S 216 ISCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

113th CONGRESSCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

1st SessionCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

S. 216CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To prevent harassment at institutions of higher education, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

February 4, 2013CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Mr. LAUTENBERG (for himself, Mrs. MURRAY, Mrs. GILLIBRAND, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. MENENDEZ, and Mr. WYDEN) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and PensionsCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

A BILLCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To prevent harassment at institutions of higher education, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act of 2013’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. INSTITUTIONAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS.

Section 485(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1092(f)) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by striking the subsection heading and inserting ‘Disclosure of Campus Security and Harassment Policy and Campus Crime Statistics.’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in paragraph (6)(A)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) by redesignating clauses (ii) and (iii) as clauses (vi) and (vii), respectively; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by inserting after clause (i) the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) The term ‘commercial mobile service’ has the meaning given the term in section 332(d) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 332(d)).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(iii) The term ‘electronic communication’ means any transfer of signs, signals, writing, images, sounds, or data of any nature transmitted in whole or in part by a wire, radio, electromagnetic, photoelectronic, or photooptical system.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(iv) The term ‘electronic messaging services’ has the meaning given the term in section 102 of the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (47 U.S.C. 1001).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(v) The term ‘harassment’ means conduct, including acts of verbal, nonverbal, or physical aggression, intimidation, or hostility (including conduct that is undertaken in whole or in part, through the use of electronic messaging services, commercial mobile services, electronic communications, or other technology) that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(I) is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive so as to limit a student’s ability to participate in or benefit from a program or activity at an institution of higher education, or to create a hostile or abusive educational environment at an institution of higher education; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(II) is based on a student’s actual or perceived--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(aa) race;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(bb) color;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(cc) national origin;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(dd) sex;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ee) disability;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ff) sexual orientation;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(gg) gender identity; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(hh) religion.’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) by redesignating paragraphs (9) through (18) as paragraphs (10) through (19), respectively; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) by inserting after paragraph (8) the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(9)(A) Each institution of higher education participating in any program under this title, other than a foreign institution of higher education, shall develop and distribute as part of the report described in paragraph (1) a statement of policy regarding harassment, which shall include--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) a prohibition of harassment of enrolled students by other students, faculty, and staff--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(I) on campus;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(II) in noncampus buildings or on noncampus property;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(III) on public property;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(IV) through the use of electronic mail addresses issued by the institution of higher education;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(V) through the use of computers and communication networks, including any telecommunications service, owned, operated, or contracted for use by the institution of higher education or its agents; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(VI) during an activity sponsored by the institution of higher education or carried out with the use of resources provided by the institution of higher education;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) a description of the institution’s programs to combat harassment, which shall be aimed at the prevention of harassment;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(iii) a description of the procedures that a student should follow if an incident of harassment occurs; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(iv) a description of the procedures that the institution will follow once an incident of harassment has been reported.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) The statement of policy described in subparagraph (A) shall address the following areas:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) Procedures for timely institutional action in cases of alleged harassment, which procedures shall include a clear statement that the accuser and the accused shall be informed of the outcome of any disciplinary proceedings in response to an allegation of harassment.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) Possible sanctions to be imposed following the final determination of an institutional disciplinary procedure regarding harassment.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(iii) Notification of existing counseling, mental health, or student services for victims or perpetrators of harassment, both on campus and in the community.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(iv) Identification of a designated employee or office at the institution that will be responsible for receiving and tracking each report of harassment by a student, faculty, or staff member.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. ANTI-HARASSMENT COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM.

(a) Definitions- In this section:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY- The term ‘eligible entity’ means--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) an institution of higher education, including an institution of higher education in a collaborative partnership with a nonprofit organization; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) a consortium of institutions of higher education located in the same State.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) HARASSMENT- The term ‘harassment’ has the meaning given the term in section 485(f)(6)(A) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(6)(A)), as amended by section 2 of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) SECRETARY- The term ‘Secretary’ means the Secretary of Education.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Program Authorized- The Secretary is authorized to award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to enable eligible entities to carry out the authorized activities described in subsection (d).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Amount of Grant Awards- The Secretary shall ensure that each grant awarded under this section is of sufficient amount to enable the grantee to meet the purpose of this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Authorized Activities- An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall use the funds made available through the grant to address one or more of the types of harassment listed in section 485(f)(6)(A)(v)(II) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(6)(A)(v)(II)), as amended by section 2 of this Act, by initiating, expanding, or improving programs--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) to prevent the harassment of students at institutions of higher education;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) at institutions of higher education that provide counseling or redress services to students who have suffered such harassment or students who have been accused of subjecting other students to such harassment; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) that educate or train students, faculty, or staff of institutions of higher education about ways to prevent harassment or ways to address such harassment if it occurs.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Application- To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information, as the Secretary may require.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(f) Duration; Renewal- A grant under this section shall be awarded for a period of not more than 3 years. The Secretary may renew a grant under this section for one additional period of not more than 2 years.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(g) Award Considerations- In awarding a grant under this section, the Secretary shall select eligible entities that demonstrate the greatest need for a grant and the greatest potential benefit from receipt of a grant.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(h) Report and Evaluation-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) EVALUATION AND REPORT TO THE SECRETARY- Not later than 6 months after the end of the eligible entity’s grant period, the eligible entity shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) evaluate the effectiveness of the activities carried out with the use of funds awarded pursuant to this section in decreasing harassment and improving tolerance; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) prepare and submit to the Secretary a report on the results of the evaluation conducted by the entity.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) EVALUATION AND REPORT TO CONGRESS- Not later than 12 months after the date of receipt of the first report submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall provide to Congress a report that includes the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) The number and types of eligible entities receiving assistance under this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) The anti-harassment programs being implemented with assistance under this section and the costs of such programs.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) Any other information determined by the Secretary to be useful in evaluating the overall effectiveness of the program established under this section in decreasing incidents of harassment at institutions of higher education.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) BEST PRACTICES REPORT- The Secretary shall use the information provided under paragraph (1) to publish a report of best practices for combating harassment at institutions of higher education. The report shall be made available to all institutions of higher education and other interested parties.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) Authorization of Appropriations- There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2019.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 4. EFFECT ON OTHER LAWS.

Nothing in this Act shall be construed to invalidate or limit rights, remedies, procedures, or legal standards available to victims of discrimination under any other Federal law or law of a State or political subdivision of a State, including title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.), title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.), section 504 or 505 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794, 794a), or the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.). The obligations imposed by this Act are in addition to those imposed by title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.), title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.), section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794), and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink