§7704a Sexual harassment or sexual assault as grounds for suspension or revocation

Summary

A person who holds a license, certificate of registry, or merchant mariner’s document can have that credential suspended or taken away if there is an official finding that they committed sexual harassment within 5 years before the start of the suspension or revocation case. If there is an official finding of sexual assault within 10 years before the case starts, the credential must be revoked. "Official finding" means either a court or agency decision that says the person committed the misconduct under any Federal, State, local, or Tribal law, or a Coast Guard investigation that, by showing it is more likely than not, finds the person did it and gave the person proper legal rights. A Coast Guard investigation finding must be reviewed and affirmed by an administrative law judge in the same suspension or revocation proceeding. Court or agency findings are final for these proceedings.