General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 240
February Session, 2018 *_____SB00240JUD___032918____*
General Assembly
Substitute Bill No. 240
February Session, 2018
*_____SB00240JUD___032918____*
AN ACT PROMOTING THE REPORTING OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 17a-101e of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2018):
(a) No employer shall (1) discharge, or in any manner discriminate or retaliate against, any employee who in good faith makes a report pursuant to sections 17a-101a to 17a-101d, inclusive, and 17a-103, testifies or is about to testify in any proceeding involving child abuse or neglect, or (2) hinder or prevent, or attempt to hinder or prevent, any employee from making a report pursuant to sections 17a-101a to 17a-101d, inclusive, and 17a-103, or testifying in any proceeding involving child abuse or neglect. The Attorney General may bring an action in Superior Court against an employer who violates this subsection. The court may assess a civil penalty of not more than two thousand five hundred dollars and may order such other equitable relief as the court deems appropriate.
(b) Any person, institution or agency which, in good faith, makes [, or in good faith does not make, the] a report pursuant to sections 17a-101a to 17a-101d, inclusive, and 17a-103 shall be immune from any liability, civil or criminal, which might otherwise [be incurred or imposed] arise from or be related to the decision to make a report pursuant to said sections and shall have the same immunity with respect to any judicial proceeding which results from such report provided such person did not perpetrate or cause such abuse or neglect.
(c) Any person who is alleged to have knowingly made a false report of child abuse or neglect pursuant to sections 17a-101a to 17a-101d, inclusive, and 17a-103 shall be referred to the office of the Chief State's Attorney for purposes of a criminal investigation.
(d) Any person who knowingly makes a false report of child abuse or neglect pursuant to sections 17a-101a to 17a-101d, inclusive, and 17a-103 shall be fined not more than two thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year or both.
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1 October 1, 2018 17a-101e
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1
October 1, 2018
17a-101e
Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
In Subsec. (b), "is" was changed to "be" for proper grammar.
JUD Joint Favorable Subst. -LCO
JUD
Joint Favorable Subst. -LCO