View all text of Subchapter IV [§ 1401 - § 1417]
§ 1402. Initiation of procedures
(a) Claim
(1) Filing of claim
(2) Contents of claim
(3) No effect on ability of covered employee to seek information from office or pursue relief
Nothing in paragraph (2), or subsection (b) or (c), may be construed to limit the ability of a covered employee—
(A) to contact the Office or any other appropriate office prior to filing a claim under this section to seek information regarding the employee’s rights under this chapter and the procedures available under this chapter;
(B) in the case of a covered employee of an employing office of the House of Representatives or Senate, to refer information regarding an alleged violation of part A of subchapter II to the Committee on Ethics of the House of Representatives or the Select Committee on Ethics of the Senate (as the case may be); or
(C) to file a civil action in accordance with section 1401(b) of this title.
(b) Initial processing of claim
(1) Intake and recording; notification to employing office
(2) Special notification requirements for claims based on acts by members of Congress
(A) In general
(B) Violations described
A violation described in this subparagraph is—
(i) harassment that is unlawful under section 1311(a) or 1316(a) of this title; or
(ii) intimidation, reprisal, or discrimination that is unlawful under section 1317 of this title and is taken against a covered employee because of a claim alleging a violation described in clause (i).
(c) Use of secure electronic reporting and tracking system
(1) Establishment and operation of secure system
(2) Accessibility to all parties
(3) Assessment of effectiveness of procedures
(d) Deadline
(Pub. L. 104–1, title IV, § 402, Jan. 23, 1995, 109 Stat. 32; Pub. L. 115–397, title I, § 102(a), Dec. 21, 2018, 132 Stat. 5301.)