US Codex
Pub. L.
Notes

Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 Reform Act

115th Congress · Approved Dec 21, 2018 · 132 Stat. 5297

An Act

To amend the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 to reform the procedures provided under such Act for the initiation, review, and resolution of claims alleging that employing offices of the legislative branch have violated the rights and protections provided to their employees under such Act, including protections against sexual harassment, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa­tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. Short Title; References in Act; Table of Contents.

(a)
Short Title.— This Act may be cited as the “Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 Reform Act”.
(b)
References in Act.— Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to or repeal of a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to that section or other provision of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.).
(c)
Table of Contents.— The table of contents of this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; references in Act; table of contents.

TITLE I— REFORM OF DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCEDURES

Subtitle A— Reform of Procedures for Initiation, Preliminary Review, and Resolution of Claims

Sec. 101. Description of procedures available for consideration of alleged violations.

Sec. 102. Reform of process for initiation of procedures.

Sec. 103. Preliminary review of claims by hearing officer.

Sec. 104. Availability of mediation during process.

Subtitle B— Other Reforms

Sec. 111. Requiring Members of Congress to reimburse Treasury for amounts paid as settlements and awards in cases of acts by Members.

Sec. 112. Automatic referral to Congressional Ethics Committees of disposition of certain claims alleging violations of Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 involving Members of Congress and senior staff.

Sec. 113. Availability of remote work assignment or paid leave of absence during pendency of procedures.

Sec. 114. Modification of rules on confidentiality of proceedings.

Sec. 115. Reimbursement by other employing offices of legislative branch of payments of certain awards and settlements.

TITLE II— IMPROVING OPERATIONS OF OFFICE OF CONGRESSIONAL WORKPLACE RIGHTS

Sec. 201. Reports on awards and settlements.

Sec. 202. Workplace climate surveys of employing offices.

Sec. 203. Record retention.

Sec. 204. Confidential advisors.

Sec. 205. GAO study of management practices.

Sec. 206. GAO audit of cybersecurity.

TITLE III— MISCELLANEOUS REFORMS

Sec. 301. Application of Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008.

Sec. 302. Extension to unpaid staff of rights and protections against employment discrimination.

Sec. 303. Clarification of treatment of Library of Congress visitors.

Sec. 304. Notices.

Sec. 305. Clarification of coverage of employees of Helsinki and China Commissions.

Sec. 306. Training and education programs of other employing offices.

Sec. 307. Support for out-of-area covered employees.

Sec. 308. Renaming Office of Compliance as Office of Congressional Workplace Rights.

TITLE IV— EFFECTIVE DATE

Sec. 401. Effective date.