,,ii #aag? ,,congress #a/ ,session ,s4 #cadc ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,! ,,unit$ ,,/ates ,novemb] #b1 #bjba,ms4 ,ern/ introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ! ,judici>y ,a ,,bill ,to am5d title #i ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,code to prohibit ! en=cem5t ( pr$ispute arbitration agreem5ts ) respect to claims ( sexual assault & to ensure t fair proc$ures are us$ 9 arbitrations involv+ sexual h>assm5t claims4 #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,resolv+ ,sexual ,assault & ,h>assm5t ,disputes ,act ( #bjba4 #b4 ,arbitration ( sexual assault & sexual h>assm5t claims 7a7 ,9 g5]al ,title #i ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,code is am5d$ by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3 #d ,arbitration ( sexual assault claims2 rights 9 arbitration ( sexual h>assm5t claims #dja4 ,def9itions ,9 ?is *apt]-- 7#a7 ! t]m pr$ispute arbitration agreem5t means any agreem5t to arbitrate a claim t _h n yet aris5 at ! "t ( ! mak+ ( ! agreem5t2 7#b7 ! t]m sexual assault means a noncons5sual sexual act or sexual contact 7z ^? t]ms are def9$ 9 section #bbdf ( title #ah1 or simil> applicable ,/ate or ,tribal law7 p]petrat$ aga9/ an employee1 includ+ :5 ! victim lacks capacity to cons5t2 7#c7 ! t]m sexual assault claim means a claim or dispute by an employee alleg+ t he or %e 0 ! victim ( a sexual assault1 bas$ on alleg$ conduct t meets ! def9ition ( a sexual assault1 br\ght by ! employee aga9/ ! employ]1 ! employ] & "o or m employees1 or "o or m employees2 7#d7 ! t]m sexual h>assm5t means-- 7,a7 7i7 an unwelcome sexual advance2 7ii7 a reque/ = a sexual favor2 7iii7 an (f5sive rem>k ab\t a p]son's sex2 or 7iv7 any o!r v]bal or physical h>assm5t ( a sexual nature2 & 7,b7 t is s frequ5t or sev]e t x creates a ho/ile or (f5sive "w environm5t or results 9 an adv]se employm5t decision2 & 7#e7 ! t]m sexual h>assm5t claim means a claim or dispute betwe5 an employee & employ]1 or among an employee1 employ]1 & "o or m employees1 aris+ out ( allegations ( conduct t con/itutes sexual h>assm5t b does n fall )9 ! def9ition ( a sexual assault claim4 #djb4 ,limit on validity & en=ceability 7a7 ,9 g5]al ,not)/&+ any o!r provision ( ?is title1 a pr$ispute arbitration agreem5t %all h no =ce or effect ) respect to a sexual assault claim4 7b7 ,o!r claims ,all claims o!r ?an ^? subject to subsection 7a7 %all be subject to ! provisions ( ?is title1 provid$ t1 = sexual h>assm5t claims1 section #djc is satisfi$4 #djc4 ,rights 9 arbitration ( sexual h>assm5t claim 7a7 ,9 g5]al ,not)/&+ any o!r provision ( ?is title1 a pr$ispute arbitration agreem5t to :i* ?is *apt] applies %all be valid or en=ceable ) respect to a sexual h>assm5t claim if ! pr$ispute arbitration agreem5t-- 7#a7 all[s a p>ty to discuss publicly ! claim to be arbitrat$1 unless bo? p>ties mutually agree o!rwise aft] ! claim has aris51 & subject to reasonable re/rictions necess>y to safegu>d ! privacy int]e/s ( ?ird p>ties2 7#b7 all[s a p>ty to report alleg$ violations ( law to local1 ,/ate1 & ,f$]al civil & crim9al law en=cem5t au?orities2 7#c7 all[s a p>ty to discuss publicly ! arbitrator's decision1 unless ! p>ties mutually agree o!rwise aft] ! claim has aris52 7#d7 all[s ! arbitrator to grant a p>ty's reasonable reque/ to engage 9 ?ird-p>ty discov]y1 includ+ ! ability to solicit evid5ce f o!r individuals or entities n p>ties to ! arbitration2 7#e7 all[s a p>ty to be repres5t$ by a lawy] 9 ! arbitration proce$+2 7#f7 provides = ! appo9tm5t ( an arbitrator :o is imp>tial & obligat$ to disclose any bias1 p]sonal or f9ancial int]e/ 9 ! arbitration1 & pa/ or pres5t relation%ips ) ! p>ties or _! repres5tatives2 7#g7 provides = ! ability ( ! p>ties to receive a reason$1 writt5 decision by ! arbitrator2 7#h7 if ! agreem5t provides = a /atute ( limitations x is no %ort] ?an ! /atute ( limitations "u ! law applicable to ! claim2 7#i7 all[s ! claimant to recov] individualiz$ damages & o!r individualiz$ relief au?oriz$ by ! law applicable to ! claim2 7#aj7 does n require ! claimant to pay attorneys' fees or exp5ses n au?oriz$ by ! law applicable to ! claim2 & 7#aa7 does n require ! claimant to pay arbitration fees great] ?an ! fil+ fee = an action 9 ,f$]al di/rict c\rt e/abli%$ by section #aiad ( title #bh1 unless ! arbitrator f9ds t ! claimant's claims are frivol\s or br\ght = an improp] purpose 7z measur$ by ! /&>ds ( ,f$]al ,rule ( ,civil ,proc$ure #aa7;b77 or ! claimant's litigation conduct is vexati\s 7z measur$ by ! /&>ds ( section #aibg ( title #bh74 7b7 ,consid]ations ,9 det]m9+ :e!r an arbitration agreem5t satisfies ! /&>d set =? 9 subsection 7a77#d71 a c\rt %all consid]-- 7#a7 a claimant's ability to obta9 relevant evid5ce2 7#b7 privacy int]e/s ( ! claimant & ?ird p>ties2 & 7#c7 :e!r ! pot5tial burd5s t ?ird-p>ty discov]y might impose are proportionate to ! ne$s ( ! case4 7c7 ,rule ( con/ruction ,a pr$ispute arbitration agreem5t complies ) subsection 7a7 if ! agreem5t does n prohibit ! conduct1 ! agreem5t affirmatively p]mits ! conduct1 or ! rules ( ! arbitral =um select$ 9 ! agreem5t satisfy ! requirem5t4 #djd4 ,attorneys' fees = sexual assault & h>assm5t claims 7a7 ,fee di/ribution tim+ ,if ! pla9tiff 9 a civil action or arbitration proce$+ is seek+ monet>y relief ) respect to a sexual assault claim or a sexual h>assm5t claim1 !re %all be a f9al det]m9ation1 includ+ exhau/ion ( appeals1 ( any monet>y relief to be paid to ! pla9tiff1 & paym5t to ! pla9tiff1 be=e ! det]m9ation or paym5t ( co/s or attorneys' fees to ! attorney = ! pla9tiff4 7b7 ,fee det]m9ations bas$ on monet>y relief ,unless o!rwise specifi$ by ,f$]al /atute1 if a judgm5t or settlem5t agreem5t 9 a civil action or arbitration proce$+ provides monet>y relief to ! pla9tiff ) respect to a sexual assault claim or a sexual h>assm5t claim1 ! portion ( any attorneys' fees paid to ! attorney = ! pla9tiff t is attributable to ! monet>y relief ) respect to t claim-- 7#a7 %all n exce$ a reasonable p]c5tage ( ! am\nt ( monet>y relief directly di/ribut$ to & receiv$ by ! pla9tiff ) respect to ! claim2 & 7#b7 9 any ev5t1 %all n exce$ ! total am\nt ( monet>y relief directly di/ribut$ to & receiv$ by ! pla9tiff ) respect to ! claim4 7c7 ,fee det]m9ations bas$ on equitable relief ,unless o!rwise specifi$ by ,f$]al /atute1 if a judgm5t or settlem5t agreem5t 9 a civil action or arbitration proce$+ provides = equitable relief ) respect to a sexual assault claim or a sexual h>assm5t claim1 ! portion ( any attorneys' fees paid to ! attorney = ! pla9tiff t is attributable to ! equitable relief ) respect to ! claim %all n exce$ a reasonable p]c5tage ( ! value ( ! equitable relief1 includ+ any injunctive relief4 #dje4 ,/udy ,two ye>s aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is *apt]1 ! ,comptroll] ,g5]al ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates %all conduct a /udy (1 & %all provide a report to ! relevant congressional committees1 includ+ ! ,committee on ! ,judici>y ( ! ,s5ate & ! ,committee on ! ,judici>y ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives1 ! use ( arbitration agreem5ts 9 connection ) ?is *apt]4 ,! /udy %all exam9e ! total numb] ( claims1 ! l5g? ( "t to resolve a claim1 p>ty success rates1 aw>ds & settlem5t am\nts1 attorney's fees1 & ! validity ( arbitration clauses *all5g$ accord+ to section #djf4 ,! /udy %all exam9e bo? arbitration proce$+s & settlem5t agreem5ts1 to ! ext5t possible1 pursuant to ?is *apt] & comp>e ! outcomes1 ! duration1 & aw>d & settlem5t am\nts ) o!r employm5t cases 9 ! judicial sy/em4 #djf4 ,applicability ,an issue z to :e!r ?is *apt] applies ) respect to a sexual assault claim or a sexual h>assm5t claim %all be det]m9$ "u ,f$]al law4 ,! applicability ( ?is *apt] to a pr$ispute agreem5t to arbitrate su* claims & ! validity & en=ceability ( a pr$ispute agreem5t to :i* ?is *apt] applies %all be det]m9$ by a c\rt1 r ?an an arbitrator1 irrespective ( :e!r ! p>ty resi/+ arbitration *all5ges ! pr$ispute arbitration agreem5t specifically or 9 conjunction ) o!r t]ms ( ! contract conta9+ su* agreem5t1 & irrespective ( :e!r ! agreem5t purports to delegate su* det]m9ations to an arbitrator4 ,9 ! in/ance :5 a c\rt f9ds a pr$ispute arbitration agreem5t invalid 9 accordance ) ?is *apt]1 ! employee or employees %all be aw>d$ a reasonable attorney's fee1 includ+ litigation exp5ses1 & co/s = *all5g+ ! pr$ispute arbitration agreem5t4 4 7b7 ,te*nical & con=m+ am5dm5ts 7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,title #i ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,code is am5d$-- 7,a7 9 section #b1 by ins]t+ or z o!rwise provid$ 9 *apt] #d be=e ! p]iod at ! end2 7,b7 9 section #bjh-- 7i7 9 ! section head+1 by /rik+ ,*apt] #a2 residual application & ins]t+ ,application2 & 7ii7 by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3 ,?is *apt] applies to ! ext5t t ?is *apt] is n 9 conflict ) *apt] #d42 & 7,c7 9 section #cjg-- 7i7 9 ! section head+1 by /rik+ ,*apt] #a2 residual application & ins]t+ ,application2 & 7ii7 by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3 ,?is *apt] applies to ! ext5t t ?is *apt] is n 9 conflict ) *apt] #d44 7#b7 ,table ( sections 7,a7 ,*apt] #b ,! table ( sections = *apt] #b ( title #i1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by /rik+ ! item relat+ to section #bjh & ins]t+ ! foll[+3 #bjh4 ,application4 4 7,b7 ,*apt] #c ,! table ( sections = *apt] #c ( title #i1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by /rik+ ! item relat+ to section #cjg & ins]t+ ! foll[+3 #cjg4 ,application4 4 7#c7 ,table ( *apt]s ,! table ( *apt]s = title #i1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3 #d4;,arbitration ( sexual assault claims2 rights 9 arbitration ( sexual h>assm5t claims #dja 4 #c4 ,prospective effect ,?is ,act1 & ! am5dm5ts made by ?is ,act1 %all take effect on ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act & %all apply ) respect to any pr$ispute arbitration agreem5t t is ent]$ into or am5d$ on or aft] su* date4