Connecticut 2023 Regular Session

Connecticut House Bill HB06642 Compare Versions

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Version 2 (New)

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	7	+	General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 6642
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4		-	Substitute House Bill No. 6642
5		-
6		-	Public Act No. 23-66
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9	14		AN ACT CONCERNING A TITLE IX COMPLIANCE TOOLKIT FOR
10	15		SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
11	16		Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
12	17		Assembly convened:
13	18
14		-	Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2023) (a) The Commission on
15		-	Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity shall convene and
16		-	lead a working group to identify or develop a Title IX compliance toolkit
17		-	for use by local and regional boards of education, students and parents
18		-	and guardians of students. For purposes of this section and sections 2 to
19		-	4, inclusive, of this act, "Title IX" means the provisions of Title IX of the
20		-	Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1972, 20 USC 1681 et seq.,
21		-	as amended from time to time.
22		-	(b) The Title IX compliance toolkit shall include:
23		-	(1) Training for school administrators, Title IX coordinators, school
24		-	personnel, students and parents and guardians of students that includes
25		-	(A) information regarding the prevention, identification and response
26		-	to adult sexual misconduct in schools, as described in the United States
27		-	Department of Education's "Training Guide for Administrators and
28		-	Educators on Addressing Adult Sexual Misconduct in the School
29		-	Setting", and (B) research and data regarding the prevalence of child
30		-	sexual abuse, adult sexual misconduct and the unique risk to sexual Substitute House Bill No. 6642
	19	+	Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2023) (a) The Department of 1
	20	+	Education shall convene a working group to identify or develop a Title 2
	21	+	IX compliance toolkit for use by local and regional boards of education, 3
	22	+	students and parents and guardians of students. For purposes of this 4
	23	+	section and sections 2 to 4, inclusive, of this act, "Title IX" means the 5
	24	+	provisions of Title IX of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 6
	25	+	of 1972, 20 USC 1681 et seq., as amended from time to time. 7
	26	+	(b) The Title IX compliance toolkit shall include: 8
	27	+	(1) Training for school administrators, Title IX coordinators, school 9
	28	+	personnel, students and parents and guardians of students that includes 10
	29	+	(A) information regarding the prevention, identification and response 11
	30	+	to adult sexual misconduct in schools, as described in the United States 12
	31	+	Department of Education's "Training Guide for Administrators and 13
	32	+	Educators on Addressing Adult Sexual Misconduct in the School 14
	33	+	Setting", and (B) research and data regarding the prevalence of child 15
	34	+	sexual abuse, adult sexual misconduct and the unique risk to sexual 16
	35	+	abuse for students with disabilities or who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, 17
	36	+	transgender, queer or another sexual orientation or gender identity; 18 Substitute Bill No. 6642
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32		-	Public Act No. 23-66 2 of 5
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34		-	abuse for students with disabilities or who are lesbian, gay, bisexual,
35		-	transgender, queer or another sexual orientation or gender identity;
36		-	(2) A model antidiscrimination and abuse prevention policy and
37		-	procedures that include but are not limited to, policies addressing the
38		-	needs of students with disabilities or who are lesbian, gay, bisexual,
39		-	transgender, queer or another sexual orientation or gender identity;
40		-	(3) A summary of applicable state and federal statutory and
41		-	regulatory requirements and how such requirements affect the rights of
42		-	students, including students with disabilities or who are lesbian, gay,
43		-	bisexual, transgender, queer or another sexual orientation or gender
44		-	identity, to be free from discrimination, harassment and abuse;
45		-	(4) Provisions relating to the process for reporting an incident of adult
46		-	sexual misconduct, including documents accessible to parents and
47		-	guardians of students, students, school personnel and administrators;
48		-	(5) Requirements for investigating reports of adult sexual
49		-	misconduct, including information regarding the need to offer safety
50		-	planning and services to the complainant or victim;
51		-	(6) An explanation of the Title IX complaint procedures, including,
52		-	but not limited to, the various methods accessible to parents and
53		-	guardians of students, students, school personnel and administrators of
54		-	submitting complaints;
55		-	(7) Information explaining the right of an individual to seek redress
56		-	from the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities and the
57		-	United States Department of Health and Human Services' Office for
58		-	Civil Rights that is accessible to parents and guardians of students,
59		-	students, school personnel and administrators;
60		-	(8) Procedures for publishing and disseminating information to
61		-	parents and guardians of students, students, school personnel and Substitute House Bill No. 6642
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	43	+	(2) A model antidiscrimination and abuse prevention policy and 19
	44	+	procedures that include but are not limited to, policies addressing the 20
	45	+	needs of students with disabilities or who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, 21
	46	+	transgender, queer or another sexual orientation or gender identity; 22
	47	+	(3) A summary of applicable state and federal statutory and 23
	48	+	regulatory requirements and how such requirements affect the rights of 24
	49	+	students, including students with disabilities or who are lesbian, gay, 25
	50	+	bisexual, transgender, queer or another sexual orientation or gender 26
	51	+	identity, to be free from discrimination, harassment and abuse; 27
	52	+	(4) Provisions relating to the process for reporting an incident of adult 28
	53	+	sexual misconduct, including documents accessible to parents and 29
	54	+	guardians of students, students, school personnel and administrators; 30
	55	+	(5) Requirements for investigating reports of adult sexual 31
	56	+	misconduct, including information regarding the need to offer safety 32
	57	+	planning and services to the complainant or victim; 33
	58	+	(6) An explanation of the Title IX complaint procedures, including, 34
	59	+	but not limited to, the various methods accessible to parents and 35
	60	+	guardians of students, students, school personnel and administrators of 36
	61	+	submitting complaints; 37
	62	+	(7) Information explaining the right of an individual to seek redress 38
	63	+	from the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities and the 39
	64	+	United States Department of Health and Human Services' Office for 40
	65	+	Civil Rights that is accessible to parents and guardians of students, 41
	66	+	students, school personnel and administrators; 42
	67	+	(8) Procedures for publishing and disseminating information to 43
	68	+	parents and guardians of students, students, school personnel and 44
	69	+	administrators from the Connecticut School Health Survey, 45
	70	+	administered pursuant to section 10-217h of the general statutes, and 46
	71	+	school climate assessment instruments, completed pursuant to section 47
	72	+	10-222d of the general statutes; 48 Substitute Bill No. 6642
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65		-	administrators from the Connecticut School Health Survey,
66		-	administered pursuant to section 10-217h of the general statutes, and
67		-	school climate assessment instruments, completed pursuant to section
68		-	10-222d of the general statutes;
69		-	(9) Information relating to personnel and resources at the state and
70		-	federal level that are available to provide ongoing technical assistance
71		-	and support to local and regional boards of education with regard to
72		-	such boards' compliance with Title IX requirements; and
73		-	(10) Information relating to resources that are available to provide
74		-	support to students, educators and parents and guardians regarding
75		-	prevention, identification and response to child sexual harassment,
76		-	discrimination and abuse.
77		-	(c) The working group shall consist of: (1) The executive director of
78		-	the Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and
79		-	Opportunity, or the executive director's designee, (2) the Commissioner
80		-	of Education, or the commissioner's designee, (3) the Commissioner of
81		-	Children and Families, or the commissioner's designee, (4) the
82		-	Commissioner of Public Health, or the commissioner's designee, (5) the
83		-	executive director of the Commission on Human Rights and
84		-	Opportunities, or the executive director's designee, (6) the Child
85		-	Advocate, or the Child Advocate's designee, (7) a representative from
86		-	each of the following organizations, designated by each such
87		-	organization: (A) The Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence, (B)
88		-	the Connecticut Children's Alliance, (C) Disability Rights of
89		-	Connecticut, (D) the Connecticut Association of Public School
90		-	Superintendents, and (E) the Connecticut Association of Boards of
91		-	Education, and (8) any additional members who have expertise in
92		-	human resources and Internet technology, designated by the executive
93		-	director of the Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and
94		-	Opportunity. Substitute House Bill No. 6642
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98		-	(d) Not later than July 1, 2024, the working group shall submit the
99		-	Title IX compliance toolkit to the joint standing committee of the
100		-	General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to children, in
101		-	accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes.
102		-	The working group shall terminate on the date that it submits such
103		-	toolkit or July 1, 2024, whichever is later.
104		-	Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2023) (a) Not later than October 1, 2024,
105		-	the Department of Education shall distribute the Title IX compliance
106		-	toolkit, identified or developed pursuant to section 1 of this act, to local
107		-	and regional boards of education and provide technical assistance to
108		-	such boards in the implementation of such toolkit.
109		-	(b) The department shall post the Title IX compliance toolkit on the
110		-	department's Internet web site.
111		-	Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2023) For the school year commencing
112		-	July 1, 2025, and each school year thereafter, each local and regional
113		-	board of education shall implement the Title IX compliance toolkit,
114		-	identified or developed pursuant to section 1 of this act, in such board's
115		-	efforts to prevent, identify and respond to reports of child sexual abuse,
116		-	harassment and discrimination.
117		-	Sec. 4. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2023) (a) For the school year
118		-	commencing July 1, 2026, and each school year thereafter, each local and
119		-	regional board of education shall submit a Title IX compliance report to
120		-	the Department of Education, in such form and manner as prescribed
121		-	by the department. Such report shall include (1) the name and contact
122		-	information of the individual, if any, designated by the board to serve
123		-	as the Title IX coordinator for the school district, including the dates on
124		-	which such individual has served as the Title IX coordinator, (2) the
125		-	training, if any, offered or provided by the board to school personnel
126		-	regarding the laws and implementation of Title IX, including the content
127		-	and frequency of such training, (3) the Title IX policy and any Substitute House Bill No. 6642
	79	+	(9) Information relating to personnel and resources at the state and 49
	80	+	federal level that are available to provide ongoing technical assistance 50
	81	+	and support to local and regional boards of education with regard to 51
	82	+	such boards' compliance with Title IX requirements; and 52
	83	+	(10) Information relating to resources that are available to provide 53
	84	+	support to students, educators and parents and guardians regarding 54
	85	+	prevention, identification and response to child sexual harassment, 55
	86	+	discrimination and abuse. 56
	87	+	(c) The working group shall consist of: (1) The Commissioner of 57
	88	+	Education, or the commissioner's designee, (2) the Commissioner of 58
	89	+	Children and Families, or the commissioner's designee, (3) the 59
	90	+	Commissioner of Public Health, or the commissioner's designee, (4) the 60
	91	+	executive director of the Commission on Human Rights and 61
	92	+	Opportunities, or the executive director's designee, (5) the Child 62
	93	+	Advocate, or the Child Advocate's designee, (6) a representative from 63
	94	+	each of the following organizations, designated by each such 64
	95	+	organization: (A) The Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence, (B) 65
	96	+	the Connecticut Children's Alliance, (C) Disability Rights of 66
	97	+	Connecticut, (D) the Connecticut Association of Public School 67
	98	+	Superintendents, and (E) the Connecticut Association of Boards of 68
	99	+	Education, and (7) any additional members who have expertise in 69
	100	+	human resources and Internet technology, designated by the 70
	101	+	Commissioner of Education. 71
	102	+	(d) Not later than July 1, 2024, the working group shall submit the 72
	103	+	Title IX compliance toolkit to the joint standing committee of the 73
	104	+	General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to children, in 74
	105	+	accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes. 75
	106	+	The working group shall terminate on the date that it submits such 76
	107	+	toolkit or July 1, 2024, whichever is later. 77
	108	+	Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2023) (a) Not later than July 1, 2024, the 78
	109	+	Department of Education shall distribute the Title IX compliance toolkit, 79
	110	+	identified or developed pursuant to section 1 of this act, to local and 80 Substitute Bill No. 6642
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131		-	supplemental misconduct policy, if any, for the school district, including
132		-	a description of where such policies are available to students, parents
133		-	and guardians and school personnel, and (4) guidelines or resources, if
134		-	any, used or provided by the board in the implementation to any
135		-	student, parent or guardian who makes a complaint concerning a
136		-	violation of Title IX.
137		-	(b) The department shall annually review the Title IX compliance
138		-	reports submitted pursuant to subsection (a) of this section and develop
139		-	a report based on its findings of such review. The department shall make
140		-	such report available on its Internet web site and submit such report to
141		-	the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having
142		-	cognizance of matters relating to children, in accordance with the
143		-	provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes.
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	117	+	regional boards of education and provide technical assistance to such 81
	118	+	boards in the implementation of such toolkit. 82
	119	+	(b) The department shall post the Title IX compliance toolkit on the 83
	120	+	department's Internet web site. 84
	121	+	Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2023) For the school year commencing 85
	122	+	July 1, 2024, and each school year thereafter, each local and regional 86
	123	+	board of education shall implement the Title IX compliance toolkit, 87
	124	+	identified or developed pursuant to section 1 of this act, in such board's 88
	125	+	efforts to prevent, identify and respond to reports of child sexual abuse, 89
	126	+	harassment and discrimination. 90
	127	+	Sec. 4. (Effective July 1, 2023) (a) Not later than January 1, 2024, each 91
	128	+	local and regional board of education shall submit a Title IX compliance 92
	129	+	report to the Department of Education, in such form and manner as 93
	130	+	prescribed by the department. Such report shall include (1) the name 94
	131	+	and contact information of the individual, if any, designated by the 95
	132	+	board to serve as the Title IX coordinator for the school district, 96
	133	+	including the dates on which such individual has served as the Title IX 97
	134	+	coordinator, (2) the training, if any, offered or provided by the board to 98
	135	+	school personnel regarding the laws and implementation of Title IX, 99
	136	+	including the content and frequency of such training, (3) the Title IX 100
	137	+	policy and any supplemental misconduct policy, if any, for the school 101
	138	+	district, including a description of where such policies are available to 102
	139	+	students, parents and guardians and school personnel, and (4) 103
	140	+	guidelines or resources, if any, used or provided by the board in the 104
	141	+	implementation to any student, parent or guardian who makes a 105
	142	+	complaint concerning a violation of Title IX. 106
	143	+	(b) Not later than July 1, 2024, the department shall review the Title 107
	144	+	IX compliance reports submitted pursuant to subsection (a) of this 108
	145	+	section and develop a report based on its findings of such review. The 109
	146	+	department shall make such report available on its Internet web site and 110
	147	+	submit such report to the joint standing committee of the General 111
	148	+	Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to children, in 112 Substitute Bill No. 6642
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	155	+	accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes. 113
	156	+	This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
	157	+	sections:
	158	+
	159	+	Section 1 July 1, 2023 New section
	160	+	Sec. 2 July 1, 2023 New section
	161	+	Sec. 3 July 1, 2023 New section
	162	+	Sec. 4 July 1, 2023 New section
	163	+
	164	+	KID Joint Favorable Subst.
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