33 USC § 894c - Change of station

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t33/s894c"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "33 USC § 894c - Change of station"
title_number: 33
title_name: "NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS"
section_number: "894c"
section_name: "Change of station"
chapter_number: 17
chapter_name: "NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION"
subchapter_number: "VI"
subchapter_name: "SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND ASSAULT PREVENTION"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 114–328, div. C, title XXXV, § 3544, Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2803.)"
---


# § 894c. Change of station

**(a)** **Change of station, unit transfer, or change of work location of victims**

**(1)** **Timely consideration and action upon request** The Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, shall—

**(A)** in the case of a member of the commissioned officer corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration who was a victim of a sexual assault, in order to reduce the possibility of retaliation or further sexual assault, provide for timely determination and action on an application submitted by the victim for consideration of a change of station or unit transfer of the victim; and

**(B)** in the case of an employee of the Administration who was a victim of a sexual assault, to the degree practicable and in order to reduce the possibility of retaliation against the employee for reporting the sexual assault, accommodate a request for a change of work location of the victim.

**(2)** **Procedures**

**(A)** **Period for approval and disapproval** The Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary, shall ensure that an application or request submitted under paragraph (1) for a change of station, unit transfer, or change of work location is approved or denied within 72 hours of the submission of the application or request.

**(B)** **Review** If an application or request submitted under paragraph (1) by a victim of a sexual assault for a change of station, unit transfer, or change of work location of the victim is denied—

**(i)** the victim may request the Secretary to review the denial; and

**(ii)** the Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary, shall, not later than 72 hours after receiving such request, affirm or overturn the denial.

**(b)** **Change of station, unit transfer, and change of work location of alleged perpetrators**

**(1)** **In general** The Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary, shall develop a policy for the protection of victims of sexual assault described in subsection (a)(1) by providing the alleged perpetrator of the sexual assault with a change of station, unit transfer, or change of work location, as the case may be, if the alleged perpetrator is a member of the commissioned officer corps of the Administration or an employee of the Administration.

**(2)** **Policy requirements** The policy required by paragraph (1) shall include the following:

**(A)** A means to control access to the victim.

**(B)** Due process for the victim and the alleged perpetrator.

**(c)** **Regulations**

**(1)** **In general** The Secretary shall promulgate regulations to carry out this section.

**(2)** **Consistency** When practicable, the Secretary shall make regulations promulgated under this section consistent with similar regulations promulgated by the Secretary of Defense.

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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 114–328, div. C, title XXXV, § 3544, Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2803.)