AUSTIN — The Texas Senate adopted a revised set of guidelines this week regarding sexual harassment training and reporting.

Like the policy the Texas House enacted in December, the Senate’s explains the behaviors that fall under the sexual harassment umbrella, provides a way for people to report them, and requires lawmakers and employees to complete in-person training.

As they finish training, they will be given a certificate that will be made available to the public, Sen. Lois Kolkhorst said in a letter to her colleagues.

“The attached revisions are a collaborative effort that maintain a safe and dignified work environment,” the Brenham Republican said. “The revisions address everyone who routinely work in the Capitol including unpaid interns, and provide a clear definition of the types of behavior that could constitute sexual harassment.”

Kolkhorst, the chairwoman of the Senate Administration Committee, also said she met with employees of all 31 senators’ offices, the secretary of the Senate, Senate human resources and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s office to “gather input and listen to concerns.”

The new guidelines expand the Senate’s original one-page sexual harassment policy to six pages. Though the rules emphasize that retaliation for reporting sexual harassment will not be tolerated, there is no penalty for harassers outlined.

Jennifer Treat, interim director of women’s political advocacy group Annie’s List, said she and the organization want Senate leadership to take the concerns of women seriously. The lack of disciplinary actions for violators leaves a gap in enforcement, she said.

“We want rules sooner than later, that make it clear to sexual predators that they will be fired for their behavior,” Treat said in a prepared statement. “The rules must change and so must the culture at the Capitol and in all halls of government across the state.”

Speaker Joe Straus appointed a working group last month to continue improving the House's sexual harassment policy. Rep. Donna Howard, one of the group's chairwomen, said members would be looking at ways to hold lawmakers responsible for their actions.

"Clearly, there needs to be some kind of assurance that people will be held accountable regardless of their position," the Austin Democrat said. "But this does present us with a unique challenge in trying to determine how to create some kind of enforcement ... of an elected official with no employer, but who is accountable to his or her constituents."