term ``sexual assault 
        dispute'' means a dispute involving a nonconsensual sexual act 
        or sexual contact, as such terms are defined in section 2246 of 
        title 18, United States Code, or similar applicable Tribal or 
        State law, including when the victim lacks capacity to consent.
            (4) Sexual harassment dispute.--The term ``sexual harassment 
        dispute'' means a dispute relating to conduct that is alleged to 
        constitute sexual harassment under applicable Federal, Tribal, 
        or State law.
SEC. 4. <<NOTE: 42 USC 19403.>>  LIMITATION ON JUDICIAL 
                    ENFORCEABILITY OF NONDISCLOSURE AND 
                    NONDISPARAGEMENT CONTRACT CLAUSES RELATING TO 
                    SEXUAL ASSAULT DISPUTES AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT 
                    DISPUTES.

    (a) In General.--With respect to a sexual assault dispute or sexual 
harassment dispute, no nondisclosure clause or nondisparagement clause 
agreed to before the dispute arises shall be judicially enforceable in 
instances in which conduct is alleged to have violated Federal, Tribal, 
or State law.
    (b) Continued Applicability of State Law.--Nothing in this Act shall 
prohibit a State or locality from enforcing a provision of State law 
governing nondisclosure or nondisparagement clauses that is at least as 
protective of the right of an individual to speak freely, as provided by 
this Act.
    (c) Continued Applicability of Federal, State, and Tribal Law.--This 
Act shall not be construed to supersede a provision of Federal, State, 
or Tribal Law that governs the use of pseudonyms in the filing of claims 
involving sexual assault or sexual harassment disputes.
    (d) Protection of Trade Secrets and Proprietary Information.--
Nothing in this Act shall prohibit an employer and an employee from 
protecting trade secrets or proprietary information.

[[Page 136 STAT. 2292]]

SEC. 5. <<NOTE: 42 USC 19404.>>  APPLICABILITY.

    This Act shall apply with respect to a claim that is filed under 
Federal, State, or Tribal law on or after the date of enactment of this 
Act.

    Approved December 7, 2022.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 4524:
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 168 (2022):
            Sept. 29, considered and passed Senate.
            Nov. 16, considered and passed House.

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