Sen. Dean Heller joins coalition to prevent sexual assaults on campus

Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., has joined a bipartisan group of 12 in sponsoring legislation to prevent sexual assaults on the nation’s college campuses.

The legislation would establish campus resources and support services for survivors of domestic violence, harassment, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking and improve reporting of crime to authorities.

It would bar schools from imposing sanctions on students who report sexual violence but reveal a violation of student conduct such as underage drinking.

The measure also would bar athletic departments and other sub groups from using different procedures for handling complaints and create transparency requirements to publish surveys about sexual violence.

“After receiving feedback from survivors, schools, advocacy groups and law enforcement, we strengthened this legislation to ensure that schools have the tools to address the needs of survivors of sexual assault as well as enhance strategies to make campuses safer for all students,” Heller said.