SOS Campus Act

Tim Kaine

Democrat · VA · Senator

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• Cory A. Booker (D-NJ)Original· 2026-09-30
• John Fetterman (D-PA)Original· 2026-09-30

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

2026-09-30

Source: Congress.gov

Plain-English summary pending. Introduced on 2026-09-30. Check back soon — summaries are generated as bills progress through Congress.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 5657 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 5657 To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require institutions of higher education to have an independent advocate for campus sexual assault prevention and response. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 30, 2026 Mr. Kaine (for himself, Mr. Booker, and Mr. Fetterman) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require institutions of higher education to have an independent advocate for campus sexual assault prevention and response. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Survivor Outreach and Support Campus Act'' or the ``SOS Campus Act''. SEC. 2. INDEPENDENT ADVOCATE FOR CAMPUS SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION AND RESPONSE. (a) In General.--Part G of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1088 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``SEC. 494A. INDEPENDENT ADVOCATE FOR CAMPUS SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION AND RESPONSE. ``(a) Advocate.-- ``(1) In general.-- ``(A) Designation.--Each institution of higher education that receives Federal financial assistance under this title shall designate an independent advocate for campus sexual assault prevention and response (referred to in this section as the `Advocate') who shall be appointed based on experience and a demonstrated ability of the individual to effectively provide sexual assault survivor services. ``(B) Notification of existence of and information for the advocate.--Each employee of an institution described in subparagraph (A) who receives a report of sexual assault shall notify the survivor of the existence of, contact information for, and services provided by the Advocate of the institution. ``(C) Appointment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the Survivor Outreach and Support Campus Act, the Secretary shall prescribe regulations for institutions to follow in appointing Advocates under this section. At a minimum, each Advocate shall-- ``(i) report to an individual outside the body responsible for investigating and adjudicating sexual assault complaints at the institution; and ``(ii) submit to such individual an annual report summarizing how the resources supplied to the Advocate were used, including the number of male and female sexual assault survivors assisted. ``(2) Role of the advocate.--In carrying out the responsibilities described in this section, the Advocate shall represent the interests of the student survivor even when in conflict with the interests of the institution. The Advocate may not be disciplined, penalized, or otherwise retaliated against by the institution for representing the interest of the survivor, in the event of a conflict of interest with the institution. ``(b) Sexual Assault.--In this section, the term `sexual assault' means an offense classified as a forcible or nonforcible sex offense under the uniform crime reporting system of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. ``(c) Responsibilities of the Advocate.--Each Advocate shall carry out the following, regardless of whether the survivor wishes the survivor's report to remain confidential: ``(1)(A) Ensure that survivors of sexual assault at the institution receive, with the survivor's consent, the following sexual assault survivor's assistance services available 24 hours a day: ``(i) Information on how to report a campus sexual assault to law enforcement. ``(ii) Emergency medical care, including follow up medical care as requested. ``(iii) Medical forensic or evidentiary examinations. ``(B) Ensure that survivors of sexual assault at the institution receive, with the survivor's consent, the following sexual assault survivor's assistance…

services: ``(i) Crisis intervention counseling and ongoing counseling. ``(ii) Information on the survivor's rights and referrals to additional support services. ``(iii) Information on legal services. ``(C) Provide the services described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) either-- ``(i) pursuant to a memorandum of understanding (that includes transportation services) at a rape crisis center, legal organization, or other community- based organization located within a reasonable distance from the institution; or ``(ii) on the campus of the institution in consultation with a rape crisis center, legal organization, or other community-based organization. ``(D) Ensure that a survivor of sexual assault may not be disciplined, penalized, or otherwise retaliated against for reporting such assault to the Advocate. ``(2) Guide survivors of sexual assault who request assistance through the reporting, counseling, administrative, medical and health, academic accommodations, or legal processes of the institution or local law enforcement. ``(3) Attend, at the request of the survivor of sexual assault, any administrative or institution-based adjudication proceeding related to such assault as an advocate for the survivor. ``(4) Maintain the privacy and confidentiality of the survivor and any witness of such sexual assault, and the Advocate shall not notify the institution or any other authority of the identity of the survivor or any such witness or the alleged circumstances surrounding the reported sexual assault, unless otherwise required by the applicable laws in the State where such institution is located. ``(5) Conduct a public information campaign to inform the students enrolled at the institution of the existence of, contact information for, and services provided by the Advocate, including-- ``(A) posting information-- ``(i) on the website of the institution; ``(ii) in student orientation materials; and ``(iii) on posters displayed in dormitories, cafeterias, sports arenas, locker rooms, entertainment facilities, and classrooms; and ``(B) training coaches, faculty, school administrators, resident advisors, and other staff to provide information on the existence of, contact information for, and services provided by the Advocate. ``(d) Clery Act and Title IX.--Nothing in this section shall alter or amend the rights, duties, and responsibilities under section 485(f) or under title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.) (also known as the `Patsy Takemoto Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act').''. (b) Program Participation Agreement.--Section 487(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1094(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(30) The institution agrees to comply with the requirements of section 494A regarding an independent advocate for campus sexual assault prevention and response.''. <all>

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