April 29, 2014
State Representative Gregory Haddad, Vice-chair of the Legislature's Higher Education & Employment Advancement Committee is proud to announce that legislation to further address campus sexual assault and violence in Connecticut has passed through the Legislature.
"Students and parents should expect a safe learning environment at college," said Rep. Haddad. "Culture change must occur on campus and this bill is a move to change the present environment."
HB 5029, "An Act Concerning Sexual Assault and Intimate Partner Violence on Campus" has several sections to help address this important issue. One major piece is aimed to change the current culture is a bystander intervention program.
"Bystander intervention training is our best hope to significantly reduce the number of sexual assaults that occur on college campuses because it provides the student body itself with the tools to prevent sexual assaults and enlists everyone in the community to protect their peers," said Rep. Haddad.
The hope is that bystander programs will have the same impact on campus culture that the successful designated driver campaign has had in reducing drunken driving deaths due in large part by the efforts of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
The bill also requires the reporting of acts of sexual violence committed at an institution of higher education in a Campus Crime report, specifically to include:
Under current law a victim of sexual assault or intimate partner violence may request a disciplinary hearing; the bill requires that the official conducting the hearing be trained annually regarding issues related to sexual assault and intimate partner violence.
The bill permits a school to provide for an anonymous reporting option to victims of sexual assault or intimate partner violence and requires the institution to investigate the allegation.
In addition, the legislation further requires an institution of higher education immediately upon receiving an allegation of sexual assault or intimate partner violence to provide the victim concise written information regarding their rights and information regarding applicable advocacy and health services.
The bill also requires schools to establish a multi-disciplinary Campus Resource Team (CRT).
"As Vice-chair of the Higher Education Committee, I am pleased to have supported this bill," said Haddad.
The bill, approved by both the House of Representatives and the State Senate is on the Governor's desk waiting for his signature.