A bill to improve and enhance the capabilities of the Department of Defense to prevent and respond to sexual assault in the Armed Forces, and for other purposes.

Summary

Requires the officials authorized to receive a restricted reporting by a member of the Armed Forces (member) of an allegation of sexual assault without resulting in the initiation of an official investigative process to include judge advocates. Directs the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to modify the Military Rules of Evidence to provide a member the privilege to refuse to disclose in a military proceeding a confidential communication between a member and a Victim Advocate, if such communication was made to facilitate victim advocacy. Requires each Sexual Assault Response Coordinator to be a member on active duty or a full-time civilian DOD employee. Prohibits any contractor personnel from acting as Coordinators. Requires each military battalion to have at least one Victim Advocate who is either a member on active duty or a full-time civilian DOD employee. Directs the Secretary to carry out a training and certification program for such Coordinators. Requires the DOD position of Director of the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office to be a position in the Senior Executive Service. Directs the Secretary to standardize and update programs and activities relating to sexual assault prevention and response across the Armed Forces and the military departments. Requires the Secretary to ensure that training on sexual assault prevention and response is provided to members at each level of professional military education and is uniform across the Armed Forces.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

1. 5 May 2010

   Introduced

   Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 5 May 2010

   Introduced

   Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3166-3167)

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 5 May 2010

   Introduced

   Introduced in Senate

   Source: IntroReferral

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Introduced in Senate · 5 May 2010 · Official file

Documents

3 official files

• Introduced in Senate (text)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 5 May 2010

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate (PDF)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 5 May 2010

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 5 May 2010

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA] · D · Sponsor
• Sen. Hagan, Kay R. [D-NC] · D · Cosponsor
• Sen. Bayh, Evan [D-IN] · D · Cosponsor
• Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA] · D · Cosponsor
• Sen. Begich, Mark [D-AK] · D · Cosponsor
• Sen. Byrd, Robert C. [D-WV] · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Johnson, Tim [D-SD-At Large] · D · Cosponsor
• · ssas00 · Standing

Related records

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