Connecticut 2022 2022 Regular Session

Connecticut Senate Bill SB00005 Comm Sub / Analysis

Filed 04/29/2022

                     
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OLR Bill Analysis 
sSB 5 (File 516, as amended by House “A” and Senate “A”)*  
 
AN ACT CONCERNING ONLINE DATING OPERATORS, ONLINE 
CHILD GROOMING AND HARASSMENT, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 
TRAINING AND PROTECTIONS FOR VICTIMS OF FAMILY 
VIOLENCE AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.  
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS: 
SUMMARY 
§§ 1-5 — ONLINE DATING SERVICES 
Requires online dating operators offering services in Connecticut to provide Connecticut 
users safety awareness notifications (e.g., whether the operator conducts criminal 
background screenings) before allowing them to use their online dating platforms and 
authorizes the DCP commissioner to penalize violators up to $25,000 per violation 
§ 6 — ONLINE ABUSE PREVENTION GRANT PROGRAM 
Creates a grant program, administered by DESPP, to prevent online abuse and provide 
educational and training opportunities to inform people about identifying, reporting, 
responding to, and avoiding online abuse 
§ 7 — APPLICATION OF ANTIDISCRIMINATION LAWS TO 
EMPLOYERS WITH ONE OR TWO EMPLOYEES 
Subjects employers with one or two employees to the antidiscrimination laws, including 
those that prohibit discriminatory employment practices or workplace sexual harassment 
§§ 7 & 10-21 — DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS AS A PROTECTED 
CLASS UNDER ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LAWS 
Prohibits discrimination on the basis of someone's status as a domestic violence victim in 
employment, public accommodations, housing, the granting of credit, and other laws over 
which the CHRO has jurisdiction; authorizes such a victim aggrieved by an alleged 
discriminatory practice to file discrimination complaints with CHRO 
§§ 8 & 9 — DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TRAINING AND INFORMATION 
FOR EMPLOYEES 
Requires state agencies, within available appropriations, to provide a one-hour minimum 
training and education on domestic violence and victim resources; requires employers 
with three or more employees to post similar information in an accessible location 
§ 22 — CHRO LEGAL COUNSEL 
Eliminates requirements that a CHRO legal counsel serve as a supervising attorney and 
that the CHRO executive director assign commission legal counsel through the 
supervising attorney 
§ 23 — DSS FUNDING  2022SB-00005-R02-BA.DOCX 
 
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Requires DSS to make $1.44 million available to domestic violence child and family 
advocates at domestic violence agencies for trauma-informed services 
 
 
SUMMARY 
This bill addresses several different subjects, including online dating, 
domestic violence training, employment discrimination and workplace 
sexual harassment, and anti-discrimination protections for domestic 
violence victims. 
Among other things, the bill does the following:  
1. requires online dating operators offering services in Connecticut 
to provide Connecticut users with safety awareness notifications 
before allowing them to use their online dating platforms (§§ 1-
5); 
2. sets up a grant program administered by the Department of 
Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) to provide 
education and training on online abuse (§ 6);  
3. extends anti-discrimination statutes to cover (a) people working 
for an employer with one or two employees and (b) elected and 
appointed officials for a governmental body (§ 7);  
4. prohibits discriminatory practices based on someone’s status as 
a domestic violence victim (§§ 7 & 10-21); 
5. requires state agencies to provide domestic violence training and 
certain employers to post related information (§§ 8 & 9); 
6. eliminates requirements concerning a Commission on Human 
Rights and Opportunities (CHRO) supervising attorney (§ 22); 
and  
7. requires the Department of Social Services (DSS) to make $1.44 
million available for advocates at domestic violence agencies to 
provide trauma-informed services (§ 23).  2022SB-00005-R02-BA.DOCX 
 
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*Senate Amendment “A” strikes the underlying bill and replaces it 
with similar provisions. In doing so, it makes changes to the underlying 
bill, such as (1) requiring online dating operators to provide Connecticut 
users with safety awareness notifications instead of conducting user 
verifications, (2) applying the underlying bill’s antidiscrimination 
protections to victims of domestic violence rather than family violence, 
and (3) extending antidiscrimination protections to elected and 
appointed officials. It adds the provisions on CHRO’s supervising 
attorney. It also removes provisions on (1) impermissible settlement 
terms and certain defenses against an employment discrimination 
claim, (2) affirmative actions in public contracts, and (3) campus mental 
health coalitions. 
*House Amendment “A” eliminates provisions from the underlying 
bill that would have (1) created a working group to make 
recommendations on criminalizing “child grooming” (e.g., inducing a 
child for sexual exploitation); (2) broadened the definition of workplace 
sexual harassment; and (3) prohibited someone from asserting, as a 
defense to an employment discrimination complaint, that the conduct 
was not severe or pervasive.  
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2022, except that the (1) DESPP grant 
program (§ 6) and DSS funding (§ 23) provisions are effective July 1, 
2022; and (2) domestic violence training (§ 8) and CHRO supervising 
attorney changes (§ 22) are effective upon passage. 
§§ 1-5 — ONLINE DATING SERVICES 
Requires online dating operators offering services in Connecticut to provide Connecticut 
users safety awareness notifications (e.g., whether the operator conducts criminal 
background screenings) before allowing them to use their online dating platforms and 
authorizes the DCP commissioner to penalize violators up to $25,000 per violation 
Affected Online Dating Operators and Users (§ 1) 
The bill imposes its notification requirements on “online dating 
operators,” defined as anyone who operates a software application (e.g., 
presumably, an online dating platform) designed to facilitate online 
dating. An “online dating platform” is a digital service designed to 
allow users to interact through the internet to initiate relationships with 
other individuals for the purpose of romance, sex, or marriage (i.e.,  2022SB-00005-R02-BA.DOCX 
 
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“online dating”). 
 Under the bill, a “Connecticut user” is a user (i.e., someone who uses 
an online dating operator’s service) who (1) provides a Connecticut 
home address or zip code when registering with an online dating 
operator or (2) is known or determined by an online dating operator, or 
its online dating platform, to be in Connecticut at the time of 
registration.  
Criminal Background Screening Notification (§§ 1 & 2) 
The bill establishes criminal background screening notifications that 
online dating operators must provide their Connecticut users. The 
notifications differ depending on whether the operator conducts such a 
screening. 
Under the bill, a “criminal background screening” is a name search 
for an individual’s history of criminal convictions that is conducted by 
searching (1) an available and regularly updated government public 
record database that in the aggregate provides national coverage for 
searching an individual’s history of criminal convictions or (2) a 
regularly updated database maintained by a private vendor that 
provides national coverage for searching an individual’s history of 
criminal convictions and sexual offender registries. A “criminal 
conviction” is a conviction for a state or federal crime. 
Screening Not Conducted. If an online dating operator does not 
conduct a criminal background screening on each user, then the 
operator must, before permitting a Connecticut user to communicate 
through its online dating platform with another user, provide the 
Connecticut user with a clear and conspicuous notification that the 
online dating operator does not conduct a criminal background 
screening on each user. 
Screening Conducted. If an online dating operator offers services to 
Connecticut residents and conducts a criminal background screening on 
each user, then the operator must, before allowing a Connecticut user to 
communicate through its platform with another user, provide the  2022SB-00005-R02-BA.DOCX 
 
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Connecticut user a clear and conspicuous notification indicating that the 
operator conducts a criminal background screening on each user. The 
notification must include a statement of whether the platform excludes 
an individual who is identified as having a criminal conviction and a 
statement that a criminal background screening may (1) be inaccurate 
or incomplete, (2) give a user a false sense of security, and (3) be 
circumvented by an individual who has a criminal history. The bill also 
requires this notification be included on the operator’s online dating 
platform. 
Safety Awareness Notification (§ 3) 
The bill requires online dating operators that offer services to 
Connecticut residents to provide a safety awareness notification clearly 
and conspicuously on its online dating platform to all Connecticut users.  
The notification must include a list of safety measures reasonably 
designed to increase awareness of safer online dating practices. It must 
also include the following statements in substantially similar form: 
1. “Use caution when communicating with a stranger who wants to 
meet you.” 
2. “You should not include your last name, electronic mail address, 
home address, phone number or any other identifying 
information in your online dating profile or electronic mail 
messages or communications until you feel comfortable with the 
other user. Stop communicating with anyone who pressures you 
for personal or financial information or attempts in any way to 
coerce you into revealing such information.” 
3. “If you choose to have a face-to-face meeting with another user 
who you met on the online dating platform, tell a family member 
or friend where you will be meeting and when you will return. 
You should not agree to be picked up at your home. Always 
provide your own transportation to and from your date and meet 
in a public place with many people around.” 
4. “Anyone who is able to commit identity theft can also falsify a  2022SB-00005-R02-BA.DOCX 
 
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dating profile.” 
Notification Timing and Communication Mode (§ 4) 
The bill requires an online dating operator to communicate the 
required notifications when a Connecticut user registers with it by 
email, text message, push notification, inbox message, or in-product 
message.  
The bill specifies that the communication must not address matters 
other than the criminal background screening notification and the safety 
awareness notification. Additionally, if the means of communication is 
character limited, the bill allows the online dating operator to include 
the full content of the information by linking to a separate website. 
However, the website may only address the required notifications.  
Investigations and Penalties for Violations (§ 5) 
The bill authorizes the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) to 
penalize violators by (1) issuing fines up to $25,000 per violation, (2) 
accepting an offer in compromise, or (3) taking other actions allowed 
under law or regulations. DCP may take these actions if an online dating 
operator fails to comply with the bill’s provisions. 
The bill also allows the commissioner or her designee to (1) conduct 
investigations and hold hearings on any issue related to the online 
operator provisions and (2) issue subpoenas, administer oaths, compel 
testimony, and order the production of books, records, and documents. 
Under the bill, if anyone refuses to appear, testify, or produce any 
book, record, or document when ordered to, then the commissioner or 
her designee may apply to Superior Court for an appropriate 
enforcement order. 
Additionally, the bill authorizes the attorney general, at the request 
of the commissioner or his designee, to apply to Superior Court in the 
name of the state for an order to restrain and enjoin anyone from 
violating the bill’s provisions on online operators. 
  2022SB-00005-R02-BA.DOCX 
 
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§ 6 — ONLINE ABUSE PREVENTION GRANT PROGRAM 
Creates a grant program, administered by DESPP, to prevent online abuse and provide 
educational and training opportunities to inform people about identifying, reporting, 
responding to, and avoiding online abuse 
Administration and Purpose 
The bill establishes a grant program to be administered by DESPP, in 
consultation with the State-Wide Hate Crimes Advisory Council, to 
provide educational and training opportunities to (1) prevent online 
abuse and (2) inform people about identifying, reporting, responding to, 
and avoiding online abuse. Under the bill, “online abuse” means the 
following acts, when conducted using any interactive computer service:  
1. speech or conduct motivated by hatred, prejudice, or bigotry 
towards a person or group based on the person’s actual or 
perceived religion, national origin, alienage, color, race, sex, 
gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or disability; 
2. harassment, stalking, swatting, or doxing (i.e., publicly revealing 
previously private personal information about someone, usually 
via the internet); or  
3. an assault. 
Requests for Proposals From Eligible Entities 
Each fiscal year, within three months after receiving funds from the 
state, DESPP must issue a request for proposals (RFP) from eligible 
entities. Under the bill, an “eligible entity” must be located in 
Connecticut and may be any of the following or any entity operating 
under them:  
1. local or regional school districts, 
2. historical societies,  
3. tax-exempt entities registered with the Office of the Secretary of 
the State,  
4. government agencies,   2022SB-00005-R02-BA.DOCX 
 
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5. constituent units of the state higher education system, or 
6. public libraries. 
Each RFP response must specify:  
1. the types of online abuse that the eligible entity proposes to 
address, which must conform to the program’s purpose;  
2. the methods used to achieve the program’s goals;  
3. the entity’s other specific goals;  
4. the target audience of the training and information that the entity 
would provide;  
5. whether the entity is replicating a program found to have a high 
likelihood of success as determined by a cost-benefit analysis in 
a peer reviewed academic journal; and  
6. the amount of matching funds the entity will contribute, if any. 
Grant Awards 
The bill authorizes DESPP to award grants for any programming or 
service that prevents online abuse or furthers the other program goals, 
including training teachers or school professionals, archiving, public 
murals, curriculum development, and marketing.  
It allows eligible entities to use awarded funds collectively, including 
regionally, through coordinated efforts and conferences that achieve the 
program’s goals. 
The bill limits the total grant amount that DESPP may award an 
eligible entity to a maximum of $30,000 during any fiscal year. 
§ 7 — APPLICATION OF ANTIDISCRIMINATION LAWS TO 
EMPLOYERS WITH ONE OR TWO EMPLOYEES 
Subjects employers with one or two employees to the antidiscrimination laws, including 
those that prohibit discriminatory employment practices or workplace sexual harassment 
Under the current human rights and opportunities laws, “employer”  2022SB-00005-R02-BA.DOCX 
 
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means the state and all its political subdivisions and any person or 
employer with at least three employees. The bill lowers the number of 
employees an employer must have to be subject to these laws to one or 
more instead of three or more. 
In doing so, it subjects employers with one or two employees to the 
antidiscrimination laws under the CHRO statutes, including those that 
prohibit (1) discriminatory employment practices (such as those 
described under § 10 below) and (2) workplace sexual harassment. 
These laws also impose certain duties on the employer, such as the duty 
to provide reasonable accommodation to an employee who is pregnant, 
unless doing so would be an undue hardship. 
Under the bill, employers with one or two employees are no longer 
exempt from liability for employment discrimination based on any of 
the protected classes. The bill gives these employees the right to file a 
complaint with CHRO claiming to be aggrieved by an employer’s 
alleged discriminatory practice, as employees of employers with three 
or more employees may do under existing law. 
Existing law requires employers with three or more employees to 
post certain notices and provide training and education on the illegality 
of workplace sexual harassment. The bill generally subjects employers 
with one or two employees to these requirements, but existing law 
already requires them to provide training and education to their 
supervisory employees. By law, an employer who fails to post the 
required notices, or provide the required training and education, must 
be fined up to $750. 
As under existing law for other size employers, under the bill, if an 
employee of an employer with one or two employees refuses or 
threatens to refuse to comply with the employment discrimination 
prohibitions, the employer may file a written complaint under oath 
asking CHRO for assistance by conciliation or other remedial action. 
  2022SB-00005-R02-BA.DOCX 
 
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§§ 7 & 10-21 — DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS AS A PROTECTED 
CLASS UNDER ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LAWS 
Prohibits discrimination on the basis of someone's status as a domestic violence victim in 
employment, public accommodations, housing, the granting of credit, and other laws over 
which the CHRO has jurisdiction; authorizes such a victim aggrieved by an alleged 
discriminatory practice to file discrimination complaints with CHRO  
The bill prohibits various forms of discrimination based on 
someone’s status as a domestic violence victim, such as in employment, 
public accommodations, housing sales or rentals, granting credit, and 
several other areas. In several cases, it classifies discrimination on this 
basis as a “discriminatory practice” under the CHRO laws. By doing so, 
the act allows individuals aggrieved by these violations or CHRO itself 
to file a complaint with CHRO alleging discrimination. 
Domestic Violence Defined (§ 7) 
For purposes of the CHRO laws the bill applies a general definition 
for the term “domestic violence.” 
Under the bill, “domestic violence” generally means the following:  
1. a continuous threat of present physical pain or physical injury 
against a family or household member;  
2. stalking, including 2nd degree stalking, of a family or household 
member;  
3. a pattern of threatening, including 2nd degree threatening, of a 
family or household member or a third party that intimidates the 
family or household member; or  
4. coercive control of a family or household member, which is a 
pattern of behavior that in purpose or effect unreasonably 
interferes with a person’s free will and personal liberty (CGS § 
46b-1(b)). 
General Anti-Discriminatory Provision and Deprivation of Rights 
(§ 11) 
Under existing law, it is a discriminatory practice to deprive someone 
of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by  2022SB-00005-R02-BA.DOCX 
 
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Connecticut or federal laws or constitutions, or cause such a 
deprivation, because of religion, national origin, alienage, color, race, 
sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, blindness, mental 
or physical disability, or status as a veteran. The bill adds status as a 
domestic violence victim to this list.  
Under existing law, it is a crime to place a noose or simulation of one 
on public property, or on private property without the written consent 
of the owner, and with the intent to harass someone because of any 
protected class listed above. The bill adds “domestic violence victim” to 
the list of protected classes. 
By law, violation of these provisions is generally a class A 
misdemeanor; but, if the violation results in property damage above 
$1,000, then it is a class D felony. In either case, there is a minimum 
$1,000 fine unless the court states on the record its reasons for reducing 
it. A class A misdemeanor is punishable by up to 364 days in prison; a 
class D felony is punishable by up to five years in prison.  
Employment Discrimination (§ 10) 
The bill prohibits an employer or employer’s agent, unless there is a 
bona fide occupational qualification or need, from (1) refusing to hire or 
employ someone; (2) barring or discharging someone from 
employment; or (3) discriminating against someone in pay or in 
employment terms, conditions, or privileges because the person is a 
domestic violence victim. This prohibition applies to all employers, 
public or private, and all employees except those employed by their 
parents, spouse, or children. 
The bill also prohibits the following kinds of employment 
discrimination based on domestic violence victim status: 
1. employers refusing to provide a reasonable accommodation to an 
employee whom the employer knows is a victim of domestic 
violence unless the absence would cause an undue hardship (see 
below); 
2. employment agencies failing or refusing to classify properly or  2022SB-00005-R02-BA.DOCX 
 
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refer for employment or otherwise discriminating against 
someone except in the case of a bona fide occupational 
qualification or need; 
3. labor organizations excluding someone from full membership 
rights, expelling a member, or discriminating in any way against 
a member, employer, or employee unless the action is due to a 
bona fide occupational qualification; 
4. employers, employment agencies, labor organizations, or anyone 
else taking adverse action against someone because he or she 
opposed a discriminatory employment practice, brought a 
complaint, or testified or assisted someone else in a complaint 
proceeding; 
5. any person aiding, abetting, inciting, compelling, or coercing 
someone to commit a discriminatory employment practice or 
attempting to do so; and 
6. employers, employment agencies, labor organizations, or anyone 
else advertising employment opportunities in a way that restricts 
employment and therefore discriminates except when involving 
a bona fide occupational qualification or need. 
Reasonable Leave of Absence. Under the bill, it is a discriminatory 
practice for an employer or the employer’s agent to deny an employee 
a reasonable leave of absence for the employee to do the following:  
1. seek attention for injuries caused by domestic violence, including 
for a child who is a domestic violence victim, so long the 
employee is not the perpetrator against the child; 
2. obtain services, including safety planning, from a domestic 
violence agency or rape crisis center;  
3. obtain psychological counseling, including for a child, so long as 
the employee is not the perpetrator against the child;  
4. take other actions to increase safety from future incidents,  2022SB-00005-R02-BA.DOCX 
 
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including temporary or permanent relocation; or  
5. obtain legal services, assist in the offense’s prosecution, or 
otherwise participate in related legal proceedings. 
The bill requires an employee who is absent from work under these 
circumstances to provide a certification to the employer, upon request, 
within a reasonable time after the absence. The certification must be one 
of the following: 
1. a police report indicating that the employee or the employee’s 
child was a domestic violence victim,  
2. a court order protecting or separating the employee or 
employee’s child from the perpetrator,  
3. other evidence from the court or prosecutor that the employee 
appeared in court, or  
4. documentation from a medical professional or a domestic 
violence counselor, or other health care provider, that the 
employee or employee’s child was receiving services, counseling, 
or treatment for physical or mental injuries or abuse resulting in 
victimization from domestic violence. 
Under the bill, if an employee has a physical or mental disability 
resulting from a domestic violence incident, then the employee must be 
treated the same as employees with other disabilities. 
The bill also requires employers, to the extent allowed by law, to 
maintain the confidentiality of any information about an employee’s 
status as a domestic violence victim. 
Public Accommodations (§ 13) 
The bill prohibits anyone from denying someone, based on his or her 
status as a domestic violence victim, full and equal accommodations in 
any public establishment (i.e., one that caters to or offers its services, 
facilities, or goods to the general public), including any commercial 
property or building lot on which a commercial building will be built or  2022SB-00005-R02-BA.DOCX 
 
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offered for sale or rent, subject to lawful conditions and limitations that 
apply alike to everyone. It further prohibits discriminating, segregating, 
or separating people based on their domestic violence victim status. 
Violations are punishable as a class D misdemeanor, subject to a fine of 
up to $250, up to 30 days’ imprisonment, or both. 
Housing (§ 14) 
The bill prohibits anyone from refusing to sell or rent after a person 
makes a bona fide offer; refusing to negotiate for the sale or rental of a 
dwelling; or otherwise denying or making a dwelling unavailable to 
someone based on their status as a domestic violence victim. 
A violation is a class D misdemeanor, punishable by up to 30 days in 
prison, a fine of up to $250, or both. 
This prohibition does not apply to either of the following if the owner 
maintains his or her residence there: (1) renting a room or rooms in a 
single-family home or (2) a unit in a two-family home. 
Credit (§ 15) 
The bill prohibits a creditor from discriminating against an adult in a 
credit transaction based on the person’s status as a domestic violence 
victim. 
Other Areas Subject to CHRO's Jurisdiction (§§ 12 & 16-21) 
The bill authorizes CHRO to investigate claims of discrimination 
based on a person’s status as a domestic violence victim under other 
laws over which CHRO has jurisdiction. Specifically, the bill does the 
following: 
1. subjects any professional or trade association, board, or other 
similar organization whose profession, trade, or occupation 
requires a state license, to a fine of $100 to $500 for denying 
someone membership because of his or her status as a domestic 
violence victim (§ 12); 
2. requires state officials and supervisory personnel to recruit, 
appoint, assign, train, evaluate, and promote state personnel on  2022SB-00005-R02-BA.DOCX 
 
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the basis of merit and qualifications, without regard for their 
status as a domestic violence victim (§ 16); 
3. requires state agency services to be performed without 
discrimination based on a person’s status as a domestic violence 
victim (§ 17); 
4. requires any state agency that provides employment referrals or 
placement services to public or private employers to reject any 
job request that indicates an intention to exclude anyone based 
on his or her status as a domestic violence victim (§ 18); 
5. prohibits state departments, boards, or agencies from granting, 
denying, or revoking a person’s license or charter on the grounds 
that he or she is a domestic violence victim (§ 19); 
6. requires all educational, counseling, and vocational guidance 
programs and all apprenticeship and on-the-job training 
programs of state agencies, or in which they participate, to be 
open to all qualified people, without regard for domestic violence 
victim status (§ 20); and 
7. prohibits a person’s status as a domestic violence victim from 
being a limiting factor in state-administered programs involving 
the distribution of funds to qualified applicants for benefits 
authorized by law; and prohibits the state from giving financial 
assistance to public agencies, private institutions, or other 
organizations that discriminate on this basis (§ 21). 
§§ 8 & 9 — DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TRAINING AND INFORMATION 
FOR EMPLOYEES 
Requires state agencies, within available appropriations, to provide a one-hour minimum 
training and education on domestic violence and victim resources; requires employers 
with three or more employees to post similar information in an accessible location   
State Agencies (§§ 8 & 9) 
The bill authorizes CHRO to require that all state agencies provide at 
least one hour of training and education on domestic violence and the 
resources available to victims. The training must be given to employees 
hired (1) before January 1, 2023, by July 1, 2023, and (2) on or after  2022SB-00005-R02-BA.DOCX 
 
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January 1, 2023, within six months after their date of hire. 
Under the bill, this training and education for state employees must 
be provided within available appropriations using CHRO’s training and 
education materials (see below). It must include information on (1) 
domestic violence, abuser, and victim behaviors; (2) how domestic 
violence may impact the workplace; and (3) the resources available to 
victims. 
The bill requires CHRO, in conjunction with domestic violence victim 
advocacy organizations, to develop the following: 
1. a link with information on domestic violence and available 
resources for victims and include it on the commission’s website 
and 
2. an online training and education video or other interactive 
method of training and education that meets the requirements 
above and make them available to each state agency at no cost. 
Employers With Three or More Employees (§ 8) 
The bill also allows CHRO to require employers with three or more 
employees to post, in a prominent and accessible location, information 
on domestic violence and the resources available to such victims in 
Connecticut.  
§ 22 — CHRO LEGAL COUNSEL 
Eliminates requirements that a CHRO legal counsel serve as a supervising attorney and 
that the CHRO executive director assign commission legal counsel through the 
supervising attorney 
Under current law, (1) one CHRO legal counsel must serve as a 
supervising attorney and (2) when CHRO’s executive director assigns 
commission legal counsel in certain actions, she must do so through the 
supervising attorney. This applies when she assigns commission legal 
counsel to do the following: 
1. represent the commission in any proceeding where a state agency 
or officer is an adversary party and other matters that the 
commission and the attorney general jointly prescribe;  2022SB-00005-R02-BA.DOCX 
 
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2. represent the commission in any hearing or appeal on complaints 
by an employee of a state or quasi-public agency or large state 
contractor that action has been threatened or occurred in 
retaliation for whistleblowing; and 
3. bring a civil action about an alleged discriminatory practice. 
In these cases, the bill eliminates the requirement that the executive 
director assign commission legal counsel through the supervising 
attorney. It also eliminates the requirement that one CHRO legal counsel 
serve as a supervising attorney. 
§ 23 — DSS FUNDING 
Requires DSS to make $1.44 million available to domestic violence child and family 
advocates at domestic violence agencies for trauma-informed services 
For FY 23, the bill requires DSS to make $1.44 million available to 
domestic violence child and family advocates at domestic violence 
agencies for providing trauma-informed services to children and 
families experiencing domestic violence.   
Under the bill, a “domestic violence agency” is any office, shelter, 
host home, or agency that meets DSS's service provision criteria and 
helps domestic violence victims through crisis intervention, emergency 
shelter referral, and medical and legal advocacy. 
“Trauma-informed services” are services directed by a thorough 
understanding of the neurological, biological, psychological, and social 
effects of trauma and violence on someone. 
COMMITTEE ACTION 
Judiciary Committee 
Joint Favorable Substitute 
Yea 36 Nay 3 (03/31/2022) 
 
Appropriations Committee 
Joint Favorable 
Yea 50 Nay 0 (04/22/2022)