S 856 — Campus Accountability and Safety Act

Summary

Campus Accountability and Safety Act This bill addresses sexual harassment, sexual assault, and other violence and harassment on the campuses of colleges and universities. The bill amends provisions of the Higher Education Act of 1965 known as the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act to expand reporting requirements included in the annual campus security report provided to current and prospective students and employees. Specifically, the report must include information about: (1) the institutions coordination with local law enforcement about domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking occurring against its students or against other individuals on its campus; (2) statistics about certain criminal offenses reported to campus security authorities or local police, including rape, fondling, incest, and statutory rape; and (3) information about how the institution is addressing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The Department of Education (ED) must administer and publish the campus-level results of a biannual survey of students regarding their experiences with domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Each institution must establish a campus security policy that meets certain requirements with respect to: (1) assisting survivors; (2) training individuals who are involved in implementing the student grievance procedures or who are responsible for interviewing survivors; and (3) establishing a uniform process for student disciplinary proceedings relating to any claims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking or a sexual misconduct policy violation against a student. ED and the Department of Justice may impose civil penalties for failure to meet certain requirements under this bill. The bill also authorizes grants to address these issues.

Bill Text

• Introduced Introduced in Senate Current html April 05, 2017

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill amends existing law related to the dissemination of campus security and crime statistics information, enhancing transparency and accountability in addressing campus sexual assault.

• 20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(1)

  through appropriate publications or mailings, → which shall include, at a minimum, publication in an easily accessible manner on the website of the institution,

  Institutions are now required to also publish certain information on their websites.

• 20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(1)(C)

  the requirements under section 1091b of this title for the return of grant or loan assistance provided under this subchapter; → the memorandum of understanding between the institution and law enforcement pursuant to section 124 (or, if such requirement has been waived, a description of the working relationship between the institution, campus security personnel, or campus law enforcement and State or local law enforcement agencies);

  The bill mandates reporting on the relationship between institutions and law enforcement regarding campus security.

• 20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(1)(F)(ii)

  subclauses (I) through (VIII) of clause (i) → subclauses (I) through (XI) of clause (i)

  It updates the categories of crimes that institutions must report.

• 20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(1)(F)(i)

  subclauses (III) through (IX) → subclauses (VI) through (XII)

  The bill renumbers and adds new crime categories for annual reporting.

• 20 U.S.C. 1092(f)

  (K)(i) With respect to the criminal activity described in subclauses (II) and (III) of subparagraph (F)(i), the eligible institution shall prepare for the annual security report that is due following 1 year after the date of enactment of the Campus Accountability and Safety Act, and annually thereafter, the following additions: (I) The number of such incidents where the accused individual is a student at the institution. (II) Of the incidents described in subclause (I), the number of such incidents that were reported to the title IX coordinator (as defined in section 125(a)) or other higher education responsible employee (as defined in section 125(a)) of the institution.

  It increases reporting requirements regarding incidents of sexual violence involving students.

Action History

1. April 05, 2017

   Introduced in Senate

2. April 05, 2017

   Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Sponsors

• Claire McCaskill · Primary

Subjects