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Uniform protocols on screening for unwanted sexual behavior

Division A · Title VII: Health Care Provisions · Subtitle B: Health Care Administration

Plain-language summaryAI

The Defense Health Agency must create uniform guidelines for screening patients at military medical facilities for unwanted sexual behavior within 180 days. One year after issuing these guidelines, the agency must report to Congress on how well the facilities have implemented the screening, provide data on screening outcomes, and share any planned updates to the guidelines. The screening involves using standardized questions to identify if someone has experienced non-consensual sexual contact or behavior.

AI-generated from this section’s text — a quick orientation, not a substitute for the full text below. Not legal advice.

Section Text · Sec. 731.
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(a) Guidance

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Defense Health Agency, in coordination with the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs and the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, shall develop comprehensive written guidance establishing uniform protocols for providing a screening for unwanted sexual behavior to patients at military medical treatment facilities.

(b) Report

Not later than one year after the date on which the Director issues the guidance under subsection (a), the Director shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report containing the following:

(1)

An assessment of the extent to which each military medical treatment facility has implemented the guidance.

(2)

Aggregate, de-identified data on screening rates, positive-screen rates, and referral follow-through.

(3)

Any planned revisions to the guidance.

(c) Screening for unwanted sexual behavior defined

In this section, the term screening for unwanted sexual behavior means the use of standardized, evidence-based questions or instruments to detect whether an individual has been subject to any sexual contact or interaction to which the individual did not or could not freely consent, including harassment, coercion, assault, or abuse.