H.R. 6636 would require the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to allow anonymous reporting of incidents of sexual harassment and sexual assault involving NOAA employees. The bill also would require that an investigation into any such reports begin within 48 hours of the incident being reported and that any evidence of a crime be referred to law enforcement officials.
Additionally, the bill would require NOAA to develop, within three years of enactment, a system that allows for confidential reporting of a sexual assault without dissemination of the person’s personally identifiable information, except as necessary for receiving services, and without automatically triggering an investigation.
Using information about NOAA’s current sexual assault and sexual harassment policy, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 6636 would cost less than $500,000 over the 2020-2025 period. Any spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
