HR 5277 113th Congress House

SOS Campus Act

Official title: To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require institutions of higher education to have an independent advocate for campus sexual assault prevention and response.

Introduced: September 16, 2014 See on congress.gov

Education Assault and harassment offensesCrime preventionCrime victimsCrimes against women

More subjectsShow fewer subjects

Education programs fundingEmergency medical services and trauma careEvidence and witnessesHigher educationMedical tests and diagnostic methodsRight of privacySchool administrationSex offenses

Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps

Introduced

In committee

Reported out

Passed House

Passed Senate

To President

Became law

Nov 17, 2014

Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training.

Jul 30, 2014

Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Jul 30, 2014

Introduced in House

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Latest action November 17, 2014

Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training.

Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Survivor Outreach and Support Campus Act or the SOS Campus Act - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require each institution of higher education (IHE) that participates in the programs under title IV (Student Assistance) to designate an independent advocate for campus sexual assault prevention and response (Advocate) with experience in providing sexual assault victim services.

Directs the Secretary of Education to prescribe regulations for IHEs to follow in appointing Advocates.

Requires each Advocate to: (1) report to an individual outside the body responsible for investigating and adjudicating sexual assault complaints at the IHE, (2) submit to such individual an annual report summarizing how the resources supplied to the Advocate were used, and (3) represent the interests of each student victim even when they conflict with the IHE's interests.

Directs each Advocate to:

ensure that sexual assault victims at the IHE receive, with their consent, specified information and services;
guide sexual assault victims who request assistance through the reporting, counseling, administrative, medical and health, academic accommodations, or legal processes of the IHE or local law enforcement;
attend, at the request of a sexual assault victim, any administrative or IHE-based adjudication proceeding related to such assault as an advocate for the victim;
maintain the privacy and confidentiality of the victim and any witness to such sexual assault, without notifying the IHE or any other authority of the identity of the victim or of any such witness or the alleged circumstances surrounding the reported sexual assault, unless otherwise required to do so by state law; and
conduct a public information campaign to inform the students enrolled at the IHE of the existence of, contact information for, and services provided by the Advocate.