OFFICE OF FISCAL ANALYSIS
Legislative Office Building, Room 5200
Hartford, CT 06106 (860) 240-0200
http://www.cga.ct.gov/ofa
sHB-7236
AN ACT CONCERNING HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND SEXUAL
ASSAULT VICTIMS.
Primary Analyst: BP 4/22/25
Contributing Analyst(s): NB, LD, ME, WL, PM, TM, ES, JSS
Reviewer: PR
OFA Fiscal Note
State Impact:
Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 26 $ FY 27 $
Human Rights & Opportunities,
Com.
GF - Potential
Cost
Minimal Minimal
Resources of the General Fund GF - Potential
Revenue Gain
Minimal Minimal
Judicial Dept. (Probation);
Correction, Dept.
GF - Potential
Cost
Minimal Minimal
Various State Agencies GF - Potential
Cost
Minimal Minimal
Note: GF=General Fund
Municipal Impact: None
Explanation
The bill 1) expands what is a "discriminatory practice" for the purpose
of Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO) laws, 2)
expands certain criminal charges ranging from a class D misdemeanor
to a class D felony, and 3) prohibits discrimination by state agencies
based on victim status for sexual assault and human trafficking. The
fiscal impacts are described below.
CHRO Discriminatory Practice
The bill expands what is a "discriminatory practice" for the purpose
of CHRO laws to include protections for sexual assault and human
trafficking victims resulting in a potential cost
1
to CHRO and potential
1
This cost is associated with additional staff time, materials, and resources to facilitate
additional proceedings. 2025HB-07236-R000754-FN.docx Page 2 of 3
revenue to the General Fund.
The exact cost will depend on the number of additional cases brought
due to the legislation. The exact revenue would depend on the number
of additional fines imposed due to the legislation.
Criminal Penalties
The bill expands certain criminal charges for discrimination that
range from a class D misdemeanor to a class C felony which results in a
potential cost to the Department of Correction and the Judicial
Department for incarceration or probation and a potential revenue gain
to the General Fund from fines. On average, the marginal cost to the
state for incarcerating an offender for the year is $3,300
2
while the
average marginal cost for supervision in the community is less than
$600
3
each year for adults and $450 each year for juveniles. Few, if any,
additional violations are anticipated.
4
Prohibition of Discrimination by State Agencies
The bill prohibits discrimination by state agencies based on victim
status for sexual assault and human trafficking regarding public
benefits, educational programs, state employment, contracts, etc. To the
extent that this requires any state entity to alter their current practice,
there may be a potential cost beginning in FY 26.
The bill makes various other changes that do not result in a fiscal
2
Inmate marginal cost is based on increased consumables (e.g., food, clothing, water,
sewage, living supplies, etc.) This does not include a change in staffing costs or utility
expenses because these would only be realized if a unit or facility opened.
3
Probation marginal cost is based on services provided by private providers and only
includes costs that increase with each additional participant. This does not include a
cost for additional supervision by a probation officer unless a new offense is
anticipated to result in enough additional offenders to require additional probation
officers.
4
From FY 20 -24, there were 17 charges recorded and no associated revenue collected
under CGS § 46a-58. No charges were recorded, nor revenue collected under CGS §§
46a-64c nor 46a-64(a).
2025HB-07236-R000754-FN.docx Page 3 of 3
impact to the state or municipalities.
The Out Years
The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would
continue into the future subject to inflation and actual violations.