National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention Improvements Act of 2020

Bill: 116-hr-6636
Sponsor: Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1]
Introduced: 2020-04-28 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Assault and harassment offenses
Atmospheric science and weather
Congressional oversight
Crime prevention
Crime victims
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Department of Commerce
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government studies and investigations
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine and inland water transportation
Right of privacy
Sex offenses
Transportation safety and security
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2020-04-28
text: 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention Improvements Act of 2020

 
This bill addresses sexual harassment and sexual assault involving personnel of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
 
Specifically, the bill
 
 
 expands coverage of NOAA's sexual harassment prevention and response policy to include personnel such as observers and at-sea monitors, and voting members and executive and administrative staff of regional fishery management councils;
 
directs NOAA to provide a mechanism for anonymous reports of sexual harassment to its Office of Inclusion and Civil Rights and sexual assault to its Workplace Violence Prevention and Response Program;
 
requires NOAA to ensure that allegations of sexual assault and sexual harassment are investigated thoroughly and promptly;
 
provides for a restricted reporting structure that allows survivors of sexual assault to receive services without triggering an investigative process; 
 
revises reporting requirements on sexual harassment, sexual assault, and equal opportunity employment; and
 
removes the requirements that acts of assault, resistance, opposition, intimidation, sexual harassment, bribery, or interference with a fishery observer be forcible in nature and occur on a vessel to be unlawful.
 

action_date: 2020-11-02
text: 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention Improvements Act of 2020

 
This bill addresses sexual harassment and sexual assault involving personnel of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
 
Specifically, the bill
 
 
 expands coverage of NOAA's sexual harassment prevention and response policy to include personnel such as observers and at-sea monitors, and voting members and executive and administrative staff of regional fishery management councils;
 
directs NOAA to provide a mechanism for anonymous reports of sexual harassment to its Office of Inclusion and Civil Rights and sexual assault to its Workplace Violence Prevention and Response Program;
 
requires NOAA to ensure that allegations of sexual assault and sexual harassment are investigated thoroughly and promptly;
 
provides for a restricted reporting structure that allows survivors of sexual assault to receive services without triggering an investigative process; 
 
revises reporting requirements on sexual harassment, sexual assault, and equal opportunity employment; and
 
removes the requirements that acts of assault, resistance, opposition, intimidation, sexual harassment, bribery, or interference with a fishery observer be forcible in nature and occur on a vessel to be unlawful.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-11-02
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 464.
action_date: 2020-11-02
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 116-566.
action_date: 2020-11-02
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 116-566.
action_date: 2020-07-29
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2020-07-29
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2020-07-29
text: Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife Discharged.
action_date: 2020-05-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife.
action_date: 2020-04-28
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2020-04-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2020-04-28
text: Introduced in House