109 HR 3185 IH: Victims’ Employment Sustainability Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2005-06-30
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
1.Short title; table of contents
(a)This Act may be cited as the Security and Financial Empowerment Act
.
(b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents
Sec. 2. Findings
Sec. 3. Definitions
Title I—Entitlement to emergency leave for addressing domestic or sexual violence
Sec. 101. Purposes
Sec. 102. Entitlement to emergency leave for addressing domestic or sexual violence
Sec. 103. Existing leave usable for addressing domestic or sexual violence
Sec. 104. Emergency benefits
Sec. 105. Effect on other laws and employment benefits
Sec. 106. Conforming amendment
Sec. 107. Effective date
Title II—Entitlement to unemployment compensation for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking
Sec. 201. Purposes
Sec. 202. Unemployment compensation and training provisions
Title III—Victims’ employment sustainability
Sec. 301. Short title
Sec. 302. Purposes
Sec. 303. Prohibited discriminatory acts
Sec. 304. Enforcement
Sec. 305. Attorney’s fees
Title IV—Victims of abuse insurance protection
Sec. 401. Short title
Sec. 402. Definitions
Sec. 403. Discriminatory acts prohibited
Sec. 404. Insurance protocols for subjects of abuse
Sec. 405. Reasons for adverse actions
Sec. 406. Life insurance
Sec. 407. Subrogation without consent prohibited
Sec. 408. Enforcement
Sec. 409. Effective date
Title V—National clearinghouse on domestic and sexual violence in the workplace grant
Sec. 501. National clearinghouse on domestic and sexual violence in the workplace grant
Title VI—Severability
Sec. 601. Severability
2.Congress finds the following:
(1)Violence against women has been reported to be the leading cause of physical injury to women. Such violence has a devastating impact on women’s physical and emotional health, financial security, and ability to maintain their jobs, and thus impacts interstate commerce.
(2)Studies indicate that one of the best predictors of whether a victim will be able to stay away from her abuser is her degree of economic independence. However, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking often negatively impacts victims’ ability to maintain employment.
(3)The Bureau of National Affairs has estimated that domestic violence costs United States employers between $3,000,000,000 and $5,000,000,000 annually in lost time and productivity, while other reports have estimated the cost at between $5,800,000,000 and $13,000,000,000 annually.
(4)United States medical costs for domestic violence have been estimated to be $31,000,000,000 per year.
(5)Abusers frequently seek to exert financial control over their partners by actively interfering with their ability to work, including preventing their partners from going to work, harassing their partners at work, limiting the access of their partners to cash or transportation, and sabotaging the child care arrangements of their partners.
(6)Domestic violence also affects perpetrators’ ability to work. A recent study found that 48 percent of abusers reported having difficulty concentrating at work and 42 percent reported being late to work. Seventy-eight percent reported using their own company’s resources in connection with the abusive relationship.
(7)Studies indicate that between 35 and 56 percent of employed battered women surveyed were harassed at work by their abusive partners.
(8)Victims of domestic violence also frequently miss work due to injuries, court dates, and safety concerns requiring legal protections. Victims of domestic violence lose 8,000,000 days of paid work each year—the equivalent of over 32,000 full-time jobs and 5,600,000 days of household productivity.
(9)According to a 1998 report of the General Accounting Office, between 1/4 and 1/2 of domestic violence victims surveyed in 3 studies reported that they lost a job due, at least in part, to domestic violence.
(10)Women who have experienced domestic violence or dating violence are more likely than other women to be unemployed, to suffer from health problems that can affect employability and job performance, to report lower personal income, and to rely on welfare.
(11)The prevalence of sexual assault and other violence against women at work is also dramatic. About 36,500 individuals, 80 percent of whom are women, were raped or sexually assaulted in the workplace each year from 1993 through 1999. Half of all female victims of violent workplace crimes know their attackers. Nearly 1 out of 10 violent workplace incidents are committed by partners or spouses. Women who work for State and local governments suffer a higher incidence of workplace assaults, including rapes, than women who work in the private sector.
(12)Sexual assault, whether occurring in or out of the workplace, can impair an employee’s work performance, require time away from work, and undermine the employee’s ability to maintain a job. Almost 50 percent of sexual assault survivors lose their jobs or are forced to quit in the aftermath of the assaults.
(13)More than 35 percent of stalking victims report losing time from work due to the stalking and 7 percent never return to work.
(14)Ninety-four percent of corporate security and safety directors at companies nationwide rank domestic violence as a high security concern.
(15)Already, 27 States and the District of Columbia have laws that explicitly provide unemployment insurance to domestic violence victims in certain circumstances. However, these laws vary in the extent to which they effectively address the special circumstances of victims of domestic violence and very few of the laws explicitly cover victims of sexual assault or stalking. Moreover—
(A)victims who do not receive unemployment insurance benefits often lack the economic independence they need to escape violent relationships;
(B)victims who lose their jobs because of domestic or sexual violence have lost their jobs through no fault of their own, and thus are the intended beneficiaries of unemployment compensation benefits;
(C)under many State unemployment compensation laws, victims of domestic or sexual violence who separate from their jobs because of the violence may not be eligible to receive benefits because of the circumstances of their separation;
(D)victims who must leave a job to relocate to a safe location or to take other steps to secure their safety may be barred from unemployment benefits on the grounds that they left a job voluntarily and without good cause; and
(E)victims who have qualified for benefits may not be able to satisfy requirements concerning availability for work or the suitability of potential work because of their ongoing safety needs.
(16)Five States provide victims of domestic or sexual violence with leave from work to go to court, to the doctor, or to take other steps to address the violence in their lives, and several other States provide time off to victims of crimes, which can include victims of domestic and sexual violence, to attend court proceedings. However, many States have no employment-protected leave provisions that allow victims of domestic or sexual violence to take the time off they need to address the violence.
(17)Domestic and sexual violence victims have been subjected to discrimination by private and State employers, including discrimination motivated by sex and stereotypic notions about women.
(18)Domestic violence victims and third parties who help them have been subjected to discriminatory practices by health, life, disability, and property and casualty insurers, and employers who self-insure employee benefits who have denied or canceled coverage, rejected claims, and raised rates based on domestic violence. Although some State legislatures have tried to address these problems, the scope of protection afforded by the laws adopted varies from State to State, with many failing to address the problem comprehensively. Moreover, Federal law prevents States from protecting the almost 40 percent of employees whose employers self-insure employee benefits.
(19)Existing Federal law does not explicitly—
(A)authorize victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking to take leave from work to seek legal assistance and redress, counseling, or assistance with safety planning activities;
(B)address the eligibility of victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking for unemployment compensation;
(C)prohibit employment discrimination against actual or perceived victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking; or
(D)prohibit insurers and employers who self-insure employee benefits from discriminating against domestic violence victims and those who help them in determining eligibility, rates charged, and standards for payment of claims; nor does it prohibit insurers from disclosure of information about abuse and the victim’s location through insurance databases and other means.
3.In this Act, except as otherwise expressly provided:
(1)The terms commerce and industry or activity affecting commerce have the meanings given the terms in section 101 of the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (29 U.S.C. 2611).
(2)The term course of conduct means a course of repeatedly maintaining a visual or physical proximity to a person or conveying verbal or written threats, including threats conveyed through electronic communications, or threats implied by conduct.
(3)The term dating violence has the meaning given the term in section 826 of the Higher Education Amendments of 1998 (20 U.S.C. 1152).
(4)Domestic or sexual violenceThe term domestic or sexual violence means domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
(5)The term domestic violence has the meaning given the term in section 826 of the Higher Education Amendments of 1998 (20 U.S.C. 1152).
(6)Domestic violence coalitionThe term domestic violence coalition means a nonprofit, nongovernmental membership organization that—
(A)consists of the entities carrying out a majority of the domestic violence programs carried out within a State;
(B)collaborates and coordinates activities with Federal, State, and local entities to further the purposes of domestic violence intervention and prevention; and
(C)among other activities, provides training and technical assistance to entities carrying out domestic violence programs within a State, territory, political subdivision, or area under Federal authority.
(7)Electronic communicationsThe term electronic communications includes communications via telephone, mobile phone, computer, email, video recorder, fax machine, telex, or pager.
(8)The terms employ and State have the meanings given the terms in section 3 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 203).
(9)
(A)The term employee means any person employed by an employer. In the case of an individual employed by a public agency, such term means an individual employed as described in section 3(e) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 203(e)).
(B)The term includes a person employed as described in subparagraph (A) on a full- or part-time basis, for a fixed time period, on a temporary basis, pursuant to a detail, as an independent contractor, or as a participant in a work assignment as a condition of receipt of Federal or State income-based public assistance.
(10)The term employer—
(A)means any person engaged in commerce or in any industry or activity affecting commerce who employs 15 or more individuals; and
(B)includes any person acting directly or indirectly in the interest of an employer in relation to an employee, and includes a public agency, but does not include any labor organization (other than when acting as an employer) or anyone acting in the capacity of officer or agent of such labor organization.
(11)The term employment benefits means all benefits provided or made available to employees by an employer, including group life insurance, health insurance, disability insurance, sick leave, annual leave, educational benefits, and pensions, regardless of whether such benefits are provided by a practice or written policy of an employer or through an employee benefit plan
, as defined in section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1002(3)).
(12)Family or household memberThe term family or household member means a non-abusive spouse, former spouse, parent, son or daughter, or person residing or formerly residing in the same dwelling unit.
(13)The terms parent and son or daughter have the meanings given the terms in section 101 of the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (29 U.S.C. 2611).
(14)The term person has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 203).
(15)The term public agency has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 203).
(16)The term public assistance includes cash, food stamps, medical assistance, housing assistance, and other benefits provided on the basis of income by a public agency.
(17)The term reduced leave schedule means a leave schedule that reduces the usual number of hours per workweek, or hours per workday, of an employee.
(18)The term repeatedly means on 2 or more occasions.
(19)The term Secretary means the Secretary of Labor.
(20)The term sexual assault has the meaning given the term in section 826 of the Higher Education Amendments of 1998 (20 U.S.C. 1152).
(21)The term sexual assault coalition means a nonprofit, nongovernmental membership organization that—
(A)consists of the entities carrying out a majority of the sexual assault programs carried out within a State;
(B)collaborates and coordinates activities with Federal, State, and local entities to further the purposes of sexual assault intervention and prevention; and
(C)among other activities, provides training and technical assistance to entities carrying out sexual assault programs within a State, territory, political subdivision, or area under Federal authority.
(22)The term stalking means engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to suffer substantial emotional distress or to fear bodily injury, sexual assault, or death to the person, or the person’s spouse, parent, or son or daughter, or any other person who regularly resides in the person’s household, if the conduct causes the specific person to have such distress or fear.
(23)Victim services organizationThe term victim services organization means a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization that provides assistance to victims of domestic or sexual violence or to advocates for such victims, including a rape crisis center, an organization carrying out a domestic violence program, an organization operating a shelter or providing counseling services, or an organization providing assistance through the legal process.
<enum>I</enum><header>Entitlement to emergency leave for addressing domestic or sexual violence</header>
<section id="HED05FEDE987743309148DA694EA0B549"><enum>101.</enum><header>Purposes</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The purposes of this title are, pursuant to the affirmative power of Congress to enact legislation under the portions of section 8 of article I of the Constitution relating to providing for the general welfare and to regulation of commerce among the several States, and under section 5 of the 14th amendment to the Constitution—</text>
<paragraph id="H00EC017AA8304010AED68D296024126E"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to promote the national interest in reducing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking by enabling victims of domestic or sexual violence to maintain the financial independence necessary to leave abusive situations, achieve safety, and minimize the physical and emotional injuries from domestic or sexual violence, and to reduce the devastating economic consequences of domestic or sexual violence to employers and employees;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H32CC06777B2D4177AA999265075E6954"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to promote the national interest in ensuring that victims of domestic or sexual violence can recover from and cope with the effects of such violence, and participate in criminal and civil justice processes, without fear of adverse economic consequences from their employers;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H253D275EAFD44CA9959D7C361077A3CA"><enum>(3)</enum><text>to ensure that victims of domestic or sexual violence can recover from and cope with the effects of such violence, and participate in criminal and civil justice processes, without fear of adverse economic consequences with respect to public benefits;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H650F788028F04E93A36E5C5DCC009BE0"><enum>(4)</enum><text>to promote the purposes of the 14th amendment by preventing sex-based discrimination and discrimination against victims of domestic and sexual violence in employment leave, addressing the failure of existing laws to protect the employment rights of victims of domestic or sexual violence, by protecting their civil and economic rights, and by furthering the equal opportunity of women for economic self-sufficiency and employment free from discrimination;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HBDEEEED5A6B04DDABA509713475DDC9D"><enum>(5)</enum><text>to minimize the negative impact on interstate commerce from dislocations of employees and harmful effects on productivity, employment, health care costs, and employer costs, caused by domestic or sexual violence, including intentional efforts to frustrate women’s ability to participate in employment and interstate commerce;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HBA08A7CA65EC47E180B7C448BCE876E6"><enum>(6)</enum><text>to further the goals of human rights and dignity reflected in instruments such as the United Nations Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H06A3DE190D354835AE700008B2FC005B"><enum>(7)</enum><text>to accomplish the purposes described in paragraphs (1) through (6) by—</text>
<subparagraph id="H7AA7D7A51AA0454CA1C7D1CA4E53AE78"><enum>(A)</enum><text>entitling employed victims of domestic or sexual violence to take leave to seek medical help, legal assistance, counseling, safety planning, and other assistance without penalty from their employers; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HF415BBCD9C7B4D3F8005F6DC17342FE5"><enum>(B)</enum><text>prohibiting employers from discriminating against actual or perceived victims of domestic or sexual violence, in a manner that accommodates the legitimate interests of employers and protects the safety of all persons in the workplace.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></section>
<section id="HD6AA936BA2524667A84138F1DF50C4F3"><enum>102.</enum><header>Entitlement to emergency leave for addressing domestic or sexual violence</header>
<subsection id="HFA2D3C0BE03543D5AD8DCC00791DE346"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Leave requirement</header>
<paragraph id="H518FF0AD4D7446A79BBD2FFD97F97691"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Basis</header><text>An employee who is a victim of domestic or sexual violence may take leave from work to address domestic or sexual violence, by—</text>
<subparagraph id="H202E3322BE5F4F13B000CDF2425000BA"><enum>(A)</enum><text>seeking medical attention for, or recovering from, physical or psychological injuries caused by domestic or sexual violence to the employee or the employee’s family or household member;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H6BEA98E391AF47149609B33BEBA48800"><enum>(B)</enum><text>obtaining services from a victim services organization for the employee or the employee’s family or household member;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H7816CF0FDD7D402D9F62006963931EB9"><enum>(C)</enum><text>obtaining psychological or other counseling for the employee or the employee’s family or household member;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H1B15174BEB0441499530D379B27706B2"><enum>(D)</enum><text>participating in safety planning, temporarily or permanently relocating, or taking other actions to increase the safety of the employee or the employee’s family or household member from future domestic or sexual violence or ensure economic security; or</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HA2E5C9017749421AA38DDA6B390348C2"><enum>(E)</enum><text>seeking legal assistance or remedies to ensure the health and safety of the employee or the employee’s family or household member, including preparing for or participating in any civil or criminal legal proceeding related to or derived from domestic or sexual violence.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H9A7708CB46B8442582DC6E252DFAB6CB"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Period</header><text>An employee may take not more than 30 days of leave, as described in paragraph (1), in any 12-month period.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H9FBE71D274B94D900095C71D79D5D97B"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Schedule</header><text>Leave described in paragraph (1) may be taken intermittently or on a reduced leave schedule.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H7E499C31D05E47BBB0E8FDF59CFDFAF"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Notice</header><text>The employee shall provide the employer with reasonable notice of the employee’s intention to take the leave, unless providing such notice is not practicable.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="HE75347A804B641A8BFEF54F16BB6A8B2"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Certification</header>
<paragraph id="H26B46C9AC70E48E9A7763B5200000003"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The employer may require the employee to provide certification to the employer that—</text>
<subparagraph id="H1480F065BEEE4187A23DA1C0B8360217"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the employee or the employee’s family or household member is a victim of domestic or sexual violence; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H9735B164AD3F41C9BAA1FC79E67454D1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the leave is for 1 of the purposes enumerated in subsection (a)(1).</text></subparagraph><continuation-text continuation-text-level="paragraph">The employee shall provide a copy of such certification to the employer within a reasonable period after the employer requests certification.</continuation-text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H2F35A30F60A24C67A37F33C53EAC2813"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>An employee may satisfy the certification requirement of paragraph (1) by providing to the employer—</text>
<subparagraph id="H8372FA11FBB2488081186BAB35A84CCB"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a sworn statement of the employee;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H1D77ED28637E432F8F47BA6B2C4C4DEA"><enum>(B)</enum><text>documentation from an employee, agent, or volunteer of a victim services organization, an attorney, a member of the clergy, or a medical or other professional, from whom the employee or the employee’s family or household member has sought assistance in addressing domestic or sexual violence and the effects of the violence;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H6207B850F5AC4279005FFB31EE1D8816"><enum>(C)</enum><text>a police or court record; or</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H8486AA9DE7C24C5CADA589E507BCB7C8"><enum>(D)</enum><text>other corroborating evidence.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H94A929B935C6488BBC58FB7498491C7C"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Confidentiality</header><text>All information provided to the employer pursuant to subsection (b) or (c), including a statement of the employee or any other documentation, record, or corroborating evidence, and the fact that the employee has requested or obtained leave pursuant to this section, shall be retained in the strictest confidence by the employer, except to the extent that disclosure is—</text>
<paragraph id="H06CFD42BB5D0460088A990AA396775BB"><enum>(1)</enum><text>requested or consented to by the employee in writing; or</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H631341E749764E6087D6053C1024AAA5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>otherwise required by applicable Federal or State law.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H0EA3B4E4461F4CBF9F4B00E0E3350043"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Employment and benefits</header>
<paragraph id="H1D47983D01AC43168F33BBD4718E2705"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Restoration to position</header>
<subparagraph id="HBBE3FCA93CEE454EAA9F4CB17D36039B"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Except as provided in paragraph (2), any employee who takes leave under this section for the intended purpose of the leave shall be entitled, on return from such leave—</text>
<clause id="H1F8975C2BF68495887F44A789BAA5ED"><enum>(i)</enum><text>to be restored by the employer to the position of employment held by the employee when the leave commenced; or</text></clause>
<clause id="H523266FEA16C41428651EAB2D2D600F0"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>to be restored to an equivalent position with equivalent employment benefits, pay, and other terms and conditions of employment.</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HB400A0FDA07C47F6B37F5E0006D146C5"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Loss of benefits</header><text>The taking of leave under this section shall not result in the loss of any employment benefit accrued prior to the date on which the leave commenced.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H9600DFE0CC114F95B4D560BD21BF7080"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Limitations</header><text>Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to entitle any restored employee to—</text>
<clause id="H24C7A95750BF49399DA7E7A2F285E6E2"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the accrual of any seniority or employment benefits during any period of leave; or</text></clause>
<clause id="H60B65C9F79BF4FD4B6A414F646C92DD"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>any right, benefit, or position of employment other than any right, benefit, or position to which the employee would have been entitled had the employee not taken the leave.</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HFFB871C988144BB184D300E6CCE92216"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Construction</header><text>Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prohibit an employer from requiring an employee on leave under this section to report periodically to the employer on the status and intention of the employee to return to work.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H0DAE77A214AF4CAE9641EDCE3C7E768D"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Exemption concerning certain highly compensated employees</header>
<subparagraph id="HF245159AA74A445286FC99DAD9401074"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Denial of restoration</header><text>An employer may deny restoration under paragraph (1) to any employee described in subparagraph (B) if—</text>
<clause id="H973C82F351BB46C19E9257F58B684460"><enum>(i)</enum><text>such denial is necessary to prevent substantial and grievous economic injury to the operations of the employer;</text></clause>
<clause id="H7B97A91003AF4B4B8DCE99F62DB0D41F"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the employer notifies the employee of the intent of the employer to deny restoration on such basis at the time the employer determines that such injury would occur; and</text></clause>
<clause id="H48AB9681CF3449BF859B614F3943D905"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>in any case in which the leave has commenced, the employee elects not to return to employment after receiving such notice.</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H5F6B6650CD6E4CBF9829335BC2B53834"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Affected employees</header><text>An employee referred to in subparagraph (A) is a salaried employee who is among the highest paid 10 percent of the employees employed by the employer within 75 miles of the facility at which the employee is employed.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HC2648D01F6E84306AF37151E9B343D75"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Maintenance of health benefits</header>
<subparagraph id="HAA94803493FE4161A127A3161050F64B"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Coverage</header><text>Except as provided in subparagraph (B), during any period that an employee takes leave under this section, the employer shall maintain coverage under any group health plan (as defined in <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/26/5000">section 5000(b)(1)</external-xref> of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) for the duration of such leave at the level and under the conditions coverage would have been provided if the employee had continued in employment continuously for the duration of such leave.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H4D8C7541E4C947A48101C1AF52BE01BB"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Failure to return from leave</header><text>The employer may recover the premium that the employer paid for maintaining coverage for the employee under such group health plan during any period of leave under this section if—</text>
<clause id="H8ABD238B427C462400EEF7A3757F67D4"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the employee fails to return from leave under this section after the period of leave to which the employee is entitled has expired; and</text></clause>
<clause id="H4EB87A6C87C646EEAAA82078CF19FB8E"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the employee fails to return to work for a reason other than—</text>
<subclause id="HFF2F0EF98AD04475A7E1530043EE9F7C"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the continuation, recurrence, or onset of domestic or sexual violence, that entitles the employee to leave pursuant to this section; or</text></subclause>
<subclause id="HA6001767C1104BF6ADA2BA18A6685C80"><enum>(II)</enum><text>other circumstances beyond the control of the employee.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph indent="subparagraph" id="HF8B842533320439F87B9EEA140DA1B15"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Certification</header>
<clause id="H523CACEA339141F98B6428E7BBB6BA95"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Issuance</header><text>An employer may require an employee who claims that the employee is unable to return to work because of a reason described in subclause (I) or (II) of subparagraph (B)(ii) to provide, within a reasonable period after making the claim, certification to the employer that the employee is unable to return to work because of that reason.</text></clause>
<clause id="H9CAF513DAC564C81A55DBFBEB7A344AE"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>An employee may satisfy the certification requirement of clause (i) by providing to the employer—</text>
<subclause id="H7BAECC5B20C946C3B836B6BC8254AA07"><enum>(I)</enum><text>a sworn statement of the employee;</text></subclause>
<subclause id="H197B20CB33764FDAB066BAC7FD1D0039"><enum>(II)</enum><text>documentation from an employee, agent, or volunteer of a victim services organization, an attorney, a member of the clergy, or a medical or other professional, from whom the employee has sought assistance in addressing domestic or sexual violence and the effects of that violence;</text></subclause>
<subclause id="H2ED8068D413A4A3FADEB18D5698E13CF"><enum>(III)</enum><text>a police or court record; or</text></subclause>
<subclause id="HC847359FF0504FFEA7ABDD2738B4DE2C"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>other corroborating evidence.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HBE6F603B50B34FC684D0001F063EE974"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Confidentiality</header><text>All information provided to the employer pursuant to subparagraph (C), including a statement of the employee or any other documentation, record, or corroborating evidence, and the fact that the employee is not returning to work because of a reason described in subclause (I) or (II) of subparagraph (B)(ii) shall be retained in the strictest confidence by the employer, except to the extent that disclosure is—</text>
<clause id="H7A82AD09DDE04AFE8489DCFEEC645159"><enum>(i)</enum><text>requested or consented to by the employee; or</text></clause>
<clause id="HFFC853E6FD9A44A5B262B4A41148B719"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>otherwise required by applicable Federal or State law.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H39DD2E8368B94D0ABB94DACBF5FDE02F"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Prohibited acts</header>
<paragraph id="H3D21072AF9B743059DA0F5BCD93D2F4C"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Interference with rights</header>
<subparagraph id="H06740E24D2E2476DA6DB805571164C05"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Exercise of rights</header><text>It shall be unlawful for any employer to interfere with, restrain, or deny the exercise of or the attempt to exercise, any right provided under this section.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H98C6FE40B8734DE99EAA8D408DB52474"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Employer discrimination</header><text>It shall be unlawful for any employer to discharge or harass any individual, or otherwise discriminate against any individual with respect to compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment of the individual (including retaliation in any form or manner) because the individual—</text>
<clause id="H3CA40F27AFE34EE1003400A38C85E01D"><enum>(i)</enum><text>exercised any right provided under this section; or</text></clause>
<clause id="HFC63D50AFC1344479C2020E53321BD5F"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>opposed any practice made unlawful by this section.</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H0926C44DFAE24CF396F207E7D52A760"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Public agency sanctions</header><text>It shall be unlawful for any public agency to deny, reduce, or terminate the benefits of, otherwise sanction, or harass any individual, or otherwise discriminate against any individual with respect to the amount, terms, or conditions of public assistance of the individual (including retaliation in any form or manner) because the individual—</text>
<clause id="H7675B889CA5745BCA2C58156F12818F0"><enum>(i)</enum><text>exercised any right provided under this section; or</text></clause>
<clause id="HA49575F3215C45E891B3666EBDC8648E"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>opposed any practice made unlawful by this section.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H293835B2F28743B6B033D6685E23F33B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Interference with proceedings or inquiries</header><text>It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge or in any other manner discriminate (as described in subparagraph (B) or (C) of paragraph (1)) against any individual because such individual—</text>
<subparagraph id="H9D8E8997A3E64DB78B541997E9AAE6F0"><enum>(A)</enum><text>has filed any charge, or has instituted or caused to be instituted any proceeding, under or related to this section;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H712869F358A645CEB9B52DA100CA7BC1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>has given, or is about to give, any information in connection with any inquiry or proceeding relating to any right provided under this section; or</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HE3C7CAFD537A45B8B300995350BE893D"><enum>(C)</enum><text>has testified, or is about to testify, in any inquiry or proceeding relating to any right provided under this section.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H6B25674BAB914C719D2E00E2D99F42F9"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Enforcement</header>
<paragraph id="H73F2E24C711F4525B9BDBCD57F822BAD"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Civil action by affected individuals</header>
<subparagraph id="HAEAA82807B104DCA874171313CBE2677"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Liability</header><text>Any employer or public agency that violates subsection (f) shall be liable to any individual affected—</text>
<clause id="H5FBAC39094C5497994D33E57E7E63EA7"><enum>(i)</enum><text>for damages equal to—</text>
<subclause id="H3DE6CDEE40254E1BB19E216B9332C186"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the amount of—</text>
<item id="H334FD0D37B8E422E8FCE7C24A8942F2E"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>any wages, salary, employment benefits, public assistance, or other compensation denied or lost to such individual by reason of the violation; or</text></item>
<item id="H890314D07EFC43F188BE30FC5461152D"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>in a case in which wages, salary, employment benefits, public assistance, or other compensation has not been denied or lost to the individual, any actual monetary losses sustained by the individual as a direct result of the violation;</text></item></subclause>
<subclause id="HA52A083FB72F468AB450993578AA1F9B"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the interest on the amount described in subclause (I) calculated at the prevailing rate; and</text></subclause>
<subclause id="H7D738C68388A455D836D29203353DFE7"><enum>(III)</enum><text>an additional amount as liquidated damages equal to the sum of the amount described in subclause (I) and the interest described in subclause (II), except that if an employer or public agency that has violated subsection (f) proves to the satisfaction of the court that the act or omission that violated subsection (f) was in good faith and that the employer or public agency had reasonable grounds for believing that the act or omission was not a violation of subsection (f), such court may, in the discretion of the court, reduce the amount of the liability to the amount and interest determined under subclauses (I) and (II), respectively; and</text></subclause></clause>
<clause id="H96036A80F8004079BB59631FBAE7376"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>for such equitable relief as may be appropriate, including employment, reinstatement, and promotion.</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H8AF1F6FCC8BB44EC8DB001138E48FEFD"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Right of action</header><text>An action to recover the damages or equitable relief prescribed in subparagraph (A) may be maintained against any employer or public agency in any Federal or State court of competent jurisdiction by any 1 or more affected individuals for and on behalf of—</text>
<clause id="H5EFDA6F9FCF542428CF18D8D05B48308"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the individuals; or</text></clause>
<clause id="HC449E0CD22FF4ADAB4CEA8DCD0D66900"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the individuals and other individuals similarly situated.</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HF844D060431B4C91AE0034FA304C2703"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Fees and costs</header><text>The court in such an action shall, in addition to any judgment awarded to the plaintiff, allow a reasonable attorney’s fee, reasonable expert witness fees, and other costs of the action to be paid by the defendant.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H8CB5F197C85F4CD8AD20F99B725C00A4"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Limitations</header><text>The right provided by subparagraph (B) to bring an action by or on behalf of any affected individual shall terminate—</text>
<clause id="H6DDD9C2F3E6C477FBFB7B9541C7BD765"><enum>(i)</enum><text>on the filing of a complaint by the Secretary in an action under paragraph (4) in which restraint is sought of any further delay in the payment of the amount described in subparagraph (A)(i) to such individual by an employer or public agency responsible under subparagraph (A) for the payment; or</text></clause>
<clause id="HD1285900E0B84FB9AD7DBE96324786CB"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>on the filing of a complaint by the Secretary in an action under paragraph (2) in which a recovery is sought of the damages described in subparagraph (A)(i) owing to an affected individual by an employer or public agency liable under subparagraph (A), unless the action described in clause (i) or (ii) is dismissed without prejudice on motion of the Secretary.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HFE96D1E4CFCD486FB9B5F15DE229E23F"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Action by the Secretary</header>
<subparagraph id="HCD0D434578274BCCA2008591B1E685FB"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Administrative action</header><text>The Secretary shall receive, investigate, and attempt to resolve complaints of violations of subsection (f) in the same manner as the Secretary receives, investigates, and attempts to resolve complaints of violations of sections 6 and 7 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206 and 207).</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HF91B7DC3AD1F4B50A5436EAF14F935DB"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Civil action</header><text>The Secretary may bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction to recover the damages described in paragraph (1)(A)(i).</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H2CA8A253161B40529FA4002690D994A3"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Sums recovered</header><text>Any sums recovered by the Secretary pursuant to subparagraph (B) shall be held in a special deposit account and shall be paid, on order of the Secretary, directly to each individual affected. Any such sums not paid to such an individual because of inability to do so within a period of 3 years shall be deposited into the Treasury of the United States as miscellaneous receipts.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HEA7FDEEA020C42F4ACD6E5C670EA1034"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Limitation</header>
<subparagraph id="H5022F19DB85F4A6E92E0457CE4C9AAC1"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Except as provided in subparagraph (B), an action may be brought under this subsection not later than 2 years after the date of the last event constituting the alleged violation for which the action is brought.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HE2B883AE1A3E4A69AA45D936B07204C9"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Willful violation</header><text>In the case of such action brought for a willful violation of subsection (f), such action may be brought within 3 years after the date of the last event constituting the alleged violation for which such action is brought.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H20B3D2F2A4E144C1AB86ABE229ED8E28"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Commencement</header><text>In determining when an action is commenced by the Secretary under this subsection for the purposes of this paragraph, it shall be considered to be commenced on the date when the complaint is filed.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H062AE1DB73484BCEABDC8081B68C798C"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Action for injunction by Secretary</header><text>The district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction, for cause shown, in an action brought by the Secretary—</text>
<subparagraph id="H67EA7F6BBDD84C34AB8665C95E6D0242"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to restrain violations of subsection (f), including the restraint of any withholding of payment of wages, salary, employment benefits, public assistance, or other compensation, plus interest, found by the court to be due to affected individuals; or</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HA45A5899F2FD4E01817B8836E6EED510"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to award such other equitable relief as may be appropriate, including employment, reinstatement, and promotion.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HBE5220234D524949B81082C1A6915387"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Solicitor of Labor</header><text>The Solicitor of Labor may appear for and represent the Secretary on any litigation brought under this subsection.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HFF7C260DEB074440BF88B9E8ADCADBD5"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Employer liability under other laws</header><text>Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the liability of an employer or public agency to an individual, for harm suffered relating to the individual’s experience of domestic or sexual violence, pursuant to any other Federal or State law, including a law providing for a legal remedy.</text></paragraph></subsection></section>
<section id="H4C21A0E365734EF58817CE92E667F9A"><enum>103.</enum><header>Existing leave usable for addressing domestic or sexual violence</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">An employee who is entitled to take paid or unpaid leave (including family, medical, sick, annual, personal, or similar leave) from employment, pursuant to State or local law, a collective bargaining agreement, or an employment benefits program or plan, may elect to substitute any period of such leave for an equivalent period of leave provided under section 102.</text></section>
<section id="HABF6F1E41B8047CA926C00BCE537BCBD"><enum>104.</enum><header>Emergency benefits</header>
<subsection id="H870E601C5987410099C3A1E68625008D"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>A State may use funds provided to the State under part A of title IV of the <act-name parsable-cite="SSA">Social Security Act</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/601">42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.</external-xref>) to provide nonrecurrent short-term emergency benefits to an individual for any period of leave the individual takes pursuant to section 102.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H967CAFD621F9475BB3FA3D88BA589886"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Eligibility</header><text>In calculating the eligibility of an individual for such emergency benefits, the State shall count only the cash available or accessible to the individual.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="HA429B7537EC34DEBAEE53580D96C5475"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Timing</header>
<paragraph id="H82E33A3B0EE34286AA46803E389625D7"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Applications</header><text>An individual seeking emergency benefits under subsection (a) from a State shall submit an application to the State.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H0093645AEFBF491A88B500585188FB8B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Benefits</header><text>The State shall provide benefits to an eligible applicant under paragraph (1) on an expedited basis, and not later than 7 days after the applicant submits an application under paragraph (1).</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H8BD041B0B3544BC382BF7BEC00B072F2"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Conforming amendment</header><text>Section 404 of the <act-name parsable-cite="SSA">Social Security Act</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/604">42 U.S.C. 604</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block act-name="Social Security Act" id="HA85956A7FFF3453DA5C12CD596D330F2">
<subsection id="HEFE6D759093E4BE8855B051475C4772E"><enum>(l)</enum><header>Authority to provide emergency benefits</header><text>A State that receives a grant under section 403 may use the grant to provide nonrecurrent short-term emergency benefits, in accordance with section 104 of the Security and Financial Empowerment Act, to individuals who take leave pursuant to section 102 of that Act, without regard to whether the individuals receive assistance under the State program funded under this part.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section>
<section id="H30928A5F5EEA4AC693688E00FC256B91"><enum>105.</enum><header>Effect on other laws and employment benefits</header>
<subsection id="HB3041CAD168745928ED1CEFB9E003D23"><enum>(a)</enum><header>More protective laws, agreements, programs, and plans</header><text>Nothing in this title shall be construed to supersede any provision of any Federal, State, or local law, collective bargaining agreement, or employment benefits program or plan that provides—</text>
<paragraph id="HCE2872B17E384C1A9EC79100D130599F"><enum>(1)</enum><text>greater leave benefits for victims of domestic or sexual violence than the rights established under this title; or</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H10F18B35C94B4534B84454FA8923FCB1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>leave benefits for a larger population of victims of domestic or sexual violence (as defined in such law, agreement, program, or plan) than the victims of domestic or sexual violence covered under this title.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H337877A5761B46808125379FE8176FD1"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Less protective laws, agreements, programs, and plans</header><text>The rights established for victims of domestic or sexual violence under this title shall not be diminished by any State or local law, collective bargaining agreement, or employment benefits program or plan.</text></subsection></section>
<section id="H63D3931DE0B44D6CB39172BEB3FCCEA"><enum>106.</enum><header>Conforming amendment</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1003(a)(1) of the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1986 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/2000d-7">42 U.S.C. 2000d–7(a)(1)</external-xref>) is amended by inserting <quote>title I or III of the Security and Financial Empowerment Act,</quote> before <quote>or the provisions</quote>.</text></section>
<section id="HD95CB9CBCB964F598F34EE548100C0B6"><enum>107.</enum><header>Effective date</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title and the amendment made by this title take effect 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.</text></section>
<enum>II</enum><header>Entitlement to unemployment compensation for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking</header>
<section id="H83D1B89CF67142129625575E31225820"><enum>201.</enum><header>Purposes</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The purposes of this title are, pursuant to the affirmative power of Congress to enact legislation under the portions of section 8 of article I of the Constitution relating to laying and collecting taxes, providing for the general welfare, and regulation of commerce among the several States, and under section 5 of the 14th amendment to the Constitution—</text>
<paragraph id="HB688737E59594042A66CA6103F852CD0"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to promote the national interest in reducing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking by enabling victims of domestic or sexual violence to maintain the financial independence necessary to leave abusive situations, achieve safety, and minimize the physical and emotional injuries from domestic or sexual violence, and to reduce the devastating economic consequences of domestic or sexual violence to employers and employees;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H6350782FBB5A43B78E002DA9424204F6"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to promote the national interest in ensuring that victims of domestic or sexual violence can recover from and cope with the effects of such victimization and participate in the criminal and civil justice processes without fear of adverse economic consequences;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HC46208B7835B4AC8B0B20798EC314692"><enum>(3)</enum><text>to minimize the negative impact on interstate commerce from dislocations of employees and harmful effects on productivity, loss of employment, health care costs, and employer costs, caused by domestic or sexual violence including intentional efforts to frustrate the ability of women to participate in employment and interstate commerce;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HE26C2411617B4634B5A96B00C7D6BAE"><enum>(4)</enum><text>to promote the purposes of the 14th amendment to the Constitution by preventing sex-based discrimination and discrimination against victims of domestic and sexual violence in unemployment insurance, by addressing the failure of existing laws to protect the employment rights of victims of domestic or sexual violence, by protecting their civil and economic rights, and by furthering the equal opportunity of women for economic self-sufficiency and employment free from discrimination; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HB74CD9CFE7384439A7FA47C84E0000A6"><enum>(5)</enum><text>to accomplish the purposes described in paragraphs (1) through (4) by providing unemployment insurance to those who are separated from their employment as a result of domestic or sexual violence, in a manner that accommodates the legitimate interests of employers and protects the safety of all persons in the workplace.</text></paragraph></section>
<section id="H0543191D83624BA9AA13B555CC55C69B"><enum>202.</enum><header>Unemployment compensation and training provisions</header>
<subsection id="HFCB50AABEA4C4DEF977B19AB28EFCE65"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Unemployment compensation</header><text><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/26/3304">Section 3304</external-xref> of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to approval of State unemployment compensation laws) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H572EA92398BD4AF6AA82778C7F1E1412"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (a)—</text>
<subparagraph id="HADC56C4A625146DD9B91F4C2CC6E06DC"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (18), by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H2ABEF3CAF71C4001B4C78D94AF7EDDD5"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by redesignating paragraph (19) as paragraph (20); and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H2C65CA4C3FAD45CE97C0C6BB6770E1B3"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by inserting after paragraph (18) the following new paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block id="H9960242066D647F3BE06FFB4F347A0C7">
<paragraph id="H6F69E69AD40142F4A9596F71983D471B"><enum>(19)</enum><text>compensation shall not be denied where an individual is separated from employment due to circumstances resulting from the individual’s experience of domestic or sexual violence, nor shall States impose additional conditions that restrict the individual’s eligibility for or receipt of benefits beyond those required of other individuals who are forced to leave their jobs or are deemed to have good cause for voluntarily separating from a job in the State; and</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H16051DBF937D427097B571ABD2783DE0"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new subsection:</text>
<quoted-block id="HD9DBE1E0A6E24D75AF86E0C27B4B37D3">
<subsection id="H21D738E9F5C8402CBD60D7941E175F95"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Construction</header><text>For purposes of subsection (a)(19)—</text>
<paragraph id="HC3AC3F94401E4987B5D99FCCC6BE71D6"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Documentation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In determining eligibility for compensation due to circumstances resulting from an individual’s experience of domestic or sexual violence—</text>
<subparagraph id="H65FBD5CB9B4549309B1647963D7CDCE9"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">States shall adopt, or have adopted, by statute, regulation, or policy a list of forms of documentation that may be presented to demonstrate eligibility, and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H2917C7A486EB47A4960612E9EDDDBEE4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>presentation of any one of such forms of documentation shall be sufficient to demonstrate eligibility, except that a State may require the presentation of a form of identification in addition to the written statement of claimant described in paragraph (2)(G).</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H237C09F49D77473296AB5101523E3250"><enum>(2)</enum><header>List of forms of documentation</header><text>The list referred to in paragraph (1)(A) shall include not less than 3 of the following forms of documentation:</text>
<subparagraph id="H33157CD42C0E4078AC4E008E009DC5B"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An order of protection or other documentation issued by a court.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HE98821C65AF6487ABA0762F948C40004"><enum>(B)</enum><text>A police report or criminal charges documenting the domestic or sexual violence.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H16BF9D864AD54AA6BBCABA1432AA096E"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Documentation that the perpetrator has been convicted of the offense of domestic or sexual violence.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H45FD16EEAE1542ED85B1BC495F9EDD37"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Medical documentation of the domestic or sexual violence.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H487E6F33A72E4339ABEB0961A61EE9D3"><enum>(E)</enum><text>Evidence of domestic or sexual violence from a counselor, social worker, health worker, or domestic violence shelter worker.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H8CBF926A0FE043DD9251A35BFBD757BE"><enum>(F)</enum><text>A written statement that the applicant or the applicant's minor child is a victim of domestic or sexual violence, provided by a social worker, member of the clergy, shelter worker, attorney at law, or other professional who has assisted the applicant in dealing with the domestic or sexual violence.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HD75A18D6C8DD4C509FB64C67EE93651B"><enum>(G)</enum><text>A written statement of the claimant.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H064DB782DD3545E48BA200615BC0C3FF"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Domestic or sexual violence defined</header><text>The term <quote>domestic or sexual violence</quote> has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the <short-title>Security and Financial Empowerment Act</short-title>.</text></paragraph> </subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H532DA76335764A2A8E8E0023BA06698D"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Unemployment compensation personnel training</header><text>Section 303(a) of the <act-name parsable-cite="SSA">Social Security Act</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/503">42 U.S.C. 503(a)</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H29A3AD6D7D604C4DBF9B296581103705"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by redesignating paragraphs (4) through (10) as paragraphs (5) through (11), respectively; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H24B8AE27B8484DB08E00570020498836"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting after paragraph (3) the following new paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block id="HCCEC2D4E2ED643B28EB209552A4F0E">
<paragraph id="H01FF3EA754924673974CEB145FF98C2"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Such methods of administration as will ensure that—</text>
<subparagraph id="H6112B2C028ED48F1985168B0A3B06129"><enum>(A)</enum><text>applicants for unemployment compensation and individuals inquiring about such compensation are adequately notified of the provisions of subsections (a)(19) and (g) of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/26/3304">section 3304</external-xref> of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to the availability of unemployment compensation for victims of domestic or sexual violence); and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H680A6C05DF724ADD95ABA83CD199D709"><enum>(B)</enum><text>claims reviewers and hearing personnel are adequately trained in—</text>
<clause id="H7015C55DA4B94DE79B25E51612FB7B60"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the nature and dynamics of domestic or sexual violence (as defined in section 3 of the <short-title>Security and Financial Empowerment Act</short-title>); and</text></clause>
<clause id="HF045220D651844D4A2315705F7EC093C"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>methods of ascertaining and keeping confidential information about possible experiences of domestic or sexual violence (as so defined) to ensure that—</text>
<subclause id="H591A61F5D2774F388CC100F1B9BFBF8B"><enum>(I)</enum><text>requests for unemployment compensation based on separations stemming from such violence are reliably screened, identified, and adjudicated; and</text></subclause>
<subclause id="HC4849B33FC694AD788C4CB8FB3900CA"><enum>(II)</enum><text>full confidentiality is provided for the individual’s claim and submitted evidence; and</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H4803ED5437F3447E9449D4CFE51CC2FA"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Effective date</header>
<paragraph id="H7307CBF479D84AAC9D001ED3D48BDD20"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Except as provided in paragraph (2), the amendments made by this section shall apply in the case of compensation paid for weeks beginning on or after the expiration of 180 days from the date of enactment of this Act.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H97259F6065A7440195544BC788516D51"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Extension of effective date for State law amendment</header>
<subparagraph id="H0E560F22D0B744BF83F258A57D7137C9"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>If the Secretary of Labor identifies a State as requiring a change to its statutes, regulations, or policies in order to comply with the amendments made by this section, such amendments shall apply in the case of compensation paid for weeks beginning after the earlier of—</text>
<clause id="HC0F989A503B6472AAAD0B82122D78800"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the date the State changes its statutes, regulations, or policies in order to comply with such amendments; or</text></clause>
<clause id="H5D8F32ECB92D4D0CBD69487927B06FF4"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the end of the first session of the State legislature which begins after the date of enactment of this Act or which began prior to such date and remained in session for at least 25 calendar days after such date;</text></clause><continuation-text continuation-text-level="subparagraph">except that in no case shall such amendments apply before the date that is 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.</continuation-text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HFF74B8739852471EAE22D1F0A1889DD3"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Session defined</header><text>In this paragraph, the term <term>session</term> means a regular, special, budget, or other session of a State legislature.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="HB9400E16B99F450AB9DCACD31EF6F2AD"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Effect on existing laws, etc</header>
<paragraph id="H86BF742AA36E49A58582E39802B77890"><enum>(1)</enum><header>More protective laws, agreements, programs, and plans</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Nothing in this title shall be construed to supersede any provision of any Federal, State, or local law, collective bargaining agreement, or employment benefits program or plan that provides greater unemployment insurance benefits for victims of domestic or sexual violence than the rights established under this title.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HB0C8C6236B29479889213C30B830F866"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Less protective laws, agreements, programs, and plans</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The rights established for victims of domestic or sexual violence under this title shall not be diminished by any more restrictive State or local law, collective bargaining agreement, or employment benefits program or plan.</text> </paragraph></subsection></section>
<enum>III</enum><header>Victims’ employment sustainability</header>
<section id="HBAA4F10E73D14816B7252CE6F5E09BAE"><enum>301.</enum><header>Short title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title may be cited as the <quote><short-title>Victims’ Employment Sustainability Act</short-title></quote>.</text></section>
<section id="HB10CF951A8974D9D85751847749589A9"><enum>302.</enum><header>Purposes</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The purposes of this title are, pursuant to the affirmative power of Congress to enact legislation under the portions of section 8 of article I of the Constitution relating to providing for the general welfare and to regulation of commerce among the several States, and under section 5 of the 14th amendment to the Constitution—</text>
<paragraph id="HDC94C10366F345339261E327EA71E028"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to promote the national interest in reducing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking by enabling victims of domestic or sexual violence to maintain the financial independence necessary to leave abusive situations, achieve safety, and minimize the physical and emotional injuries from domestic or sexual violence, and to reduce the devastating economic consequences of domestic or sexual violence to employers and employees;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H71AAD0C8FF1E456A008B005C3B71A100"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to promote the national interest in ensuring that victims of domestic or sexual violence can recover from and cope with the effects of such violence, and participate in criminal and civil justice processes, without fear of adverse economic consequences from their employers;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HCF9E99606291450B94B40550B0E6DAFC"><enum>(3)</enum><text>to ensure that victims of domestic or sexual violence can recover from and cope with the effects of such violence, and participate in criminal and civil justice processes, without fear of adverse economic consequences with respect to public benefits;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H1BA5E961115644E7A9EC81F7A4A40030"><enum>(4)</enum><text>to promote the purposes of the 14th amendment to the Constitution by preventing sex-based discrimination and discrimination against victims of domestic and sexual violence in employment, by addressing the failure of existing laws to protect the employment rights of victims of domestic or sexual violence, by protecting the civil and economic rights of victims of domestic or sexual violence, and by furthering the equal opportunity of women for economic self-sufficiency and employment free from discrimination;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H9CD62DD4B2DC409C972726F8B53242BB"><enum>(5)</enum><text>to minimize the negative impact on interstate commerce from dislocations of employees and harmful effects on productivity, employment, health care costs, and employer costs, caused by domestic or sexual violence, including intentional efforts to frustrate women’s ability to participate in employment and interstate commerce; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HAD76F6BD37274DF8A625DF9700CFA4ED"><enum>(6)</enum><text>to accomplish the purposes described in paragraphs (1) through (5) by prohibiting employers from discriminating against actual or perceived victims of domestic or sexual violence, in a manner that accommodates the legitimate interests of employers and protects the safety of all persons in the workplace.</text></paragraph></section>
<section id="HA75859B1FB1F45488E5F00C33CE1457"><enum>303.</enum><header>Prohibited discriminatory acts</header>
<subsection id="HC201B83B2004438BB6F26200CB5125E0"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>An employer shall not fail to hire, refuse to hire, discharge, or harass any individual, or otherwise discriminate against any individual with respect to the compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment of the individual (including retaliation in any form or manner), and a public agency shall not deny, reduce, or terminate the benefits of, otherwise sanction, or harass any individual, or otherwise discriminate against any individual with respect to the amount, terms, or conditions of public assistance of the individual (including retaliation in any form or manner), because—</text>
<paragraph id="H6C8277A97E4148E9BBC4D9BA461F00C5"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the individual involved—</text>
<subparagraph id="HCD24BD0E12714F89AFCBC0C7EC06D9B3"><enum>(A)</enum><text>is or is perceived to be a victim of domestic or sexual violence;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H50851DEA1AF14D6CBDF705AC71006D5C"><enum>(B)</enum><text>attended, participated in, prepared for, or requested leave to attend, participate in, or prepare for, a criminal or civil court proceeding relating to an incident of domestic or sexual violence of which the individual, or the family or household member of the individual, was a victim; or</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H71D36C7513BF4BCDAEAA72A0675945C6"><enum>(C)</enum><text>requested an adjustment to a job structure, workplace facility, or work requirement, including a transfer, reassignment, or modified schedule, leave, a changed telephone number or seating assignment, installation of a lock, or implementation of a safety procedure, in response to actual or threatened domestic or sexual violence, regardless of whether the request was granted; or</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HB988DF17A7184B19B1CF7C4EA5607693"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the workplace is disrupted or threatened by the action of a person whom the individual states has committed or threatened to commit domestic or sexual violence against the individual, or the individual’s family or household member.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H5168C57C770747A2867CB0343130ACA1"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text>
<paragraph id="H2ED9D1DF87F24756847EEFCD7D3B8E04"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Discriminate</header><text>The term <term>discriminate</term>, used with respect to the terms, conditions, or privileges of employment or with respect to the terms or conditions of public assistance, includes not making a reasonable accommodation to the known limitations of an otherwise qualified individual—</text>
<subparagraph id="H483868B16BA94D71AFD31B5291B1EDE"><enum>(A)</enum><text>who is a victim of domestic or sexual violence;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HC3C8B6DBED45499592A8BE4D49D861FF"><enum>(B)</enum><text>who is—</text>
<clause id="HF7AC77B29B014902BB416480B69C2520"><enum>(i)</enum><text>an applicant or employee of the employer (including a public agency); or</text></clause>
<clause id="HA151147035314652A1BEC9CE4758C5AB"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>an applicant for or recipient of public assistance from the public agency; and</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H1AC4E0A829D44D588FB41429B960B7AD"><enum>(C)</enum><text>whose limitations resulted from circumstances relating to being a victim of domestic or sexual violence;</text></subparagraph><continuation-text continuation-text-level="paragraph">unless the employer or public agency can demonstrate that the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of the employer or public agency.</continuation-text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H2E8A65D9355F4799A8C0DBE72151FC3"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Qualified individual</header><text>The term <term>qualified individual</term> means—</text>
<subparagraph id="HBD6B80C6056546AEBCFB6E51D3ABE6AC"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the case of an applicant or employee described in paragraph (1)(B)(i), an individual who, with or without reasonable accommodation, can perform the essential functions of the employment position that such individual holds or desires; or</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H53BF72F6A3A7445C00AD6627116600A0"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in the case of an applicant or recipient described in paragraph (1)(B)(ii), an individual who, with or without reasonable accommodation, can satisfy the essential requirements of the program providing the public assistance that the individual receives or desires.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HD3D11601C85546D08473E3121FE17013"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Reasonable accommodation</header><text>The term <term>reasonable accommodation</term> may include an adjustment to a job structure, workplace facility, or work requirement, including a transfer, reassignment, or modified schedule, leave, a changed telephone number or seating assignment, installation of a lock, or implementation of a safety procedure, in response to actual or threatened domestic or sexual violence.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H2933E0B34B274C40BBF024B9904EC44E"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Undue hardship</header>
<subparagraph id="H25599F6DE9B14AB8B9D838264CF0DC4F"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The term <term>undue hardship</term> means an action requiring significant difficulty or expense, when considered in light of the factors set forth in subparagraph (B).</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H1F5465508C4241A99B110813B885193E"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Factors to be considered</header><text>In determining whether a reasonable accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of an employer or public agency, factors to be considered include—</text>
<clause id="H323C439F2FB2484DB5DAE79535EA43D"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the nature and cost of the reasonable accommodation needed under this section;</text></clause>
<clause id="H5C413117592642548BBE00362B658600"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the overall financial resources of the facility involved in the provision of the reasonable accommodation, the number of persons employed at such facility, the effect on expenses and resources, or the impact otherwise of such accommodation on the operation of the facility;</text></clause>
<clause id="HCDEB3AECB41448838FA43377C3691C35"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the overall financial resources of the employer or public agency, the overall size of the business of an employer or public agency with respect to the number of employees of the employer or public agency, and the number, type, and location of the facilities of an employer or public agency; and</text></clause>
<clause id="H1D4DFB2E4B374669899D3C2189E79F32"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the type of operation of the employer or public agency, including the composition, structure, and functions of the workforce of the employer or public agency, the geographic separateness of the facility from the employer or public agency, and the administrative or fiscal relationship of the facility to the employer or public agency.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section>
<section id="H9B82EDA18EAE497EB63787291ED99243"><enum>304.</enum><header>Enforcement</header>
<subsection id="H50E6C49EE418440583F68C3344D86AB"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Civil action by individuals</header>
<paragraph id="HFBE3205C4699411C9FA31D6EC2E0045"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Liability</header><text>Any employer or public agency that violates section 303 shall be liable to any individual affected for—</text>
<subparagraph id="H2FC4DE9AFDB24781B04790A35E878B9C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>damages equal to the amount of wages, salary, employment benefits, public assistance, or other compensation denied or lost to such individual by reason of the violation, and the interest on that amount calculated at the prevailing rate;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H47067C61752C4FE992003CAD3DBEE8D5"><enum>(B)</enum><text>compensatory damages, including damages for future pecuniary losses, emotional pain, suffering, inconvenience, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment or life, and other nonpecuniary losses;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H9CDDAA32E395494F8126C4B207F715DD"><enum>(C)</enum><text>such punitive damages, up to 3 times the amount of actual damages sustained, as the court described in paragraph (2) shall determine to be appropriate; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H86A2A678F1C74224983E00370039F434"><enum>(D)</enum><text>such equitable relief as may be appropriate, including employment, reinstatement, and promotion.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HEA8E32A168934708B05F7E7482F8A052"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Right of action</header><text>An action to recover the damages or equitable relief prescribed in paragraph (1) may be maintained against any employer or public agency in any Federal or State court of competent jurisdiction by any 1 or more individuals described in section 303.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="HA9D36E67242D465200D2A7007D7D6864"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Action by department of justice</header><text>The Attorney General may bring a civil action in any Federal or State court of competent jurisdiction to recover the damages or equitable relief described in subsection (a)(1).</text></subsection></section>
<section id="H0548D6EBF78547F29E6D066800E1CE9C"><enum>305.</enum><header>Attorney’s fees</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 722(b) of the Revised Statutes (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1988">42 U.S.C. 1988(b)</external-xref>) is amended by inserting <quote>the Victims’ Employment Sustainability Act,</quote> after <quote>title VI of the <act-name parsable-cite="CRA64">Civil Rights Act of 1964</act-name>,</quote>.</text></section>
<enum>IV</enum><header>Victims of abuse insurance protection</header>
<section id="HA5CB03E5DCD544629D74D95F2500A7EF"><enum>401.</enum><header>Short title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title may be cited as the <quote>Victims of Abuse Insurance Protection Act</quote>.</text></section>
<section id="H732316AE71344405881CAF9439731394"><enum>402.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this title:</text>
<paragraph id="HE6A9D3CCCA1943B79DAF187F9CB54733"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Abuse</header><text>The term <quote>abuse</quote> means the occurrence of 1 or more of the following acts by a current or former household or family member, intimate partner, or caretaker:</text>
<subparagraph id="H4320FAA8E1384C2ABDDA3F73C369E0FC"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Attempting to cause or causing another person bodily injury, physical harm, substantial emotional distress, psychological trauma, rape, sexual assault, or involuntary sexual intercourse.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H706BC4931A5C4A9FA34FAEDA125C93A3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Engaging in a course of conduct or repeatedly committing acts toward another person, including following the person without proper authority and under circumstances that place the person in reasonable fear of bodily injury or physical harm.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HEB849531D01F4EEEA92C21FE6DA5A52C"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Subjecting another person to false imprisonment or kidnapping.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H8B069CC8A0474F8CA3C171EDCB84D95B"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Attempting to cause or causing damage to property so as to intimidate or attempt to control the behavior of another person.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H7E4C8A1D12BE40528F1FAEDB00F24CC"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Health carrier</header><text>The term <quote>health carrier</quote> means a person that contracts or offers to contract on a risk-assuming basis to provide, deliver, arrange for, pay for, or reimburse any of the cost of health care services, including a sickness and accident insurance company, a health maintenance organization, a nonprofit hospital and health service corporation or any other entity providing a plan of health insurance, health benefits, or health services.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HB79948E7E7CB4735896C59007B5B63F0"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Insured</header><text>The term <quote>insured</quote> means a party named on a policy, certificate, or health benefit plan, including an individual, corporation, partnership, association, unincorporated organization, or any similar entity, as the person with legal rights to the benefits provided by the policy, certificate, or health benefit plan. For group insurance, such term includes a person who is a beneficiary covered by a group policy, certificate, or health benefit plan. For life insurance, the term refers to the person whose life is covered under an insurance policy.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HE49322C18837457985ED7FBA262D397"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Insurer</header><text>The term <quote>insurer</quote> means any person, reciprocal exchange, inter insurer, Lloyds insurer, fraternal benefit society, or other legal entity engaged in the business of insurance, including agents, brokers, adjusters, and third-party administrators; and employers who provide or make available employment benefits through an employee benefit plan, as defined in section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/102">29 U.S.C. 102(3)</external-xref>). The term also includes health carriers, health benefit plans, and life, disability, and property and casualty insurers.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HBFC6992BBCC448E1B9F6003CE6B97322"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Policy</header><text>The term <quote>policy</quote> means a contract of insurance, certificate, indemnity, suretyship, or annuity issued, proposed for issuance or intended for issuance by an insurer, including endorsements or riders to an insurance policy or contract.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H621C79F66D9149AFBD887DB5F9C216BA"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Subject of abuse</header><text>The term <quote>subject of abuse</quote> means—</text>
<subparagraph id="H5DBC6EC5682C47FC8788A6C6327F2BE0"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a person against whom an act of abuse has been directed;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H1BF023719B9549A896A9FA82F14426CF"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a person who has prior or current injuries, illnesses, or disorders that resulted from abuse; or</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H64ACC25379224D619F898984195D91CB"><enum>(C)</enum><text>a person who seeks, may have sought, or had reason to seek medical or psychological treatment for abuse, protection, court-ordered protection, or shelter from abuse.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></section>
<section id="H56516221818B4A258D24A3BFF7CD15C0"><enum>403.</enum><header>Discriminatory acts prohibited</header>
<subsection id="H2C78DCE5D0034E55AF20AC1E3DE21150" commented="no"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>No insurer may, directly or indirectly, engage in any of the following acts or practices on the basis that an applicant for insurance or insured is, has been, or may be the subject of abuse:</text>
<paragraph id="H0ABA107C9DB0448F9198A48C995DFBA3" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Denying, refusing to issue, renew or reissue, or canceling or otherwise terminating an insurance policy or health benefit plan.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H75634CA280B24B3E8F51E53554C41148" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Restricting, excluding, or limiting insurance coverage for losses or denying a claim, except as otherwise permitted or required by State laws relating to life insurance beneficiaries.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HFD584365EE7942D6A192A5DA002700D4" commented="no"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Adding a premium differential to any insurance policy or health benefit plan.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H7802772E21F2439E8B4E03A9BCD1B14E" commented="no"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Prohibition on limitation of claims</header><text>No insurer may, directly or indirectly, deny or limit payment of a claim arising out of abuse to an innocent insured under a property and casualty policy or insurance contract if the loss is caused by the intentional act of an insured.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H99C089A4FE474507B69EBD2C48ED25DB"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Use of information</header>
<paragraph id="H41838D1A932C442590AD47EB31DB9C"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Limitation</header>
<subparagraph id="H7D834AE2080A4285BDECFDABF8D19400"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In order to protect the safety and privacy of subjects of abuse, no person employed by or contracting with an insurer may—</text>
<clause id="HDD7183BD695B446984D4CA507768F9A3"><enum>(i)</enum><text>use, disclose, or transfer information relating to abuse status or acts of abuse for any purpose unrelated to the direct provision of health care services unless such use, disclosure, or transfer is required by an order of an entity with authority to regulate insurance or an order of a court of competent jurisdiction; or</text></clause>
<clause id="H1C4FECC766CC44819DF5B3A1ACCC06F7"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">disclose or transfer information relating to an address or telephone number of an applicant for insurance or an insured or to the address and telephone number of a shelter for subjects of abuse, unless such disclosure or transfer—</text>
<subclause id="H1A7E81CB9F354359A795DAFC50E37087"><enum>(I)</enum><text>is required in order to provide insurance coverage; and</text></subclause>
<subclause id="HA90C21FB87344F56B05D62CCDBC887EF"><enum>(II)</enum><text>does not have the potential to endanger the safety of a subject of abuse.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HE855E6BE35FC45A793C6F5B48BDDDDD"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Rule of construction</header><text>Nothing in this paragraph may be construed to limit or preclude a subject of abuse from obtaining the subject’s own insurance records from an insurer.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H9369524BD53B48AF95E52D195D556C69"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Authority of subject of abuse</header><text>A subject of abuse, at the absolute discretion of the subject of abuse, may provide evidence of abuse to an insurer for the limited purpose of facilitating treatment of an abuse-related condition or demonstrating that a condition is abuse-related. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed as authorizing an insurer or health carrier to disregard such provided evidence.</text></paragraph></subsection></section>
<section id="HDE54E0E403E14082B6B9F54DD25FCD31"><enum>404.</enum><header>Insurance protocols for subjects of abuse</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Insurers shall develop and comply with written policies specifying procedures to be followed by employees, contractors, producers, agents, and brokers for the purpose of protecting the safety and privacy of a subject of abuse and otherwise implementing this title when taking an application, investigating a claim, or taking any other action relating to a policy or claim involving a subject of abuse.</text></section>
<section id="HCF32B6A3CEB94DB8B84D9C6C2D1BA23D"><enum>405.</enum><header>Reasons for adverse actions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">An insurer that takes an action that adversely affects a subject of abuse, shall advise the subject of abuse applicant or insured of the specific reasons for the action in writing. For purposes of this section, reference to general underwriting practices or guidelines shall not constitute a specific reason.</text></section>
<section id="H7F2A06C58D4C4E979754E2640455729C"><enum>406.</enum><header>Life insurance</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Nothing in this title shall be construed to prohibit a life insurer from declining to issue a life insurance policy if the applicant or prospective owner of the policy is or would be designated as a beneficiary of the policy, and if—</text>
<paragraph id="HE8F4C0D17D2F46999E69298842385176"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the applicant or prospective owner of the policy lacks an insurable interest in the insured; or</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H3D02E69491624941966B64EC7FC09F93"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the applicant or prospective owner of the policy is known, on the basis of police or court records, to have committed an act of abuse against the proposed insured.</text></paragraph></section>
<section id="H036C8BEC4F054E2C8BC67E1677EFF85"><enum>407.</enum><header>Subrogation without consent prohibited</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Subrogation of claims resulting from abuse is prohibited without the informed consent of the subject of abuse.</text></section>
<section id="H0263F77C5FF241F693032610CDBC6B89"><enum>408.</enum><header>Enforcement</header>
<subsection id="HD2334B7D303F4B08BEAF5893456EA57C"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Federal trade commission</header>
<paragraph id="H21E1DF784FBE48959E2F5E4F09CC74EC"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Federal Trade Commission shall have the power to examine and investigate any insurer to determine whether such insurer has been or is engaged in any act or practice prohibited by this title.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HA2E2956042C1465581D949DCC69C8B1F"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Cease and desist orders</header><text>If the Federal Trade Commission determines an insurer has been or is engaged in any act or practice prohibited by this title, the Commission may take action against such insurer by the issuance of a cease and desist order as if the insurer was in violation of section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act. Such cease and desist order may include any individual relief warranted under the circumstances, including temporary, preliminary, and permanent injunctive and compensatory relief.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H4CC1BAE0DC7A4FF78BC939CD93493D84"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Private cause of action</header>
<paragraph id="H2E8B1476AF9A4D25A74B8B616C4DDB95"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>An applicant or insured who believes that the applicant or insured has been adversely affected by an act or practice of an insurer in violation of this title may maintain an action against the insurer in a Federal or State court of original jurisdiction.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HFC04147311DE41BBA0A1CD813F385659"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Relief</header><text>Upon proof of such conduct by a preponderance of the evidence in an action described in paragraph (1), the court may award appropriate relief, including temporary, preliminary, and permanent injunctive relief and compensatory and punitive damages, as well as the costs of suit and reasonable fees for the aggrieved individual’s attorneys and expert witnesses.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H444707B165EF4AD68F4D809365D5B3D7"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Statutory damages</header><text>With respect to compensatory damages in an action described in paragraph (1), the aggrieved individual may elect, at any time prior to the rendering of final judgment, to recover in lieu of actual damages, an award of statutory damages in the amount of $5,000 for each violation.</text></paragraph></subsection></section>
<section id="HE7BD42996B724B2391132BB4F3007891"><enum>409.</enum><header>Effective date</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title shall apply with respect to any action taken on or after the date of enactment of this Act.</text></section>
<enum>V</enum><header>National clearinghouse on domestic and sexual violence in the workplace grant</header>
<section id="H97A707BAD6C54E3EA1857567D23D9C02"><enum>501.</enum><header>National clearinghouse on domestic and sexual violence in the workplace grant</header>
<subsection id="HFB970E33BF934360A6965EE023E4CFE9"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Authority</header><text>The Attorney General may award a grant in accordance with this section to a private, nonprofit entity or tribal organization that meets the requirements of subsection (b), in order to provide for the establishment and operation of a national clearinghouse and resource center to provide information and assistance to employers, labor organizations, and advocates on behalf of victims of domestic or sexual violence, in their efforts to develop and implement appropriate responses to assist those victims.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H6F0CB106AE7C47568D2CFAE842E61312"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Grantees</header><text>Each applicant for a grant under this section shall submit to the Attorney General an application, which shall—</text>
<paragraph id="HED4D1766B8F24156865E857FA57CA2EA"><enum>(1)</enum><text>demonstrate that the applicant—</text>
<subparagraph id="H8342EC13B9694B0CA34B8508C982FD64"><enum>(A)</enum><text>has a nationally recognized expertise in the area of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, and a record of commitment and quality responses to reduce domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H4A06FDCD44554DE1B6DCEB6361006E00"><enum>(B)</enum><text>will provide matching funds from non-Federal sources in an amount equal to not less than 10 percent of the total amount of the grant awarded under this section; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HFE8511C046C4423C81662467AEF42C87"><enum>(2)</enum><text>include a plan to maximize, to the extent practicable, outreach to employers (including private companies, as well as public entities such as universities, and State and local governments) in developing and implementing appropriate responses to assist employees who are victims of domestic or sexual violence.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="HE2CD44A56C79489480B208B1B2B6E1CE"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Use of grant amount</header><text>A grant under this section may be used for staff salaries, travel expenses, equipment, printing, and other reasonable expenses necessary to assemble, maintain, and disseminate to employers, labor organizations, and advocates described in subsection (a), information on and appropriate responses to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, including—</text>
<paragraph id="HE893AB9E77754F2D92F5BA00E932126F"><enum>(1)</enum><text>training to promote a better understanding of appropriate assistance to employee victims;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H64AA17660F3E46D380D8D2C26777C000"><enum>(2)</enum><text>conferences and other educational opportunities;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H9C4DAB9CB36F4CA2AFD93787C23962B0"><enum>(3)</enum><text>development of protocols and model workplace policies;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H4964ED52F346440CBDD06D63A533F64D"><enum>(4)</enum><text>employer- and union-sponsored victim services and outreach counseling; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H5564B64158A041A28E931863D291F714"><enum>(5)</enum><text>assessments of the workplace costs of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H8C6EE9792BED4E26A5FBEE5591AE5191"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text>There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $500,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 through 2008.</text></subsection></section>
<enum>VI</enum><header>Severability</header>
<section id="H69573C3AB89040AAB6019700138B00BE"><enum>601.</enum><header>Severability</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">If any provision of this Act, any amendment made by this Act, or the application of such provision or amendment to any person or circumstance is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of the provisions of this Act, the amendments made by this Act, and the application of such provisions or amendments to any person or circumstance shall not be affected.</text></section>