Researcher: MK Page 1 3/9/21
OLR Bill Analysis
sHB 6113
AN ACT REQUIRING THE PROVISION OF INFORMATION
CONCERNING CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE.
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Governor’s Task Force on Justice for Abused
Children, in collaboration with a national association of adult
survivors of child abuse, by December 1, 2021, to:
1. develop instructional guidelines for youth coaches on best
practices for appropriate interaction with youth athletes;
2. develop child sexual abuse informational guidelines that
describe (a) abusers’ grooming techniques, (b) victim behavior,
and (c) methods for contacting the appropriate authorities and
communicating that one is a victim to a parent or other adult if
abuse has occurred; and
3. make both guidelines available on the department's website.
The bill also requires certain municipalities, businesses, and
nonprofit organizations operating youth athletic activities
(“operators”) and youth camp licensees, starting January 1, 2022, to
distribute a copy of the child sexual abuse informational guidelines to
the parent or guardian of each activity or camp participant upon
enrollment or registration. Under the bill, youth athletic activity
operators must by January 1, 2022, and annually thereafter, distribute a
copy of the instructional guidelines to their youth coaches.
Under the bill, the instructional and informational guidelines may
be distributed by electronic mail.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
DEFINITIONS 2021HB-06113-R000021-BA.DOCX
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Operator
Under the bill, an "operator" is any municipality, business, or
nonprofit organization that conducts, coordinates, organizes or
otherwise oversees any youth athletic activity. It does not include any
of these entities, whether or not compensated, that solely provide
access to, or use of, a field, court, or other recreational area.
Youth Athletic Activity
"Youth athletic activity" means an organized athletic activity
involving participants aged seven through 19, who:
1. (a) engage in, or practice or prepare for, an organized athletic
game or competition against another team, club, or entity or (b)
attend an organized athletic camp or clinic that trains, instructs,
or prepares such participants and
2. pay a fee to participate in such organized athletic game or
competition or attend such camp or clinic, or whose fee is
sponsored by a municipality, business , or nonprofit
organization.
It does not include any college or university athletic activity, or one
that is incidental to a nonathletic program or lesson.
Youth Camp
"Youth camp" means any regularly scheduled program or organized
group activity advertised as a camp or operated only during school
vacations or on weekends by a person, partnership, corporation,
association, the state, or a municipal agency for recreational or
educational purposes and accommodating at least five children, from
ages three to 16. These children (1) may not be bona fide personal
guests in the private home of an individual and (2) must live apart
from their relatives, parents, or legal guardian at least three full or
partial days per week, unless a relative or guardian is a camp
employee. It does not include classroom-based summer instructional
programs, public or private schools’ summer educational programs,
licensed child care centers, or drop-in programs for children who are at 2021HB-06113-R000021-BA.DOCX
Researcher: MK Page 3 3/9/21
least age six administered by a nationally chartered boys' and girls'
club.
Youth Coach
Under the bill, a "youth coach" is anyone who (1) holds or is issued
a coaching permit by the State Board of Education or (2) volunteers or
is paid to act as a youth athletic activity’s head coach, manager,
instructor, or the assistant to such positions.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Committee on Children
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 13 Nay 0 (02/25/2021)