Georgia 2023-2024 Regular Session

Georgia House Bill HB677 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.
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11 23 LC 50 0522
22 H. B. 677
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44 House Bill 677
55 By: Representatives Scott of the 76
66 th
77 , Schofield of the 63
88 rd
99 , and Davis of the 87
1010 th
1111
1212 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1313 AN ACT
1414 To amend Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
1515 1
1616 postsecondary education, so as to provide for policies and procedures regarding sexual2
1717 violence, intimate partner violence, and stalking and requirements therefor; to provide for3
1818 notice; to create the Higher Education Interpersonal Violence Advisory Commission; to4
1919 provide for membership and duties thereof; to provide for a survey and requirements5
2020 therefor; to provide for confidential resource advisors and requirements and duties thereof;6
2121 to provide for reporting and confidentiality; to provide for prevention and awareness7
2222 programming; to provide for training requirements; to provide for immunity; to provide for8
2323 memoranda of understanding; to provide for definitions; to provide for construction; to9
2424 provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.10
2525 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:11
2626 SECTION 1.12
2727 Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to postsecondary13
2828 education, is amended by adding a new article to read as follows:14 23 LC 50 0522
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3131 "ARTICLE 1415
3232 20-3-700.16
3333 As used in this article, unless the context otherwise indicates, the term:17
3434 (1) 'Affirmative consent' means consent to sexual activity that can be revoked at any18
3535 time. Such term does not include silence, lack of resistance, or consent given while19
3636 intoxicated.20
3737 (2) 'Commission' means the Higher Education Interpersonal Violence Advisory21
3838 Commission established pursuant to this article.22
3939 (3) 'Employee' means an individual who is employed by an institution of higher23
4040 education, including a full-time, part-time, or contracted employee, or an individual who24
4141 was employed by an institution of higher education, including a full-time, part-time, or25
4242 contracted employee, but has taken a leave of absence or terminated the employment as26
4343 a result of having been a victim of sexual violence, intimate partner violence, or stalking27
4444 or for any other reason.28
4545 (4) 'Institution of higher education' or 'institution' means a public, private, nonprofit, or29
4646 for-profit postsecondary school chartered, incorporated, or otherwise organized in this30
4747 state with an established physical presence in this state.31
4848 (5) 'Interpersonal violence climate survey' means the survey developed pursuant to Code32
4949 Section 20-3-703.33
5050 (6) 'Intimate partner violence' means any felony or the offense of battery, simple battery,34
5151 simple assault, assault, stalking, criminal damage to property, unlawful restraint, or35
5252 criminal trespass that is committed by an individual who is or has been in a social36
5353 relationship with another individual of an intimate nature regardless of whether the37
5454 individuals were or are sexual partners.38 23 LC 50 0522
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5757 (7) 'Reporting party' means a student or employee who reports having experienced an39
5858 alleged incident of sexual violence, intimate partner violence, or stalking at an institution40
5959 of higher education.41
6060 (8) 'Responding party' means an individual who has been accused of an alleged incident42
6161 of sexual violence, intimate partner violence, or stalking at an institution of higher43
6262 education.44
6363 (9) 'Sexual violence' means conduct that constitutes:45
6464 (A) Rape, sodomy, aggravated sodomy, statutory rape, improper sexual contact, sexual46
6565 battery, or aggravated sexual battery under Chapter 6 of Title 16; or47
6666 (B) Trafficking under Code Section 16-5-46.48
6767 (10) 'Stalking' means conduct that constitutes a crime of stalking under Article 7 of49
6868 Chapter 5 of Title 16.50
6969 (11) 'Student' means an individual who is enrolled or is seeking to be enrolled in an51
7070 institution of higher education in this state or has taken a leave of absence from an52
7171 institution of higher education as a result of having been a victim of sexual violence,53
7272 intimate partner violence, or stalking.54
7373 (12) 'Title IX coordinator' means the employee at an institution of higher education who55
7474 is responsible for institutional compliance with the Title IX provisions of the federal56
7575 Education Amendments of 1972, P.L. 92-318, as amended.57
7676 (13) 'Trauma informed response' means a response by an individual who has received58
7777 specific training in the complexities of trauma caused by sexual violence, intimate partner59
7878 violence, or stalking, including training on:60
7979 (A) The neurobiological impact of trauma;61
8080 (B) The influence of societal stereotypes or other misconceptions relating to the causes62
8181 and impacts of trauma on an individual experiencing the trauma caused by sexual63
8282 violence, intimate partner violence, or stalking;64 23 LC 50 0522
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8585 (C) Methodologies for avoiding perpetuation of the trauma caused by sexual violence,65
8686 intimate partner violence, or stalking; and66
8787 (D) How to conduct an effective investigation of trauma.67
8888 20-3-701.68
8989 (a) No later than January 1, 2024, each institution of higher education shall adopt a policy69
9090 and related procedures on sexual violence, intimate partner violence, and stalking, in70
9191 accordance with this article and consistent with applicable state and federal law. The71
9292 policy shall be publicly available on each institution's campus website and in student72
9393 handbooks. Notices of where the full policy is available and outreach for victims of sexual73
9494 violence, intimate partner violence, and stalking shall be posted at campus locations where74
9595 students regularly congregate. Each institution shall annually update the policy on the75
9696 institution's website.76
9797 (b) The policy shall reflect the diverse needs of all students and employees and be77
9898 culturally competent. An institution may consider input from various internal and external78
9999 entities, including, but not limited to, the institution's Title IX coordinator, local sexual79
100100 assault support centers, domestic violence resource centers, administrators, personnel80
101101 affiliated with on-campus and off-campus healthcare centers, confidential resource81
102102 advisors, residence life staff, students, employees, law enforcement agencies, and the82
103103 district attorney having jurisdiction in the location where the institution of higher83
104104 education's primary campus is located.84
105105 (c) The policy shall include, but shall not be limited to:85
106106 (1) Procedures by which students and employees at the institution may report or disclose86
107107 alleged incidents of sexual violence, intimate partner violence, or stalking regardless of87
108108 where the alleged incident occurred;88 23 LC 50 0522
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111111 (2) Information on where a reporting party may receive immediate emergency assistance89
112112 following an alleged incident of sexual violence, intimate partner violence, or stalking,90
113113 including, but not limited to:91
114114 (A) The name and location of the nearest medical facility, including information on92
115115 transportation options and information on reimbursement for travel costs, if any, where93
116116 a reporting party may request that a forensic examination be administered by a licensed94
117117 healthcare practitioner who has received sexual assault forensic examiner training and;95
118118 (B) The contact information for a local sexual assault support center and a domestic96
119119 violence resource center with a description of the services provided by each center;97
120120 (C) The telephone number and website of a local sexual assault center and a national98
121121 24 hour hotline that provide information on sexual assault; and99
122122 (D) Information on any programs that may provide financial assistance to a reporting100
123123 party in covering the costs of emergency medical assistance, including, but not limited101
124124 to, any available public victim compensation fund;102
125125 (3) Descriptions of the types of and contact information for counseling, health, safety,103
126126 academic, and other support services available within the local community or region or104
127127 through a local sexual assault support center or a domestic violence resource center,105
128128 including, but not limited to, the names of and contact information for organizations that106
129129 support responding parties accused of sexual violence, intimate partner violence, or107
130130 stalking; the name of and contact information for a confidential resource advisor under108
131131 Code Section 20-3-705 and a description of the role of and services provided by the109
132132 confidential resource advisor; and the name of and contact information for the110
133133 institution's Title IX coordinator;111
134134 (4) The rights of students and employees to:112
135135 (A) Notify or decline to notify a law enforcement agency, including campus, local, or113
136136 state police, of an alleged incident of sexual violence, intimate partner violence, or114
137137 stalking;115 23 LC 50 0522
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140140 (B) Receive assistance from campus authorities in making any notification under116
141141 subparagraph (A) of this paragraph; and117
142142 (C) Obtain a court issued or institution issued protection order against a responding118
143143 party involved with the alleged incident of sexual violence, intimate partner violence,119
144144 or stalking;120
145145 (5) The process for requesting supportive measures reasonably available from the121
146146 institution, including, but not limited to, options for changing academic, living, campus122
147147 transportation, or working arrangements or taking a leave of absence in response to an123
148148 alleged incident of sexual violence, intimate partner violence, or stalking; how to request124
149149 such changes; and the process by which such changes may be made;125
150150 (6) The contact information for the closest local, state, and federal law enforcement126
151151 agencies with jurisdiction over matters involving sexual violence, intimate partner127
152152 violence, or stalking; procedures for students or employees to notify the institution that128
153153 a protection order has been issued under state or federal law; and the institution's129
154154 responsibilities upon receipt of such notice;130
155155 (7) A summary of the institution's policy for informal resolution, investigating,131
156156 adjudicating, and resolving sexual violence, intimate partner violence, or stalking132
157157 complaints against students or employees, regardless of where the alleged offense133
158158 occurred, including an explanation of all procedures that must be followed to obtain134
159159 investigatory reports and gather evidence, and potential sanctions or penalties that may135
160160 be imposed. Such policy shall provide that:136
161161 (A) The procedures be uniformly applied, to the extent practicable, for all proceedings137
162162 relating to any claims of sexual violence, intimate partner violence, or stalking;138
163163 (B) An investigation, including any hearings and resulting disciplinary proceedings,139
164164 be conducted by an individual who receives annual training on issues relating to sexual140
165165 violence, intimate partner violence, or stalking, investigatory procedures, and hearing141 23 LC 50 0522
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168168 procedures to protect the safety and rights of students or employees and promote142
169169 accountability, objectivity, impartiality, and trauma informed responses;143
170170 (C) The reporting party and the responding party be provided with a copy of the policy144
171171 regarding the submission and consideration of evidence that may be used during a145
172172 disciplinary proceeding;146
173173 (D) The reporting party and the responding party be informed in writing of the results147
174174 of a disciplinary proceeding no later than seven business days after a final148
175175 determination of a complaint, not including time for appeal, if any, unless good cause149
176176 for additional time is shown. The reporting party and responding party shall be150
177177 informed of the process, if any, for appealing the decision;151
178178 (E) The institution shall not publicly disclose the identity of the reporting party or the152
179179 responding party, except as necessary to carry out a disciplinary proceeding or as153
180180 otherwise permitted under state or federal law; and154
181181 (F) The reporting party and the responding party shall be informed that the institution's155
182182 disciplinary proceedings shall not serve as a substitute for the criminal justice process;156
183183 and157
184184 (8) The range of sanctions or penalties the institution may impose on students or158
185185 employees found responsible for a violation of the applicable institutional policy159
186186 prohibiting sexual violence, intimate partner violence, or stalking.160
187187 (d) When adopting or amending a policy, an institution shall provide an opportunity for161
188188 comment and a reasonable length of time in which comments will be accepted.162
189189 (e) The identity of a reporting party and a responding party and all information relating to163
190190 an incident of sexual violence, intimate partner violence, or stalking are confidential and164
191191 shall not be disclosed by the institution except as necessary to carry out a disciplinary165
192192 process or as otherwise permitted under state or federal law.166 23 LC 50 0522
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195195 20-3-702.167
196196 Each institution shall provide a reporting party and a responding party with written notice168
197197 of the institution's decision to hold a disciplinary proceeding regarding an allegation of169
198198 sexual violence, intimate partner violence, or stalking sufficiently in advance of a170
199199 disciplinary proceeding. The disciplinary proceeding shall provide due process, be prompt,171
200200 fair, and impartial, and shall include the opportunity for both parties to present witnesses172
201201 and other evidence.173
202202 20-3-703.174
203203 (a) The Higher Education Interpersonal Violence Advisory Commission is created for the175
204204 purpose of developing a base interpersonal violence climate survey for dissemination to176
205205 institutions of higher education and for providing recommendations on the content, timing,177
206206 and application of the survey and reporting on the survey to the General Assembly.178
207207 (b) The commission shall comprise 22 members as follows:179
208208 (1) The chair of the board of regents or his or her designee;180
209209 (2) The commissioner of Department of Public Health or his or her designee;181
210210 (3) The following nine members appointed by the chair of the board of regents:182
211211 (A) One member representing a state-wide coalition of sexual assault support centers;183
212212 (B) One member representing an organization promoting racial equity and justice;184
213213 (C) One member representing a coalition against sexual assault and domestic violence;185
214214 (D) One member representing a state-wide organization for disability rights;186
215215 (E) One member representing a state-wide organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and187
216216 transgender people;188
217217 (F) One member representing a national advocacy organization focused on passing189
218218 state legislation written by students and survivors addressing campus sexual violence;190
219219 (G) One member representing a state-wide coalition of domestic violence resource191
220220 centers;192 23 LC 50 0522
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223223 (H) One member representing an organization that advocates for immigrant193
224224 communities in this state; and194
225225 (I) One representative from a civil legal services provider representing sexual assault195
226226 survivors; and196
227227 (4) Eleven members appointed by the Governor:197
228228 (A) One student attending a public institution of higher education in this state;198
229229 (B) One student attending a private institution of higher education in this state;199
230230 (C) One student attending an institution in the Technical College System of Georgia;200
231231 (D) One representative of the University System of Georgia recommended by the201
232232 chancellor of the University System of Georgia;202
233233 (E) One representative of a private institution of higher education recommended by an203
234234 association of independent colleges in this state;204
235235 (F) One representative of the Technical College System of Georgia recommended by205
236236 the commissioner of the Technical College System of Georgia;206
237237 (G) One Title IX coordinator at a public institution of higher education in this state;207
238238 (H) One Title IX coordinator at a private institution of higher education in this state;208
239239 (I) One researcher with experience in the development and design of interpersonal209
240240 violence climate surveys;210
241241 (J) One researcher of statistics, data analytics, or econometrics with experience in211
242242 higher education survey analysis; and212
243243 (K) One representative of an on-campus health center at an institution of higher213
244244 education who has experience dealing with campus sexual violence, intimate partner214
245245 violence, or stalking.215
246246 (c) The university system shall provide appropriate staffing assistance to the commission.216
247247 (d) Each appointed member shall serve a two-year term except that, of those members first217
248248 appointed, five appointed by the Governor and five appointed by the chair of the board of218
249249 regents shall each be appointed for a one-year term. The term of office of each member219 23 LC 50 0522
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252252 shall be designated at the time of appointment. A member of the commission may serve220
253253 after the expiration of that member's term until a successor has been appointed. Members221
254254 shall not be compensated.222
255255 (e) A quorum of the commission consists of two-thirds of appointed members.223
256256 (f) Beginning January 1, 2024, and biennially thereafter, the commission shall provide to224
257257 the chair of the board of regents the interpersonal violence climate survey developed in225
258258 accordance with subsections (g) and (h) of this Code section and shall include related226
259259 recommendations, including, but not limited to, recommendations on achieving statistically227
260260 valid response rates. The commission may make recommendations on legislative and228
261261 policy actions or on enforcing and carrying out the provisions of this article and may229
262262 undertake research development and program initiatives consistent with this article. The230
263263 commission shall meet at least four times per year. Subcommittees of the commission may231
264264 meet as necessary. The commission may accept funds from the federal government, local232
265265 governments, or individuals, foundations, or corporations and may expend these funds for233
266266 purposes that are consistent with this Code section. The commission may develop bylaws.234
267267 (g) The commission shall develop the interpersonal violence climate survey by:235
268268 (1) Using best practices from peer reviewed research and in consultation with individuals236
269269 with expertise in the development and use of interpersonal violence climate surveys by237
270270 institutions of higher education;238
271271 (2) Reviewing interpersonal violence climate surveys that have been developed and239
272272 previously used by institutions of higher education in other states;240
273273 (3) To ensure the adequacy and appropriateness of the proposed content, providing241
274274 opportunities for written comment from organizations that work directly with victims and242
275275 survivors of sexual violence, intimate partner violence, and stalking;243
276276 (4) Consulting with institutions on strategies for optimizing the effectiveness of the244
277277 interpersonal violence climate survey; and245 23 LC 50 0522
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280280 (5) Accounting for the diverse needs and differences among the institutions of higher246
281281 education.247
282282 (h) The interpersonal violence climate survey shall collect anonymous responses and shall248
283283 not require the disclosure of personally identifiable information. The survey shall include249
284284 the survey requirements of the federal Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act250
285285 of 2022, P.L. 117-103, and shall be designed, without being duplicative of the federal251
286286 requirements, to gather the following information:252
287287 (1) The number of incidents, both reported and unreported, of sexual violence, intimate253
288288 partner violence, and stalking at each institution of higher education;254
289289 (2) Generally, when or where incidents of sexual violence, intimate partner violence, or255
290290 stalking occurred, including, but not limited to, on-campus, off-campus, abroad, online,256
291291 or elsewhere, but without requiring students or employees to disclose specific information257
292292 about any incident;258
293293 (3) Student and employee awareness of the institution's policies and procedures related259
294294 to sexual violence, intimate partner violence, and stalking;260
295295 (4) Whether a student or employee reported sexual violence, intimate partner violence,261
296296 or stalking and, if so, to which campus resource or law enforcement agency the report262
297297 was made, and, if not, the reason for such student's or employee's decision not to report;263
298298 (5) Whether a student or employee was informed of or referred to local, state, campus,264
299299 or other resources or victim support services, including appropriate medical care and265
300300 legal services;266
301301 (6) Whether a student or employee was provided the option of protection from267
302302 retaliation, access to school based accommodations, and criminal justice remedies;268
303303 (7) Contextual factors of each incident of sexual violence, intimate partner violence, or269
304304 stalking, such as the involvement of force, incapacitation, coercion, or drug or alcohol270
305305 facilitation;271 23 LC 50 0522
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308308 (8) Demographic information that could be used to identify at-risk groups including but272
309309 not limited to gender, race, and sexual orientation;273
310310 (9) Perceptions of campus safety among members of the campus community and274
311311 confidence in the institution's ability to protect against and respond in a timely and trauma275
312312 informed manner to incidents of sexual violence, intimate partner violence, or stalking;276
313313 (10) Whether a reporting party was satisfied with the institution of higher education's277
314314 response to the reporting party's report;278
315315 (11) Whether the student has chosen to withdraw or take a leave of absence from the279
316316 institution or transferred to another institution due to being either the reporting party or280
317317 the responding party in an allegation of sexual violence, intimate partner violence, or281
318318 stalking;282
319319 (12) Whether a student has withdrawn from any classes or been placed on academic283
320320 probation as a result of an incident or allegation of sexual violence, intimate partner284
321321 violence, or stalking; and285
322322 (13) Answers to any other questions developed by the commission.286
323323 20-3-704.287
324324 (a) The chair of the board of regents shall provide the interpersonal violence climate288
325325 survey biennially to each institution, and each institution shall biennially conduct the289
326326 interpersonal violence climate survey on each campus. Each institution may append290
327327 campus-specific questions to the survey; provided, however, that any additional questions291
328328 shall not require the disclosure of any personally identifiable information and shall not be292
329329 unnecessarily traumatizing for victims of sexual violence, intimate partner violence, or293
330330 stalking. All students and employees shall be offered an opportunity to complete part or294
331331 all of the interpersonal violence climate survey.295
332332 (b) Within 120 days after completion of the interpersonal violence climate survey, each296
333333 institution shall submit a summary of the results and the aggregate data supporting the297 23 LC 50 0522
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336336 results, with any personally identifiable information removed or redacted, to the chair of298
337337 the board of regents and shall post the following on the institution's publicly accessible299
338338 website in a way that does not personally identify any student or employee:300
339339 (1) The summary of the results of the survey;301
340340 (2) The annual security report completed pursuant to 20 U.S.C. Section 1092(f); and302
341341 (3) A link to the department's state-wide interpersonal violence climate survey data303
342342 pursuant to subsection (c) of this Code section.304
343343 (c) The department shall establish a data repository for all summaries and anonymized and305
344344 aggregated data of interpersonal violence climate surveys submitted by institutions. The306
345345 department shall ensure that the interpersonal violence climate survey data submitted by307
346346 all institutions in accordance with subsection (b) of this Code section are available to the308
347347 public in an easily accessible manner on the department's publicly accessible website.309
348348 (d) The interpersonal violence climate survey shall be designed to collect anonymous310
349349 responses and shall not publicly disclose any personally identifying information. An311
350350 institution of higher education may not use or attempt to use information collected through312
351351 the interpersonal violence climate survey to identify or contact any individual student or313
352352 employee on campus, nor may the responses to the survey be used as the basis for any type314
353353 of investigation or disciplinary or legal proceeding.315
354354 20-3-705.316
355355 (a) Each institution shall designate at least one confidential resource advisor to provide317
356356 emergency and ongoing support to survivors of sexual violence, intimate partner violence,318
357357 or stalking. The confidential resource advisor shall be designated based on the confidential319
358358 resource advisor's experience in advocating on behalf of victims of sexual assault or320
359359 domestic violence and a demonstrated ability to effectively provide victim services related321
360360 to sexual violence, intimate partner violence, or stalking. The confidential resource advisor322
361361 may have another role at the institution of higher education but shall not be a student or a323 23 LC 50 0522
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364364 Title IX coordinator and shall not have any other job responsibilities that may create a324
365365 conflict of interest, including, but not limited to, being general counsel, director of325
366366 athletics, dean of students, or an employee who serves on a judicial or hearing board326
367367 overseeing reports of sexual violence, intimate partner violence, or stalking or to whom an327
368368 appeal of such a proceeding might be made. The confidential resource advisor shall328
369369 maintain a physical presence on campus that provides the confidential resource advisor a329
370370 place to meet discreetly and privately with students or employees in person or remotely.330
371371 An institution may contract or partner with a local, state, or national victim advocacy331
372372 organization to provide a confidential resource advisor under this subsection.332
373373 (b) Each institution of higher education shall designate existing categories of employees333
374374 who may also serve as confidential resource advisors. This subsection may not be334
375375 construed to limit an institution of higher education from designating a new or existing335
376376 employee as a confidential resource advisor. An institution of higher education that enrolls336
377377 fewer than 1,000 residential students may partner with another institution of higher337
378378 education or local sexual assault support center to provide the services under this Code338
379379 section. Any partnership entered into under this subsection shall ensure that the339
380380 confidential resource advisor is available to a student or employee within a reasonable340
381381 distance from the student's institution of higher education.341
382382 (c) A confidential resource advisor shall receive the following training:342
383383 (1) Prior to designation as a confidential resource advisor, 40 hours of training on sexual343
384384 violence, intimate partner violence, and stalking;344
385385 (2) Training regarding unconscious biases related to race, gender, and sexuality;345
386386 (3) Training regarding awareness and prevention of sexual violence, intimate partner346
387387 violence, or stalking, relevant federal policies, the institution's policy under Code Section347
388388 20-3-701, and trauma informed responses; and348
389389 (4) Twenty hours of educational training annually on issues related to sexual violence,349
390390 intimate partner violence, and stalking, including, but not limited to, awareness and350 23 LC 50 0522
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393393 prevention of sexual violence, intimate partner violence, and stalking and trauma351
394394 informed responses.352
395395 (d) A confidential resource advisor shall coordinate with on-campus, if any, and353
396396 off-campus sexual assault support centers and domestic violence resource centers within354
397397 a reasonable time after being designated as a confidential resource advisor.355
398398 (e) A confidential resource advisor shall be responsible for providing the following356
399399 information and resources regarding incidents of sexual violence, intimate partner violence,357
400400 or stalking to students and employees:358
401401 (1) Reporting options and the probable effects of each option;359
402402 (2) Counseling services available on campus and through a local sexual assault support360
403403 center or domestic violence resource center;361
404404 (3) Medical and mental health services available on campus and off campus;362
405405 (4) When requested, campus escort services for security;363
406406 (5) Available supportive measures, including academic and residential life364
407407 accommodations;365
408408 (6) For students considering temporary or permanent withdrawal or reduced enrollment,366
409409 student loan counseling, including, but not limited to, information regarding loan367
410410 deferment, forbearance, or other applicable student loan programs;368
411411 (7) The institution's investigative, disciplinary, and nondisciplinary processes;369
412412 (8) The legal process of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies;370
413413 (9) That the institution of higher education's disciplinary process is not to be considered371
414414 a substitute for the criminal justice process; and372
415415 (10) Any limits on the ability of the confidential resource advisor to keep private or373
416416 confidential the information of the student or employee.374
417417 (f) If requested by the reporting party, the confidential resource advisor, using only the375
418418 student or employee's identifying information, shall coordinate with the campus resources376
419419 to arrange possible school provided supportive measures, including those available through377 23 LC 50 0522
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422422 any memoranda of understanding with sexual assault support centers and domestic violence378
423423 resource centers, and including, but not limited to:379
424424 (1) Changes in academic status, dining, housing, transportation, or campus employment;380
425425 (2) Access to counseling and other mental health services;381
426426 (3) Excused absences, academic counseling, and tutoring;382
427427 (4) Academic course work accommodations;383
428428 (5) Financial resources that are under the control of the institution, including if a student384
429429 has to withdraw from a class or the institution entirely, such as tuition credit,385
430430 opportunities to withdraw or reenroll in a course without academic or financial penalty,386
431431 and continued eligibility for scholarships and honors; and387
432432 (6) Supportive measures that may be obtained, when appropriate, through disability388
433433 services and the Title IX coordinator at the institution of higher education.389
434434 (g) A confidential resource advisor, regarding an alleged incident of sexual violence,390
435435 intimate partner violence, or stalking reported to the advisor:391
436436 (1) Shall notify all campus resources involved in providing or enforcing supportive392
437437 measures or accommodations of their duties;393
438438 (2) May, if appropriate and directed by a student or employee, assist the student or394
439439 employee in contacting or reporting to campus or local law enforcement agencies;395
440440 (3) Shall notify a student or employee of the student's or employee's rights and the396
441441 institution's responsibility regarding a protection order, no-contact order, or any other397
442442 lawful order issued by the institution or a court;398
443443 (4) May not be required to report the incident to the institution or a law enforcement399
444444 agency unless otherwise required to do so by state or federal law and shall provide400
445445 confidential services to students or employees;401
446446 (5) May attend an administrative adjudication proceeding or the institution's disciplinary402
447447 proceeding as an advisor or support person of a student's or employee's choice;403 23 LC 50 0522
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450450 (6) May disclose confidential information with the prior written consent of the reporting404
451451 party or if required by state or federal law;405
452452 (7) May not provide services to both the reporting party and the responding party to the406
453453 incident of sexual violence, intimate partner violence, or stalking; and407
454454 (8) May not act as a counselor or therapist unless the confidential resource advisor is a408
455455 licensed counselor in this state and the student or employee engages the confidential409
456456 resource advisor in that capacity.410
457457 (h) A report to a confidential resource advisor of an alleged incident of sexual violence,411
458458 intimate partner violence, or stalking or a confidential resource advisor's performance of412
459459 a service under this Code section may not be considered actual or constructive notice of413
460460 such an alleged incident to the institution of higher education at which the confidential414
461461 resource advisor is employed or provides contracted services.415
462462 (i) If a conflict of interest arises for an institution in which a confidential resource advisor416
463463 is advocating for a reporting party's need for sexual assault support services or campus or417
464464 local law enforcement agency services, the institution may not discipline, penalize, or418
465465 otherwise retaliate against the confidential resource advisor for representing the interest of419
466466 the reporting party.420
467467 (j) Communications between a reporting party and a confidential resource advisor are421
468468 privileged from disclosure as follows:422
469469 (1) A reporting party may refuse to disclose and may deny permission to a confidential423
470470 resource advisor to disclose confidential written or oral communications between the424
471471 reporting party and the confidential resource advisor, including any written records,425
472472 notes, memoranda, or reports concerning the reporting party;426
473473 (2) Except as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection, a confidential resource427
474474 advisor may not be required, through oral or written testimony or through production of428
475475 documents, to disclose to a court in criminal or civil proceedings or to any agency or429 23 LC 50 0522
476476 H. B. 677
477477 - 18 -
478478 person any privileged communications between the reporting party and the confidential430
479479 resource advisor and;431
480480 (3) Privileged communications may be disclosed in the following circumstances:432
481481 (A) When disclosure is required pursuant to state law and that disclosure is in433
482482 accordance with such law;434
483483 (B) When a court in the exercise of its discretion determines the disclosure of the435
484484 information necessary to proper administration of justice, an inspection of records may436
485485 be held in camera by the judge to determine whether such records contain relevant437
486486 information. Such proceeding shall not entitle an opposing party to examine the438
487487 records unless such records are made available by the court; and439
488488 (C) When a reporting party dies or is incapable of giving consent and disclosure is440
489489 required for an official law enforcement agency investigation or criminal proceeding441
490490 regarding the cause of the victim's death or incapacitation.442
491491 (k) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a criminal justice agency,443
492492 whether directly or through any intermediary, may disseminate confidential criminal444
493493 history record information to a confidential resource advisor for the purpose of planning445
494494 for the safety of the party the confidential resource advisor is advising. A confidential446
495495 resource advisor who receives confidential criminal history record information pursuant447
496496 to this subsection shall use it solely for the purpose authorized by this subsection and may448
497497 not further disseminate the information.449
498498 (l) Nothing in this Code section may be construed to limit the reporting party's or450
499499 responding party's right of cross-examination of the confidential resource advisor in a civil451
500500 or criminal proceeding if the confidential resource advisor testifies after written consent has452
501501 been given or in accordance with this Code section.453 23 LC 50 0522
502502 H. B. 677
503503 - 19 -
504504 20-3-706.454
505505 An institution of higher education, with guidance from its Title IX coordinator, a local law455
506506 enforcement agency, and the sexual assault support center or the domestic violence456
507507 resource center identified in the institution's policy under Code Section 20-3-701, shall457
508508 provide mandatory prevention and awareness programming on sexual violence, intimate458
509509 partner violence, and stalking for all incoming students and all employees of the institution.459
510510 The institution shall make available prevention and awareness programming to all returning460
511511 students of the institution. The prevention and awareness programming shall include:461
512512 (1) An explanation of affirmative consent as it applies to sexual activity and sexual462
513513 relationships;463
514514 (2) The role drugs and alcohol play in an individual's ability to provide affirmative464
515515 consent;465
516516 (3) Information on options relating to the reporting of an incident of sexual violence,466
517517 intimate partner violence, or stalking, the probable effects and potential outcomes of each467
518518 option, and the methods to report an incident of sexual violence, intimate partner468
519519 violence, or stalking, including confidential and anonymous disclosure;469
520520 (4) Information on the institution's procedures for resolving reports of sexual violence,470
521521 intimate partner violence, and stalking and the range of sanctions or penalties the471
522522 institution may impose on students and employees found responsible for a violation of472
523523 a policy and related procedures adopted under Code Section 20-3-701;473
524524 (5) The name, contact information, and role of the confidential resource advisor;474
525525 information about the local sexual assault support center, its confidential services, and475
526526 how to access those services; information about the domestic violence resource center,476
527527 its confidential services, and how to access those services; and the name and contact477
528528 information of all other personnel governed by confidentiality policies at the institution;478
529529 (6) Strategies for bystander intervention and risk reduction;479 23 LC 50 0522
530530 H. B. 677
531531 - 20 -
532532 (7) Opportunities for ongoing sexual violence, intimate partner violence, and stalking480
533533 prevention and awareness programming, including through ongoing campaigns; and481
534534 (8) An approach to training that recognizes and is sensitive to the disproportionate482
535535 impacts and rates of occurrence of sexual violence, intimate partner violence, and stalking483
536536 on members of marginalized groups, including, but not limited to, people of color, people484
537537 with disabilities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.485
538538 20-3-707.486
539539 (a) Each institution of higher education shall ensure that its Title IX coordinator and487
540540 members of its campus police force or campus safety personnel employed by the institution488
541541 undergo annual training in awareness of sexual violence, intimate partner violence, and489
542542 stalking and trauma informed responses.490
543543 (b) Any individual who participates in the implementation of an institution's disciplinary491
544544 process under this article, including, but not limited to, any individuals responsible for492
545545 resolving reports of incidents of sexual violence, intimate partner violence, and stalking,493
546546 shall be trained or have experience in handling such reports and the operations of the494
547547 institution's disciplinary practice. Such training shall include, but shall not be limited to:495
548548 (1) Information about providing trauma informed responses when working with and496
549549 interviewing victims of an alleged incident of sexual violence, intimate partner violence,497
550550 or stalking;498
551551 (2) Information on particular types of conduct that constitute sexual violence, intimate499
552552 partner violence, and stalking;500
553553 (3) Information on affirmative consent and the role drugs and alcohol may play in an501
554554 individual's ability to consent;502
555555 (4) The effects of trauma, including any neurobiological impact, on an individual;503
556556 (5) Cultural competency training regarding how sexual violence, intimate partner504
557557 violence, and stalking may affect students or employees differently depending on factors505 23 LC 50 0522
558558 H. B. 677
559559 - 21 -
560560 that contribute to a student's or employee's cultural background, including, but not limited506
561561 to, national origin, sex, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual507
562562 orientation;508
563563 (6) Methods of communicating sensitively and compassionately with a reporting party509
564564 including, but not limited to, an awareness of responding to a reporting party with510
565565 consideration of such party's cultural background and providing services to or assisting511
566566 in locating services for the reporting party;512
567567 (7) Information regarding how sexual violence, intimate partner violence and, stalking513
568568 may affect students or employees with developmental or intellectual disabilities; and514
569569 (8) Methods of communicating sensitively with a responding party, including an515
570570 awareness of the emotional impact of an allegation of sexual violence, intimate partner516
571571 violence, and stalking.517
572572 20-3-708.518
573573 By March 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, each institution of higher education shall519
574574 prepare and submit to the board of regents, the commissioner of Department of Public520
575575 Health, and the committees of the General Assembly having jurisdiction over higher521
576576 education matters the annual security report required under the federal Jeanne Clery522
577577 Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, 20 U.S.C. Section523
578578 1092(f).524
579579 20-3-709.525
580580 A reporting party or a witness who requests an investigation of sexual violence, intimate526
581581 partner violence, or stalking may not be subject to a disciplinary proceeding or sanction or527
582582 penalty for a violation of the institution's student conduct policy related to drug or alcohol528
583583 use, trespassing, or unauthorized entry of the institution's facilities that comes to the529
584584 attention of the institution as part of that report or investigation of sexual violence, intimate530 23 LC 50 0522
585585 H. B. 677
586586 - 22 -
587587 partner violence, or stalking unless the institution determines that the report was not made531
588588 in good faith or that the violation was egregious. An egregious violation shall include, but532
589589 not be limited to, taking an action that places the health and safety of another person at risk.533
590590 This Code section may not be construed to limit the ability of an institution to establish an534
591591 immunity policy for student conduct violations not mentioned in this Code section.535
592592 20-3-710.536
593593 (a) No later than January 1, 2024, an institution of higher education shall enter into and537
594594 maintain a memorandum of understanding with a sexual assault support center and538
595595 domestic violence resource center to:539
596596 (1) Provide an off-campus option for students and employees of the institution to receive540
597597 free and confidential sexual assault crisis services, including access to a sexual assault541
598598 nurse examiner, if available, or free and confidential domestic violence crisis services;542
599599 (2) Ensure that a student or employee of the institution may access free and confidential543
600600 advocacy services either on campus or off campus related to sexual violence, intimate544
601601 partner violence, or stalking;545
602602 (3) Ensure cooperation and training between the institution and the sexual assault support546
603603 center or domestic violence resource center regarding the roles that the institution, sexual547
604604 assault support center, and domestic violence resource center should play in responding548
605605 to reports and disclosures of sexual violence, intimate partner violence, and stalking549
606606 against students and employees of the institution and the institution's protocols for550
607607 providing support and services to such students and employees;551
608608 (4) Ensure that a student or employee of the institution has access to mental health552
609609 services, either on campus or off campus, relating to sexual violence, intimate partner553
610610 violence, or stalking; and554 23 LC 50 0522
611611 H. B. 677
612612 - 23 -
613613 (5) Make referrals for civil legal representation to assist with civil protections, including,555
614614 but not limited to, those related to protections under Title IX of the federal Education556
615615 Amendments of 1972, P.L. 92-318, as amended, or protection from abuse orders.557
616616 (b) A memorandum of understanding as provided for in subsection (a) of this Code section558
617617 may include an agreement, including a fee structure, between the sexual assault support559
618618 center or domestic violence resource center and the institution of higher education to560
619619 provide confidential victim services. Confidential victim services may include case561
620620 consultation and training fees for confidential resource advisors, consultation fees for the562
621621 development and implementation of sexual violence, intimate partner violence, and563
622622 stalking education and prevention programs for students and employees, the development564
623623 of trauma informed response staff training and prevention curricula, and private on-site565
624624 office space for an advocate from the sexual assault support center and domestic violence566
625625 resource center to meet with students or employees."567
626626 SECTION 2.568
627627 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.569