    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 132, 115th Congress, 2nd Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    Public Law 115-256
    115th Congress

    An Act

    To amend the Peace Corps Act to expand services and benefits for
    volunteers, and for other purposes. <>

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
    United States of America in Congress assembled, <>
    SECTION 1. <>  SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF
    CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Sam Farr and Nick
    Castle Peace Corps Reform Act of 2018''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
    follows:

    Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
    Sec. 2. Definitions.

    TITLE I--PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEER SUPPORT

    Sec. 101. Peace Corps volunteer medical care reform.
    Sec. 102. Post-service Peace Corps volunteer medical care reform.
    Sec. 103. Peace Corps impact survey.
    Sec. 104. Extension of positions for Peace Corps employees.

    TITLE II--PEACE CORPS OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY

    Sec. 201. Peace Corps volunteer access to Inspector General.
    Sec. 202. Publication requirement for volunteer surveys.
    Sec. 203. Consultation with Congress required before opening or closing
    overseas offices and country programs.

    TITLE III--CRIME RISK REDUCTION ENHANCEMENTS

    Sec. 301. Independent review of volunteer death.
    Sec. 302. Additional disclosures to applicants for enrollment as
    volunteers.
    Sec. 303. Additional protections against sexual misconduct.
    Sec. 304. Extension of the office of victim advocacy.
    Sec. 305. Reform and extension of the Sexual Assault Advisory Council.
    Sec. 306. Definitions.

    SEC. 2. <>  DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
    (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
    ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
    (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
    Senate;
    (B) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
    (C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
    Representatives; and
    (D) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
    Representatives.
    (2) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of
    the Peace Corps.
    (3) Peace corps volunteer.--The term ``Peace Corps
    volunteer'' means an individual described in section 5(a) of the
    Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2504(a)).

    [[Page 3651]]

    TITLE I--PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEER SUPPORT

    SEC. 101. PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEER MEDICAL CARE REFORM.

    (a) In General.--The Peace Corps Act is amended--
    (1) in section 5 (22 U.S.C. 2504)--
    (A) in subsection (e), in the first sentence, by
    striking ``receive such immunization and dental care
    preparatory to their service'' and inserting ``receive,
    preparatory to their service, such immunization, dental
    care, and information on prescription options and
    potential interactions, as necessary and appropriate and
    in accordance with subsection (f)'';
    (B) by re-designating subsections (f), (g), (h),
    (i), (j), (k), (l), (m), and (n) as subsections (g),
    (h), (i), (j), (k), (l), (m), (n), and (o);
    (C) by inserting after subsection (e) the following
    new subsection--

    ``(f) <>  The Director of the Peace Corps shall
    consult with health experts outside the Peace Corps, including experts
    licensed in the field of mental health, and follow guidance by the
    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding the prescription of
    medications to a volunteer.''; and
    (D) in subsection (i), as so redesignated, by
    striking ``section, and'' and inserting ``section),
    and''; and
    (2) by inserting after section 5 the following new section:
    ``SEC. 5A. <>  HEALTH CARE FOR
    VOLUNTEERS AT PEACE CORPS POSTS.

    ``(a) In General.--The President shall ensure that each overseas
    post has the services of a medical office that is consistent in size and
    scope with the needs of the Peace Corps at such post, including, if
    necessary, by detailing to any such post the licensed medical staff of
    other United States departments, agencies, or establishments.
    ``(b) Hiring Criteria.--In selecting medical officers and support
    staff for overseas Peace Corps posts, the Director of the Peace Corps
    shall hire well-qualified and capable personnel to support the
    effectiveness of health care for Peace Corps volunteers by evaluating
    each candidate's--
    ``(1) medical training, experience, and accreditations or
    other qualifications;
    ``(2) record of performance;
    ``(3) administrative capabilities;
    ``(4) understanding of the local language and culture;
    ``(5) ability to work in the English language;
    ``(6) interpersonal skills; and
    ``(7) such other factors that the Director determines
    appropriate.

    ``(c) Certain Training.--The Director of the Peace Corps shall
    ensure that each Peace Corps medical officer serving in a malaria-
    endemic country receives training in the recognition of the side effects
    of such medications.
    ``(d) Review and Evaluation.--
    ``(1) In general.--The Director of the Peace Corps, acting
    through the Associate Director of the Office of Health Services
    and the country directors, shall review and evaluate the

    [[Page 3652]]

    performance and health care delivery of all Peace Corps medical
    staff, including medical officers, to--
    ``(A) ensure compliance with all relevant Peace
    Corps policies, practices, and guidelines; and
    ``(B) ensure that medical staff complete the
    necessary continuing medical education to maintain their
    skills and satisfy licensing and credentialing
    standards, as designated by the Director.
    ``(2) Report to congress.--The Director of the Peace Corps
    shall include, in the annual Peace Corps congressional budget
    justification, a confirmation that the review and evaluation of
    all Peace Corps medical staff required under paragraph (1) has
    been completed.

    ``(e) <>  Antimalarial Drugs.--The Director of
    the Peace Corps shall consult with experts at the Centers for Disease
    Control and Prevention regarding recommendations for prescribing malaria
    prophylaxis, in order to provide the best standard of care within the
    context of the Peace Corps environment.''.

    (b) <>  Implementation of Recommendations
    by the Inspector General of the Peace Corps.--
    (1) Inspector general report.--As promptly as practicable,
    the Director shall implement the actions outlined in the agency
    response for all open recommendations of the Inspector General
    of the Peace Corps set forth in the report entitled ``Final
    Program Evaluation Report: OIG Follow-up Evaluation of Issues
    Identified in the 2010 Peace Corps/Morocco Assessment of Medical
    Care'' (Report No. IG-16-01-E).
    (2) Semiannual reports.--
    (A) Initial report.--Not later than 180 days after
    the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director
    shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional
    committees that describes the Director's strategy for
    implementing the recommendations referred to in
    paragraph (1).
    (B) Subsequent reports.--Not later than 180 days
    after the submission of the report required under
    subparagraph (A), and semiannually thereafter, the
    Director shall submit a report to the appropriate
    congressional committees that describes the progress in
    implementing the recommendations referred to in
    paragraph (1) until all such recommendations have been
    implemented in accordance with the agency's response to
    the report referred to in such paragraph.
    (3) Notification.-- <> After the
    submission of each report required under paragraph (2), the
    Inspector General of the Peace Corps may notify the appropriate
    congressional committees of any recommendations from the report
    referred to in paragraph (1) that the Inspector General
    determines remain unresolved.
    SEC. 102. POST-SERVICE PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEER MEDICAL CARE REFORM.

    Section 8142 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at
    the end the following new subsection:
    ``(d)(1) <>  The Secretary shall
    authorize the Director of the Peace Corps to furnish medical benefits to
    a volunteer, who is injured during the volunteer's period of service,
    for a period of 120 days following the termination of such service if
    the Director certifies

    [[Page 3653]]

    that the volunteer's injury probably meets the requirements under
    subsection (c)(3). The Secretary may then certify vouchers for these
    expenses for such volunteer out of the Employees' Compensation Fund.

    ``(2) The Secretary shall prescribe the form and content of the
    certification required under paragraph (1).
    ``(3) A certification under paragraph (1) will cease to be effective
    if the volunteer sustains compensable disability in connection with
    volunteer service.
    ``(4) Nothing in this subsection may be construed to authorize the
    furnishing of any medical benefit that the Secretary of Labor is not
    otherwise authorized to reimburse for former Peace Corps volunteers who
    receive treatment for injury or disease proximately caused by their
    service in the Peace Corps in accordance with this chapter.''.
    SEC. 103. PEACE CORPS IMPACT SURVEY.

    (a) In General.-- <> Beginning not later than 1
    year after the date of the enactment of this Act and once every 2 years
    thereafter for the following 6 years, the Director shall conduct a
    survey of former Peace Corps volunteers.

    (b) Scope of Survey.-- <> The survey required
    under subsection (a) shall assess, with respect to each former Peace
    Corps volunteer completing the survey, the impact of the Peace Corps on
    the former volunteer, including the volunteer's--
    (1) well-being;
    (2) career;
    (3) civic engagement; and
    (4) commitment to public service.

    (c) Report.--The Director shall submit a report containing the
    results of the survey conducted under subsection (a) to--
    (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
    (2) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
    Representatives;
    (3) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
    (4) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
    Representatives.
    SEC. 104. EXTENSION OF POSITIONS FOR PEACE CORPS EMPLOYEES.

    Section 7(a) of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2506(a)) is amended
    by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(8)(A) The Director of the Peace Corps may designate Peace
    Corps positions as critical management or management support
    positions that require specialized technical or professional
    skills and knowledge of Peace Corps operations. Such positions
    may include positions in the following fields:
    ``(i) Volunteer health services.
    ``(ii) Financial management.
    ``(iii) Information technology.
    ``(iv) Procurement.
    ``(v) Personnel.
    ``(vi) Legal services.
    ``(vii) Safety and security.
    ``(B) Subject to subparagraphs (C) and (D), with respect to
    positions designated pursuant to subparagraph (A), the Director
    may make or extend renewable appointments or assignments under
    paragraph (2) notwithstanding limitations

    [[Page 3654]]

    under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (2) and paragraph
    (5).
    ``(C) In exercising authority under subparagraph (B), the
    Director shall ensure that all decisions regarding the
    appointment, assignment, or extension of employees to any
    position designated pursuant to subparagraph (A)--
    ``(i) are consistent with Federal law and Peace
    Corps policy; and
    ``(ii) are based upon operational and programmatic
    factors.
    ``(D) The term of any appointment or assignment to any
    position designated pursuant to subparagraph (A) may not exceed
    5 years.''.

    TITLE II--PEACE CORPS OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY

    SEC. 201. PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEER ACCESS TO INSPECTOR GENERAL.

    Section 8 of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2507) is amended--
    (1) in subsection (a)--
    (A) by striking ``he'' and inserting ``the
    President''; and
    (B) <>  by adding at
    the end the following new sentences: ``As part of the
    training provided to all volunteers under subsection
    (a), and in coordination with the Inspector General of
    the Peace Corps, the President shall provide all
    volunteers with information regarding the mandate of the
    Inspector General and the availability (including
    contact information) of the Inspector General and the
    Office of Victim Advocacy as a resource for volunteers.
    The President shall ensure that volunteers receive such
    information at least once during training that occurs
    prior to enrollment and at least once during each
    significant instance of training after enrollment.'';
    and
    (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:

    ``(c) <>  The President shall
    implement procedures to maintain a record verifying each individual
    completing training provided to meet each requirement in this section
    and sections 8A, 8B, 8F, and 8G(b).''.
    SEC. 202. PUBLICATION REQUIREMENT FOR VOLUNTEER SURVEYS.

    Section 8E of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2507e) is amended--
    (1) in subsection (b), in the first sentence--
    (A) by inserting ``, ensure that each such plan
    includes a consideration of the results, with respect to
    each such representative and the country of service of
    each such representative, of each survey conducted under
    subsection (c),'' after ``standards for Peace Corps
    representatives''; and
    (B) by striking ``and shall review'' and inserting
    ``, and review''; and
    (2) in subsection (c)--
    (A) in the first sentence, by striking ``2018'' and
    inserting ``2023''; and
    (B) in the third sentence, by striking ``subsection
    (a)'' and inserting ``subsection (b)''; and

    [[Page 3655]]

    (C) <>  by adding at the end the
    following new sentences: ``The President shall publish,
    on a publicly available website of the Peace Corps, a
    report summarizing the results of each survey related to
    volunteer satisfaction in each country in which
    volunteers serve, and the early termination rate of
    volunteers serving in each such country. The information
    published shall be posted in an easily accessible place
    near the description of the appropriate country and
    shall be written in an easily understood manner.''.
    SEC. 203. CONSULTATION WITH CONGRESS REQUIRED BEFORE OPENING OR
    CLOSING OVERSEAS OFFICES AND COUNTRY
    PROGRAMS.

    Section 10 of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2509) is amended by
    adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(k)(1) <>  Except
    as provided in paragraph (2), the Director of the Peace Corps may not
    open, close, significantly reduce, or suspend a domestic or overseas
    office or country program unless the Director has notified and consulted
    with the appropriate congressional committees at least 15 days in
    advance.

    ``(2) <>  The Director of
    the Peace Corps may waive the application of paragraph (1) for a period
    of not more than 5 days after an action described in such paragraph if
    the Director determines such action is necessary to ameliorate a
    substantial security risk to Peace Corps volunteers or other Peace Corps
    personnel.

    ``(3) <>  For the purposes of this subsection,
    the term `appropriate congressional committees' means--
    ``(A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on
    Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and
    ``(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee
    on Appropriations of the Senate.''.

    TITLE III--CRIME RISK REDUCTION ENHANCEMENTS

    SEC. 301. INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF VOLUNTEER DEATH.

    Section 5 of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2504), as amended by
    section 101 of this Act, is further amended by adding at the end the
    following new subsection:
    ``(p)(1) <>  Not later than 10
    days after receiving notification of the death of a volunteer, the
    President shall provide a briefing to the Inspector General of the Peace
    Corps that includes--
    ``(A)(i) the available facts and circumstances surrounding
    the death of the volunteer, including a preliminary timeline of
    the events immediately preceding the death of the volunteer,
    subsequent actions taken by the Peace Corps, and any information
    available to the Peace Corps reflecting on the cause or root
    cause of the death of the volunteer; and
    ``(ii) a description of any steps the Peace Corps plans to
    take to inquire further into the cause or root cause of the
    death of the volunteer, including the anticipated date of the
    completion of such inquiry; or
    ``(B) an explanation of why the Peace Corps has determined
    that no further inquiry into the cause or root cause of the
    death of the volunteer is necessary, including--

    [[Page 3656]]

    ``(i) a description of the steps the Peace Corps
    took to determine further inquiry was not necessary; and
    ``(ii) the basis for such determination.

    ``(2) <>  If the Peace Corps has performed or
    engaged another entity to perform a root cause analysis or similar
    report that describes the cause or root cause of a volunteer death, the
    President shall provide the Inspector General of the Peace Corps with--
    ``(A) a copy of all information provided to such entity at
    the time such information is provided to such entity or used by
    the Peace Corps to perform the analysis;
    ``(B) a copy of any report or study received from the entity
    or used by the Peace Corps to perform the analysis; and
    ``(C) any supporting documentation upon which the Peace
    Corps or such entity relied to make its determination, including
    the volunteer's complete medical record, as soon as such
    information is available to the Peace Corps.

    ``(3) If a volunteer dies, the Peace Corps shall take reasonable
    measures, in accordance with local laws, to preserve any information or
    material, in any medium or format, that may be relevant to determining
    the cause or root cause of the death of the volunteer, including
    personal effects, medication, and other tangible items belonging to the
    volunteer, as long as such measures do not interfere with the legal
    procedures of the host country if the government of the host country is
    exercising jurisdiction over the investigation of such death. The
    Inspector General of the Peace Corps shall be provided an opportunity to
    inspect such items before their final disposition.
    ``(4) Consistent with the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C.
    App.), the Inspector General of the Peace Corps may independently review
    the facts and circumstances surrounding the death of a volunteer and the
    actions taken by the Peace Corps in responding to such incident.
    ``(5) <>  For the purposes of undertaking a
    review under this section, an officer or employee of the United States
    or a member of the Armed Forces may be detailed to the Inspector General
    of the Peace Corps from another department of the United States
    Government on a nonreimbursable basis, as jointly agreed to by the
    Inspector General and the detailing department, for a period not to
    exceed 1 year. This paragraph may not be construed to limit or modify
    any other source of authority for reimbursable or nonreimbursable
    details. A nonreimbursable detail made under this section may not be
    considered an augmentation of the appropriations of the Peace Corps.

    ``(6) Upon request, the Peace Corps may make available necessary
    funds to the Inspector General of the Peace Corps for reviews conducted
    by the Inspector General under this section. The request shall be
    limited to costs relating to hiring, procuring, or otherwise obtaining
    medical-related experts or expert services, and associated travel.
    ``(7) The undertaking of a review under this section may not be
    considered a transfer of program operating responsibilities to the
    Inspector General of the Peace Corps.''.
    SEC. 302. ADDITIONAL DISCLOSURES TO APPLICANTS FOR ENROLLMENT AS
    VOLUNTEERS.

    Section 8A of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2507a(d)) is amended--

    [[Page 3657]]

    (1) by amending subsection (d) to read as follows:

    ``(d) Information Regarding Crimes and Risks.--
    ``(1) In general.--Each applicant for enrollment as a
    volunteer shall be provided, with respect to each country in
    which the applicant may be invited to serve, with specific,
    aggregated, and easily accessible information regarding crimes
    against and risks to volunteers, including--
    ``(A) an overview of past crimes against volunteers
    in such country, including statistics regarding
    unreported crime collected through anonymous surveys;
    ``(B) the current early termination rate of
    volunteers serving in such country;
    ``(C) health risks prevalent in such country;
    ``(D) the nature and frequency of sexual harassment
    reported by volunteers serving in such country;
    ``(E) the extent and types of services provided by
    the Peace Corps to volunteers serving in such country,
    including access to medical care, counseling services,
    and assistance from the Office of Victim Advocacy; and
    ``(F) the level of satisfaction reported by
    volunteers serving in such country.
    ``(2) Option to timely decline.--Upon receiving information
    described in paragraph (1), the applicant shall have the option
    to change the country of consideration and identify a substitute
    country.''; and
    (2) in subsection (f)(2)(B)(iii), by striking ``victim
    advocates'' and inserting ``Victim's Advocates,''.
    SEC. 303. ADDITIONAL PROTECTIONS AGAINST SEXUAL MISCONDUCT.

    Section 8B(a) of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2507b(a)) is
    amended--
    (1) in paragraph (3)--
    (A) by striking ``SARLs'' and inserting ``any
    employee of the Peace Corps'';
    (B) by striking ``Victim Advocate'' and inserting
    ``Victim's Advocate''; and
    (C) by inserting ``and require the Peace Corps to
    designate the staff at each post who shall be
    responsible for providing the services described in
    subsection (c)'' before the semicolon at the end;
    (2) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' at the end;
    (3) in paragraph (6), by striking the period at the end and
    inserting a semicolon; and
    (4) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:

    ``(7) maintains a record documenting the resignation of any employee
    or volunteer of the Peace Corps who resigns before a determination has
    been made regarding an alleged violation of the sexual misconduct policy
    or other serious policy violations;
    ``(8) takes into account the record maintained under paragraph (7)
    before such employee or volunteer is hired, enrolled, or otherwise
    invited to work with the Peace Corps;
    ``(9) provides orientation or information regarding the awareness
    and prevention of sexual assault and sexual harassment to--
    ``(A) Peace Corps-selected host families; and
    ``(B) a designated person of authority at the volunteer's
    initial workplace; and

    [[Page 3658]]

    ``(10) ensures, to the extent practicable and appropriate, that any
    assault on, or any harm or injury to, a volunteer that is committed by
    any member of a host family or any national of a host country that was
    assigned by the Peace Corps to facilitate volunteer work is--
    ``(A) documented in an appropriate site history file and in
    the global tracking and recording system established pursuant to
    section 8H(c); and
    ``(B) taken into account with respect to determinations
    regarding placements of future volunteers at such post and the
    provision of any funds or other benefit by the Peace Corps.''.
    SEC. 304. EXTENSION OF THE OFFICE OF VICTIM ADVOCACY.

    Section 8C of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2507c) is amended--
    (1) by striking ``victim advocate'' each place it appears
    and inserting ``Victim's Advocate'';
    (2) by striking ``victim advocates'' each place it occurs
    and inserting ``Victim's Advocates''; and
    (3) by amending subsection (e) to read as follows:

    ``(e) The Director of the Peace Corps shall include the head of the
    Office of Victim Advocacy in agency-wide policymaking processes in the
    same manner and to the same extent as the directors or associate
    directors of other offices within the Peace Corps.''.
    SEC. 305. REFORM AND EXTENSION OF THE SEXUAL ASSAULT ADVISORY
    COUNCIL.

    Section 8D of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2507d) is amended--
    (1) in subsection (b)--
    (A) <>  by striking
    ``not less than 8 individuals selected by the President,
    not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment
    of this section,'' and inserting ``not fewer than 8 and
    not more than 14 individuals selected by the
    President''; and
    (B) by inserting after the first sentence the
    following new sentence: ``At least one member should be
    licensed in the field of mental health and have prior
    experience working as a counselor or therapist providing
    mental health care to survivors of sexual assault in a
    victim services agency or organization.''; and
    (2) in subsection (c)--
    (A) by inserting ``and implemented'' after ``sexual
    assault policy developed''; and
    (B) <>  by adding at the end the
    following new sentence: ``To carry out this subsection,
    the Council may conduct case reviews and is authorized
    to have access, including through interviews, to current
    and former volunteers (to the extent that such
    volunteers provide the Peace Corps express consent to be
    interviewed by the Council), to volunteer surveys under
    section 8E, to all data collected from restricted
    reporting, and to any other information necessary to
    conduct case reviews, except that the Council may not
    have access to any personally identifying information
    associated with such surveys, data, or information.'';
    and
    (3) in subsection (g), by striking ``2018'' and inserting
    ``2023''.

    [[Page 3659]]

    SEC. 306. DEFINITIONS.

    Section 26 of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2522) is amended--
    (1) by redesignating subsections (a), (b), (c), (d), (e),
    (f), and (g) as paragraphs (1), (6), (2), (3), (8), (7), and
    (5), respectively, by arranging such redesignated paragraphs in
    numerical order, and by moving such paragraphs 2 ems to the
    right;
    (2) in paragraph (1), as redesignated, by striking ``(1)''
    and inserting the following:

    ``In this Act:
    ``(1)''; and
    (3) by inserting after paragraph (3), as redesignated, the
    following:
    ``(4) The term `medical officer' means a physician, nurse
    practitioner, physician's assistant, or registered nurse with
    the professional qualifications, expertise, and abilities
    consistent with the needs of the Peace Corps and the post to
    which he or she is assigned, as determined by the Director of
    the Peace Corps.''.

    Approved October 9, 2018.

    LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 2259:
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 164 (2018):
    July 10, considered and passed House.
    Sept. 24, considered and passed Senate.
    DAILY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS (2018):
    Oct. 9, Presidential statement.