,,ii #aaeth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #adbf ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,june #bb1 #bjag ,mr4 ,thune 7for himself and ,mr4 ,nelson7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,ted ,stevens ,olympic and ,amateur ,sports ,act to expand the purposes of the corporation1 to designate the ,united ,states ,center for ,safe ,sport1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,united ,states ,center for ,safe ,sport ,authorization ,act of #bjag4 #b4 ,expansion of the purposes of the corporation ,section #bbjejc of title #cf1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#ac71 by striking 2 and and inserting a semicolon2 7#b7 in paragraph 7#ad71 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 and2 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following3 7#ae7 to promote a safe environment in sports that is free from abuse1 including emotional1 physical1 and sexual abuse1 of any amateur athlete4 4 #c4 ,designation of the ,united ,states ,center for ,safe ,sport 7a7 ,in general ,chapter #bbje of title #cf1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following3 ,,iii ,united ,states ,center for ,safe ,sport #bbjeca4 ,designation of ,united ,states ,center for ,safe ,sport4#bbjecb4 ,additional duties4#bbjecc4 ,records1 audits1 and reports4#bbjecd4 ,authorization of appropriations4 #bbjeca4 ,designation of ,united ,states ,center for ,safe ,sport 7a7 ,in general ,the ,united ,states ,center for ,safe ,sport 7referred to in this subchapter as the ,center7 shall-- 7#a7 serve as the independent national safe sport organization and be recognized worldwide as the independent national safe sport organization for the ,united ,states2 7#b7 exercise jurisdiction over the corporation1 each national governing body1 and each paralympic sports organization with regard to safeguarding amateur athletes against abuse1 including emotional1 physical1 and sexual abuse1 in sports2 7#c7 maintain an office for education and outreach that shall develop training1 oversight practices1 policies1 and procedures to prevent the abuse1 including emotional1 physical1 and sexual abuse1 of amateur athletes participating in amateur athletic activities through national governing bodies and paralympic sports organizations2 7#d7 ensure that the policies and procedures under paragraph 7#c7 include requirements that all national governing bodies and paralympic sports organizations follow the policies and procedures of the ,center2 7#e7 maintain an office for response and resolution that shall establish mechanisms that allow for the reporting1 investigation1 and adjudication of alleged sexual abuse in violation of the ,center's policies and procedures2 and 7#f7 ensure that the mechanisms under paragraph 7#e7 provide fair notice and an opportunity to be heard and protect the privacy and safety of complainants4 7b7 ,policies and procedures 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,center may1 in its discretion1 utilize a neutral arbitration body and develop policies and procedures to resolve allegations of sexual abuse within its jurisdiction4 7#b7 ,rule of construction ,nothing in this section shall be construed as altering1 superseding1 or otherwise affecting the right of an amateur athlete to pursue criminal or civil justice through the courts4 7c7 ,limitation on liability 7#a7 ,in general ,except as provided in paragraph 7#b71 the ,center1 and each national governing body and paralympic sports organization1 including any officer1 employee1 or agent thereof1 shall not be liable for damages in any civil action for defamation1 libel1 slander1 or damage to reputation arising out of any action or communication1 if the action arises from the execution of the responsibilities or functions described in this section1 section #bbjecb1 or section #bbjecc4 7#b7 ,exception ,paragraph 7#a7 shall not apply in any action in which the ,center1 a national governing body1 or a paralympic sports organization1 or an officer1 employee1 or agent thereof1 acted with actual malice1 or provided information or took action not pursuant to this section1 section #bbjecb1 or section #bbjecc4 #bbjecb4 ,additional duties4 7a7 ,in general ,the ,center shall-- 7#a7 develop training1 oversight practices1 policies1 and procedures for implementation by a national governing body or paralympic sports organization to prevent the abuse1 including emotional1 physical1 and sexual abuse1 of any amateur athlete2 and 7#b7 include in the policies and procedures developed under section #bbjeca7;a77#c7-- 7,a7 a requirement that all adult members of a national governing body1 a paralympic sports organization1 or a facility under the jurisdiction of a national governing body or paralympic sports organization1 and all adults authorized by such members to interact with an amateur athlete1 report immediately any allegation of sexual abuse of an amateur athlete who is a minor to law enforcement authorities and other appropriate authorities1 including the ,center1 whenever such members or adults learn of facts leading them to suspect reasonably that an amateur athlete who is a minor has suffered an incident of sexual abuse2 7,b7 a mechanism1 approved by a trained expert on child abuse1 that allows a complainant to report easily an incident of sexual abuse to the ,center1 a national governing body1 law enforcement authorities1 or other appropriate authorities2 7,c7 reasonable procedures to limit one-on-one interactions between an amateur athlete who is a minor and an adult 7who is not the minor's legal guardian7 at a facility under the jurisdiction of a national governing body or paralympic sports organization without being in an observable and interruptible distance from another adult1 except under exigent circumstances2 7,d7 procedures to prohibit retaliation1 by any national governing body or paralympic sports organization1 against any individual who makes a report under subparagraph 7,a7 or subparagraph 7,b72 7,e7 oversight procedures1 including regular and random audits conducted by subject matter experts unaffiliated with a national governing body or a paralympic sports organization of each national governing body and paralympic sports organization to ensure that policies and procedures developed under that section are followed correctly and that consistent training is offered and given to all adult members1 and subject to parental consent1 to members who are minors1 regarding prevention of sexual abuse2 and 7,f7 a mechanism by which a national governing body or paralympic sports organization can-- 7i7 share confidentially a report of suspected sexual abuse of an amateur athlete who is a minor by a member of a national governing body or paralympic sports organization1 or an adult authorized by a national governing body or paralympic sports organization to interact with an amateur athlete who is a minor1 with each of the other national governing bodies1 paralympic sports organizations1 or facilities under the control of such entities2 and 7ii7 withhold providing to an adult who is the subject of an allegation of sexual abuse authority to interact with an amateur athlete who is a minor until the resolution of such allegation4 7b7 ,rule of construction ,nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the ability of a national governing body or paralympic sports organization to impose an interim measure to prevent an individual who is the subject of an allegation of sexual abuse from interacting with an amateur athlete4 #bbjecc4 ,records1 audits1 and reports 7a7 ,records ,the ,center shall keep correct and complete records of account4 7b7 ,report ,the ,center shall submit an annual report to ,congress1 including-- 7#a7 an audit conducted and submitted in accordance with section #ajaja2 and 7#b7 a description of the activities of the ,center4 #bbjecd4 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to the ,center-- 7#a7 for fiscal year #bjag1 #a1jjj1jjj2 7#b7 for fiscal year #bjah1 #a1jjj1jjj2 7#c7 for fiscal year #bjai1 #a1jjj1jjj2 7#d7 for fiscal year #bjbj1 #a1jjj1jjj2 and 7#e7 for fiscal year #bjba1 #a1jjj1jjj4 4 7b7 ,conforming amendment ,section #bbjeja7;b7 of title #cf1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating paragraphs 7#d7 through 7#h7 as paragraphs 7#e7 through 7#i71 respectively2 and 7#b7 by inserting after paragraph 7#c71 the following3 7#d7 ,center means the ,united ,states ,center for ,safe ,sport designated under section #bbjeca4 4