US Codex
Bill
Notes

S. 2286 — what changed

Nick Castle Peace Corps Reform Act of 2018

From Reported in Senate to Engrossed in Senate. 4 sections amended between Reported in Senate and Engrossed in Senate.

Sec. 201 Peace Corps volunteer access to Inspector General

Section 8 of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2507) is amended—

(1)
in subsection (a), by striking “he” and inserting “the President”; and
(2)
by adding at the end the following:

“(c) Availability of the Office of Inspector General

“(1) Training requirement—As part of the training provided to all volunteers under subsection (a), and in coordination with the Inspector General of the Peace Corps, the President shall provide all volunteers with—

changed “(A) information regarding the mandate of the Inspector General and the availability of the Inspector General as a resource for volunteers; andvolunteers;

removed “(B) the contact information of the Inspector General.

“(B) the contact information of the Inspector General;

“(C) information regarding the mandate of the Office of Victim Advocacy and the availability of the Office of Victim Advocacy as a resource for volunteers; and

“(D) the contact information of the Office of Victim Advocacy.

“(2) Frequency of training—The President shall ensure that volunteers receive the information described in paragraph (1) not less frequently than—

“(A) once during pre-enrollment training; and

“(B) once during each significant training provided by the Peace Corps to volunteers after enrollment.”

Sec. 202 Consultation with Congress required before opening or closing overseas offices and country programs

The Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2501 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 10 (22 U.S.C. 2509) the following:

“10A. Consultation with Congress required before opening or closing overseas offices and country programs

changed “(a) In general—Except as provided in subsection (b), the Director of the Peace Corps may not open, close, significantly reduce, or suspend a domestic or overseas office or country program unless the Director has notified and consulted with the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate Senate, the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.

“(b) Waiver—The Director may waive the application of subsection (a) if an action described in such subsection is necessary to ameliorate a substantial security risk to Peace Corps volunteers or other Peace Corps personnel.”

Sec. 304 Additional protections against sexual misconduct

Section 8B(a) of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2507b(a)) is amended—

(1)
in paragraph (5), by striking “and” at the end;
(2)
in paragraph (6), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and
(3)
by adding at the end the following:

removed “(7) maintains a record of the resignation of any employee or volunteer of the Peace Corps who resigns before a determination has been made regarding an allegation that such person committed a sexual assault or other serious misconduct;

“(7) maintains a record documenting the resignation of any employee or volunteer of the Peace Corps who resigns before a determination has been made regarding an alleged violation of the sexual misconduct policy or other serious policy violations;

“(8) takes into account the record maintained under paragraph (7) before such employee or volunteer is hired, is enrolled, or otherwise work with the Peace Corps; and

removed “(9) provides orientation to families who host volunteers regarding the awareness and prevention of sexual assault.

“(9) provides orientation or information regarding the awareness and prevention of sexual assault to—

“(A) Peace Corps-selected host families; and

“(B) a designated person of authority at the volunteer’s initial workplace.”

Sec. 306 Extension of the Office of Victim Advocacy

Section 8C of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2507c) is amended—

(1)
in the heading to subsection (a), by striking “Victims” and inserting “Victim”; and
(2)
removed in subsection (e), by striking “2018” and inserting “2023”.
(2)
renumbered was (5) by striking subsection (e).