Connecticut 2025 Regular Session

Connecticut House Bill HB07236 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1
2	2
3		-	LCO 1 of 26
	3	+	LCO No. 6336 1 of 27
4	4
5		-	General Assembly ~~Substitute~~ Bill No. 7236
	5	+	General Assembly Raised Bill No. 7236
6	6		January Session, 2025
	7	+	LCO No. 6336
7	8
	9	+
	10	+	Referred to Committee on JUDICIARY
	11	+
	12	+
	13	+	Introduced by:
	14	+	(JUD)
8	15
9	16
10	17
11	18
12	19		AN ACT CONCERNING HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND SEXUAL
13	20		ASSAULT VICTIMS.
14	21		Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
15	22		Assembly convened:
16	23
17	24		Section 1. Subsection (b) of section 46a-170 of the general statutes is 1
18	25		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 2
19	26		passage): 3
20	27		(b) The council shall consist of the following members: (1) The Chief 4
21	28		State's Attorney, or a designee; (2) the Chief Public Defender, or a 5
22	29		designee; (3) the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public 6
23	30		Protection, or the commissioner's designee; (4) the Labor Commissioner, 7
24	31		or the commissioner's designee; (5) the Commissioner of Social Services, 8
25	32		or the commissioner's designee; (6) the Commissioner of Public Health, 9
26	33		or the commissioner's designee; (7) the Commissioner of Mental Health 10
27	34		and Addiction Services, or the commissioner's designee; (8) the 11
28	35		Commissioner of Children and Families, or the commissioner's 12
29	36		designee; (9) the Commissioner of Consumer Protection, or the 13
30	37		commissioner's designee; (10) the Commissioner of Developmental 14
31	38		Services, or the commissioner's designee; (11) the Commissioner of 15
	39	+	Raised Bill No. 7236
	40	+
	41	+
	42	+
	43	+	LCO No. 6336 2 of 27
	44	+
32	45		Transportation, or the commissioner's designee; (12) the director of the 16
33	46		Basic Training Division of the Police Officer Standards and Training 17
34	47		Council, or the director's designee; [(12)] (13) the Child Advocate, or the 18
35		-	Child Advocate's designee; [(13)] (14) the Victim Advocate, or the 19 Substitute Bill No. 7236
36		-
37		-
38		-	LCO 2 of 26
39		-
	48	+	Child Advocate's designee; [(13)] (14) the Victim Advocate, or the 19
40	49		Victim Advocate's designee; [(14)] (15) a chairperson of the Commission 20
41	50		on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity, or the 21
42	51		chairperson's designee; [(15)] (16) one representative of the Office of 22
43	52		Victim Services of the Judicial Branch appointed by the Chief Court 23
44	53		Administrator; [(16)] (17) a municipal police chief appointed by the 24
45	54		Connecticut Police Chiefs Association, or a designee; [(17)] (18) the 25
46	55		Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee; [(18) an 26
47	56		adult victim of trafficking, appointed by the Governor;] (19) a judge of 27
48	57		the Superior Court, appointed by the Chief Court Administrator; (20) a 28
49	58		state's attorney appointed by the Chief State's Attorney; (21) a public 29
50	59		defender appointed by the Chief Public Defender; and (22) [fifteen] 30
51	60		sixteen public members appointed as follows: The Governor shall 31
52		-	appoint [three] four members, one of whom shall represent victims of 32
53		-	commercial exploitation of children, one of whom shall represent sex 33
54		-	trafficking victims who are children and one of whom shall represent a 34
55		-	coalition of children's advocacy centers and multidisciplinary teams 35
56		-	that are dedicated to serving child abuse victims and their families, the 36
57		-	president pro tempore of the Senate shall appoint two members, one of 37
58		-	whom shall represent the Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence 38
59		-	and one of whom shall represent an organization that provides civil 39
60		-	legal services to low-income individuals, the speaker of the House of 40
61		-	Representatives shall appoint two members, one of whom shall 41
62		-	represent the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence and one 42
63		-	of whom shall represent the Connecticut Lodging Association, the 43
64		-	majority leader of the Senate shall appoint two members, one of whom 44
65		-	shall represent an organization that deals with behavioral health needs 45
66		-	of women and children and one of whom shall represent the 46
67		-	Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness, the majority leader of the 47
68		-	House of Representatives shall appoint two members, one of whom 48
69		-	shall represent an organization that advocates on social justice and 49
70		-	human rights issues and one of whom shall represent the Connecticut 50
71		-	Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, the minority leader of the 51
72		-	Senate shall appoint two members, one of whom shall represent the 52
73		-	Connecticut Immigrant and Refugee Coalition and one of whom shall 53
74		-	represent massage therapists, and the minority leader of the House of 54 Substitute Bill No. 7236
	61	+	appoint [three] four members, one of whom shall be a resident of this 32
	62	+	state, one of whom shall represent victims of commercial exploitation of 33
	63	+	children, one of whom shall represent sex trafficking victims who are 34
	64	+	children and one of whom shall represent a coalition of children's 35
	65	+	advocacy centers and multidisciplinary teams that are dedicated to 36
	66	+	serving child abuse victims and their families, the president pro 37
	67	+	tempore of the Senate shall appoint two members, one of whom shall 38
	68	+	represent the Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence and one of 39
	69	+	whom shall represent an organization that provides civil legal services 40
	70	+	to low-income individuals, the speaker of the House of Representatives 41
	71	+	shall appoint two members, one of whom shall represent the 42
	72	+	Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence and one of whom 43
	73	+	shall represent the Connecticut Lodging Association, the majority leader 44
	74	+	of the Senate shall appoint two members, one of whom shall represent 45
	75	+	an organization that deals with behavioral health needs of women and 46
	76	+	children and one of whom shall represent the Connecticut Coalition to 47
	77	+	End Homelessness, the majority leader of the House of Representatives 48
	78	+	shall appoint two members, one of whom shall represent an 49
	79	+	Raised Bill No. 7236
75	80
76	81
77		-	LCO 3 of 26
78	82
79		-	Representatives shall appoint two members, one of whom shall 55
80		-	represent the Motor Transport Association of Connecticut, Inc. and one 56
81		-	of whom shall represent an organization that works with adult victims 57
82		-	of trafficking. 58
	83	+	LCO No. 6336 3 of 27
	84	+
	85	+	organization that advocates on social justice and human rights issues 50
	86	+	and one of whom shall represent the Connecticut Criminal Defense 51
	87	+	Lawyers Association, the minority leader of the Senate shall appoint two 52
	88	+	members, one of whom shall represent the Connecticut Immigrant and 53
	89	+	Refugee Coalition and one of whom shall represent massage therapists, 54
	90	+	and the minority leader of the House of Representatives shall appoint 55
	91	+	two members, one of whom shall represent the Motor Transport 56
	92	+	Association of Connecticut, Inc. and one of whom shall represent an 57
	93	+	organization that works with adult victims of trafficking. 58
83	94		Sec. 2. Section 46a-51 of the general statutes is repealed and the 59
84	95		following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 60
85	96		As used in section 4a-60a and this chapter: 61
86	97		(1) "Blind" refers to an individual whose central visual acuity does 62
87	98		not exceed 20/200 in the better eye with correcting lenses, or whose 63
88	99		visual acuity is greater than 20/200 but is accompanied by a limitation 64
89	100		in the fields of vision such that the widest diameter of the visual field 65
90	101		subtends an angle no greater than twenty degrees; 66
91	102		(2) "Commission" means the Commission on Human Rights and 67
92	103		Opportunities created by section 46a-52; 68
93	104		(3) "Commission legal counsel" means a member of the legal staff 69
94	105		employed by the commission pursuant to section 46a-54; 70
95	106		(4) "Commissioner" means a member of the commission; 71
96	107		(5) "Court" means the Superior Court or any judge of said court; 72
97	108		(6) "Discrimination" includes segregation and separation; 73
98	109		(7) "Discriminatory employment practice" means any discriminatory 74
99	110		practice specified in subsection (b), (d), (e) or (f) of section 31-51i or 75
100	111		section 46a-60, as amended by this act, or 46a-81c; 76
	112	+	Raised Bill No. 7236
	113	+
	114	+
	115	+
	116	+	LCO No. 6336 4 of 27
	117	+
101	118		(8) "Discriminatory practice" means a violation of section 4a-60, as 77
102	119		amended by this act, 4a-60a, 4a-60g, 31-40y, subsection (b), (d), (e) or (f) 78
103	120		of section 31-51i, subparagraph (C) of subdivision (15) of section 46a-54, 79
104	121		subdivisions (16) and (17) of section 46a-54, section 46a-58, as amended 80
105	122		by this act, 46a-59, as amended by this act, 46a-60, as amended by this 81
106		-	act, 46a-64, 46a-64c, as amended by this act, 46a-66, as amended by this 82 Substitute Bill No. 7236
107		-
108		-
109		-	LCO 4 of 26
110		-
	123	+	act, 46a-64, 46a-64c, as amended by this act, 46a-66, as amended by this 82
111	124		act, or 46a-68, sections 46a-68c to 46a-68f, inclusive, sections 46a-70 to 83
112	125		46a-78, inclusive, as amended by this act, subsection (a) of section 46a-84
113	126		80, sections 46a-81b to 46a-81o, inclusive, sections 46a-80b to 46a-80e, 85
114	127		inclusive, sections 46a-80k to 46a-80m, inclusive, or section 19a-498c; 86
115	128		(9) "Employee" means any person employed by an employer but shall 87
116	129		not include any individual employed by such individual's parents, 88
117	130		spouse or child. "Employee" includes any elected or appointed official 89
118	131		of a municipality, board, commission, counsel or other governmental 90
119	132		body; 91
120	133		(10) "Employer" includes the state and all political subdivisions 92
121	134		thereof and means any person or employer with one or more persons in 93
122	135		such person's or employer's employ; 94
123	136		(11) "Employment agency" means any person undertaking with or 95
124	137		without compensation to procure employees or opportunities to work; 96
125	138		(12) "Labor organization" means any organization which exists for the 97
126	139		purpose, in whole or in part, of collective bargaining or of dealing with 98
127	140		employers concerning grievances, terms or conditions of employment, 99
128	141		or of other mutual aid or protection in connection with employment; 100
129	142		(13) "Intellectual disability" means intellectual disability as defined in 101
130	143		section 1-1g; 102
131	144		(14) "Person" means one or more individuals, partnerships, 103
132	145		associations, corporations, limited liability companies, legal 104
133	146		representatives, trustees, trustees in bankruptcy, receivers and the state 105
134	147		and all political subdivisions and agencies thereof; 106
	148	+	Raised Bill No. 7236
	149	+
	150	+
	151	+
	152	+	LCO No. 6336 5 of 27
	153	+
135	154		(15) "Physically disabled" refers to any individual who has any 107
136	155		chronic physical handicap, infirmity or impairment, whether congenital 108
137	156		or resulting from bodily injury, organic processes or changes or from 109
138	157		illness, including, but not limited to, epilepsy, deafness or being hard of 110
139	158		hearing or reliance on a wheelchair or other remedial appliance or 111
140		-	device; 112 Substitute Bill No. 7236
141		-
142		-
143		-	LCO 5 of 26
144		-
	159	+	device; 112
145	160		(16) "Respondent" means any person alleged in a complaint filed 113
146	161		pursuant to section 46a-82 to have committed a discriminatory practice; 114
147	162		(17) "Discrimination on the basis of sex" includes but is not limited to 115
148	163		discrimination related to pregnancy, child-bearing capacity, 116
149	164		sterilization, fertility or related medical conditions; 117
150	165		(18) "Discrimination on the basis of religious creed" includes but is 118
151	166		not limited to discrimination related to all aspects of religious 119
152	167		observances and practice as well as belief, unless an employer 120
153	168		demonstrates that the employer is unable to reasonably accommodate 121
154	169		to an employee's or prospective employee's religious observance or 122
155	170		practice without undue hardship on the conduct of the employer's 123
156	171		business; 124
157	172		(19) "Learning disability" refers to an individual who exhibits a severe 125
158	173		discrepancy between educational performance and measured 126
159	174		intellectual ability and who exhibits a disorder in one or more of the 127
160	175		basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using 128
161	176		language, spoken or written, which may manifest itself in a diminished 129
162	177		ability to listen, speak, read, write, spell or to do mathematical 130
163	178		calculations; 131
164	179		(20) "Mental disability" refers to an individual who has a record of, or 132
165	180		is regarded as having one or more mental disorders, as defined in the 133
166	181		most recent edition of the American Psychiatric Association's 134
167	182		"Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders"; 135
168	183		(21) "Gender identity or expression" means a person's gender-related 136
	184	+	Raised Bill No. 7236
	185	+
	186	+
	187	+
	188	+	LCO No. 6336 6 of 27
	189	+
169	190		identity, appearance or behavior, whether or not that gender-related 137
170	191		identity, appearance or behavior is different from that traditionally 138
171	192		associated with the person's physiology or assigned sex at birth, which 139
172	193		gender-related identity can be shown by providing evidence including, 140
173	194		but not limited to, medical history, care or treatment of the gender-141
174	195		related identity, consistent and uniform assertion of the gender-related 142
175	196		identity or any other evidence that the gender-related identity is 143
176		-	sincerely held, part of a person's core identity or not being asserted for 144 Substitute Bill No. 7236
177		-
178		-
179		-	LCO 6 of 26
180		-
	197	+	sincerely held, part of a person's core identity or not being asserted for 144
181	198		an improper purpose; 145
182	199		(22) "Veteran" means veteran as defined in subsection (a) of section 146
183	200		27-103; 147
184	201		(23) "Race" is inclusive of ethnic traits historically associated with 148
185	202		race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles; 149
186	203		(24) "Protective hairstyles" includes, but is not limited to, wigs, 150
187	204		headwraps and hairstyles such as individual braids, cornrows, locs, 151
188	205		twists, Bantu knots, afros and afro puffs; 152
189	206		(25) "Domestic violence" has the same meaning as provided in 153
190	207		subsection (b) of section 46b-1; [and] 154
191	208		(26) "Sexual orientation" means a person's identity in relation to the 155
192	209		gender or genders to which they are romantically, emotionally or 156
193	210		sexually attracted, inclusive of any identity that a person (A) may have 157
194	211		previously expressed, or (B) is perceived by another person to hold; 158
195	212		(27) "Victim of sexual assault" means a victim of sexual assault under 159
196	213		section 53a-70, 53a-70a, 53a-70b, revision of 1958, revised to January 1, 160
197	214		2019, 53a-70c, 53a-71, 53a-72, revision of 1958, revised to January 1, 1975, 161
198	215		53a-72a, 53a-72b, 53a-73, revision of 1958, revised to the 1969 162
199	216		supplement of the general statutes or 53a-73a; and 163
200	217		(28) "Victim of trafficking in persons" means a victim of trafficking in 164
201	218		persons under section 53a-192a. 165
	219	+	Raised Bill No. 7236
	220	+
	221	+
	222	+
	223	+	LCO No. 6336 7 of 27
	224	+
202	225		Sec. 3. Section 46a-64c of the general statutes is repealed and the 166
203	226		following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 167
204	227		(a) It shall be a discriminatory practice in violation of this section: 168
205	228		(1) To refuse to sell or rent after the making of a bona fide offer, or to 169
206	229		refuse to negotiate for the sale or rental of, or otherwise make 170
207	230		unavailable or deny, a dwelling to any person because of race, creed, 171
208		-	color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity or expression, 172 Substitute Bill No. 7236
209		-
210		-
211		-	LCO 7 of 26
212		-
	231	+	color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity or expression, 172
213	232		marital status, age, lawful source of income, familial status, status as a 173
214	233		veteran, [or] status as a victim of domestic violence, status as a victim of 174
215	234		sexual assault or status as a victim of trafficking in persons. 175
216	235		(2) To discriminate against any person in the terms, conditions, or 176
217	236		privileges of sale or rental of a dwelling, or in the provision of services 177
218	237		or facilities in connection therewith, because of race, creed, color, 178
219	238		national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity or expression, marital 179
220	239		status, age, lawful source of income, familial status, [or] status as a 180
221	240		veteran, status as a victim of sexual assault or status as a victim of 181
222	241		trafficking in persons. 182
223	242		(3) To make, print or publish, or cause to be made, printed or 183
224	243		published any notice, statement, or advertisement, with respect to the 184
225	244		sale or rental of a dwelling that indicates any preference, limitation, or 185
226	245		discrimination based on race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, 186
227	246		gender identity or expression, marital status, age, lawful source of 187
228	247		income, familial status, learning disability, physical or mental disability, 188
229	248		[or] status as a veteran, status as a victim of sexual assault or status as a 189
230	249		victim of trafficking in persons, or an intention to make any such 190
231	250		preference, limitation or discrimination. 191
232	251		(4) (A) To represent to any person because of race, creed, color, 192
233	252		national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity or expression, marital 193
234	253		status, age, lawful source of income, familial status, learning disability, 194
235	254		physical or mental disability, [or] status as a veteran, status as a victim 195
236	255		of sexual assault or status as a victim of trafficking in persons, that any 196
	256	+	Raised Bill No. 7236
	257	+
	258	+
	259	+
	260	+	LCO No. 6336 8 of 27
	261	+
237	262		dwelling is not available for inspection, sale or rental when such 197
238	263		dwelling is in fact so available. 198
239	264		(B) It shall be a violation of this subdivision for any person to restrict 199
240	265		or attempt to restrict the choices of any buyer or renter to purchase or 200
241	266		rent a dwelling (i) to an area which is substantially populated, even if 201
242	267		less than a majority, by persons of the same protected class as the buyer 202
243	268		or renter, (ii) while such person is authorized to offer for sale or rent 203
244		-	another dwelling which meets the housing criteria as expressed by the 204 Substitute Bill No. 7236
245		-
246		-
247		-	LCO 8 of 26
248		-
	269	+	another dwelling which meets the housing criteria as expressed by the 204
249	270		buyer or renter to such person, and (iii) such other dwelling is in an area 205
250	271		which is not substantially populated by persons of the same protected 206
251	272		class as the buyer or renter. As used in this subdivision, "area" means 207
252	273		municipality, neighborhood or other geographic subdivision which 208
253	274		may include an apartment or condominium complex; and "protected 209
254	275		class" means race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender 210
255	276		identity or expression, marital status, age, lawful source of income, 211
256	277		familial status, learning disability, physical or mental disability, [or] 212
257	278		status as a veteran, status as a victim of sexual assault or status as a 213
258	279		victim of trafficking in persons. 214
259	280		(5) For profit, to induce or attempt to induce any person to sell or rent 215
260	281		any dwelling by representations regarding the entry or prospective 216
261	282		entry into the neighborhood of a person or persons of a particular race, 217
262	283		creed, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity or expression, 218
263	284		marital status, age, lawful source of income, familial status, learning 219
264	285		disability, physical or mental disability, [or] status as a veteran, status 220
265	286		as a victim of sexual assault or status as a victim of trafficking in persons. 221
266	287		(6) (A) To discriminate in the sale or rental, or to otherwise make 222
267	288		unavailable or deny, a dwelling to any buyer or renter because of a 223
268	289		learning disability or physical or mental disability of: (i) Such buyer or 224
269	290		renter; (ii) a person residing in or intending to reside in such dwelling 225
270	291		after it is so sold, rented, or made available; or (iii) any person associated 226
271	292		with such buyer or renter. 227
	293	+	Raised Bill No. 7236
	294	+
	295	+
	296	+
	297	+	LCO No. 6336 9 of 27
	298	+
272	299		(B) To discriminate against any person in the terms, conditions or 228
273	300		privileges of sale or rental of a dwelling, or in the provision of services 229
274	301		or facilities in connection with such dwelling, because of a learning 230
275	302		disability or physical or mental disability of: (i) Such person; or (ii) a 231
276	303		person residing in or intending to reside in such dwelling after it is so 232
277	304		sold, rented, or made available; or (iii) any person associated with such 233
278	305		person. 234
279	306		(C) For purposes of this subdivision, discrimination includes: (i) A 235
280		-	refusal to permit, at the expense of a person with a physical or mental 236 Substitute Bill No. 7236
281		-
282		-
283		-	LCO 9 of 26
284		-
	307	+	refusal to permit, at the expense of a person with a physical or mental 236
285	308		disability, reasonable modifications of existing premises occupied or to 237
286	309		be occupied by such person if such modifications may be necessary to 238
287	310		afford such person full enjoyment of the premises; except that, in the 239
288	311		case of a rental, the landlord may, where it is reasonable to do so, 240
289	312		condition permission for a modification on the renter agreeing to restore 241
290	313		the interior of the premises to the condition that existed before the 242
291	314		modification, reasonable wear and tear excepted; (ii) a refusal to make 243
292	315		reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices or services, 244
293	316		when such accommodations may be necessary to afford such person 245
294	317		equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling; (iii) in connection with 246
295	318		the design and construction of covered multifamily dwellings for the 247
296	319		first occupancy after March 13, 1991, a failure to design and construct 248
297	320		those dwellings in such manner that they comply with the requirements 249
298	321		of Section 804(f) of the Fair Housing Act or the provisions of the state 250
299	322		building code as adopted pursuant to the provisions of sections 29-269 251
300	323		and 29-273, whichever requires greater accommodation. "Covered 252
301	324		multifamily dwellings" means buildings consisting of four or more units 253
302	325		if such buildings have one or more elevators, and ground floor units in 254
303	326		other buildings consisting of four or more units. 255
304	327		(7) For any person or other entity engaging in residential real-estate-256
305	328		related transactions to discriminate against any person in making 257
306	329		available such a transaction, or in the terms or conditions of such a 258
307	330		transaction, because of race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, 259
308	331		gender identity or expression, marital status, age, lawful source of 260
	332	+	Raised Bill No. 7236
	333	+
	334	+
	335	+
	336	+	LCO No. 6336 10 of 27
	337	+
309	338		income, familial status, learning disability, physical or mental disability, 261
310	339		[or] status as a veteran, status as a victim of sexual assault or status as a 262
311	340		victim of trafficking in persons. 263
312	341		(8) To deny any person access to or membership or participation in 264
313	342		any multiple-listing service, real estate brokers' organization or other 265
314	343		service, organization, or facility relating to the business of selling or 266
315	344		renting dwellings, or to discriminate against him in the terms or 267
316	345		conditions of such access, membership or participation, on account of 268
317	346		race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity or 269
318		-	expression, marital status, age, lawful source of income, familial status, 270 Substitute Bill No. 7236
319		-
320		-
321		-	LCO 10 of 26
322		-
	347	+	expression, marital status, age, lawful source of income, familial status, 270
323	348		learning disability, physical or mental disability, [or] status as a veteran, 271
324	349		status as a victim of sexual assault or status as a victim of trafficking in 272
325	350		persons. 273
326	351		(9) To coerce, intimidate, threaten, or interfere with any person in the 274
327	352		exercise or enjoyment of, or on account of his having exercised or 275
328	353		enjoyed, or on account of his having aided or encouraged any other 276
329	354		person in the exercise or enjoyment of, any right granted or protected 277
330	355		by this section. 278
331	356		(b) (1) The provisions of this section shall not apply to (A) the rental 279
332	357		of a room or rooms in a single-family dwelling unit if the owner actually 280
333	358		maintains and occupies part of such living quarters as his residence or 281
334	359		(B) a unit in a dwelling containing living quarters occupied or intended 282
335	360		to be occupied by no more than two families living independently of 283
336	361		each other, if the owner actually maintains and occupies the other such 284
337	362		living quarters as his residence. (2) The provisions of this section with 285
338	363		respect to the prohibition of discrimination on the basis of marital status 286
339	364		shall not be construed to prohibit the denial of a dwelling to a man or a 287
340	365		woman who are both unrelated by blood and not married to each other. 288
341	366		(3) The provisions of this section with respect to the prohibition of 289
342	367		discrimination on the basis of age shall not apply to minors, to special 290
343	368		discount or other public or private programs to assist persons sixty 291
344	369		years of age and older or to housing for older persons as defined in 292
	370	+	Raised Bill No. 7236
	371	+
	372	+
	373	+
	374	+	LCO No. 6336 11 of 27
	375	+
345	376		section 46a-64b, provided there is no discrimination on the basis of age 293
346	377		among older persons eligible for such housing. (4) The provisions of this 294
347	378		section with respect to the prohibition of discrimination on the basis of 295
348	379		familial status shall not apply to housing for older persons as defined in 296
349	380		section 46a-64b or to a unit in a dwelling containing units for no more 297
350	381		than four families living independently of each other, if the owner of 298
351	382		such dwelling resides in one of the units. (5) The provisions of this 299
352	383		section with respect to the prohibition of discrimination on the basis of 300
353	384		lawful source of income shall not prohibit the denial of full and equal 301
354	385		accommodations solely on the basis of insufficient income. (6) The 302
355	386		provisions of this section with respect to the prohibition of 303
356		-	discrimination on the basis of sex shall not apply to the rental of sleeping 304 Substitute Bill No. 7236
357		-
358		-
359		-	LCO 11 of 26
360		-
	387	+	discrimination on the basis of sex shall not apply to the rental of sleeping 304
361	388		accommodations to the extent they utilize shared bathroom facilities 305
362	389		when such sleeping accommodations are provided by associations and 306
363	390		organizations which rent such sleeping accommodations on a 307
364	391		temporary or permanent basis for the exclusive use of persons of the 308
365	392		same sex based on considerations of privacy and modesty. 309
366	393		(c) Nothing in this section limits the applicability of any reasonable 310
367	394		state statute or municipal ordinance restricting the maximum number 311
368	395		of persons permitted to occupy a dwelling. 312
369	396		(d) Nothing in this section or section 46a-64b shall be construed to 313
370	397		invalidate or limit any state statute or municipal ordinance that requires 314
371	398		dwellings to be designed and constructed in a manner that affords 315
372	399		persons with physical or mental disabilities greater access than is 316
373	400		required by this section or section 46a-64b. 317
374	401		(e) Nothing in this section prohibits a person engaged in the business 318
375	402		of furnishing appraisals of real property to take into consideration 319
376	403		factors other than race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, 320
377	404		gender identity or expression, marital status, age, lawful source of 321
378	405		income, familial status, learning disability, physical or mental disability, 322
379	406		[or] status as a veteran, status as a victim of sexual assault or status as a 323
380	407		victim of trafficking in persons. 324
	408	+	Raised Bill No. 7236
	409	+
	410	+
	411	+
	412	+	LCO No. 6336 12 of 27
	413	+
381	414		(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, complaints 325
382	415		alleging a violation of this section shall be investigated within one 326
383	416		hundred days of filing and a final administrative disposition shall be 327
384	417		made within one year of filing unless it is impracticable to do so. If the 328
385	418		Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities is unable to complete 329
386	419		its investigation or make a final administrative determination within 330
387	420		such time frames, it shall notify the complainant and the respondent in 331
388	421		writing of the reasons for not doing so. 332
389	422		(g) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be 333
390	423		guilty of a class D misdemeanor. 334
391		-	Sec. 4. Section 46a-58 of the general statutes is repealed and the 335 Substitute Bill No. 7236
392		-
393		-
394		-	LCO 12 of 26
395		-
	424	+	Sec. 4. Section 46a-58 of the general statutes is repealed and the 335
396	425		following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 336
397	426		(a) It shall be a discriminatory practice in violation of this section for 337
398	427		any person to subject, or cause to be subjected, any other person to the 338
399	428		deprivation of any rights, privileges or immunities, secured or protected 339
400	429		by the Constitution or laws of this state or of the United States, on 340
401	430		account of religion, national origin, alienage, color, race, sex, gender 341
402	431		identity or expression, sexual orientation, blindness, mental disability, 342
403	432		physical disability, age, status as a veteran, [or] status as a victim of 343
404	433		domestic violence, status as a victim of sexual assault or status as a 344
405	434		victim of trafficking in persons. 345
406	435		(b) Any person who intentionally desecrates any public property, 346
407	436		monument or structure, or any religious object, symbol or house of 347
408	437		religious worship, or any cemetery, or any private structure not owned 348
409	438		by such person, shall be in violation of subsection (a) of this section. For 349
410	439		the purposes of this subsection, "desecrate" means to mar, deface or 350
411	440		damage as a demonstration of irreverence or contempt. 351
412	441		(c) Any person who places a burning cross or a simulation thereof on 352
413	442		any public property, or on any private property without the written 353
414	443		consent of the owner, and with intent to intimidate or harass any other 354
415	444		person or group of persons, shall be in violation of subsection (a) of this 355
	445	+	Raised Bill No. 7236
	446	+
	447	+
	448	+
	449	+	LCO No. 6336 13 of 27
	450	+
416	451		section. 356
417	452		(d) Any person who places a noose or a simulation thereof on any 357
418	453		public property, or on any private property without the written consent 358
419	454		of the owner, and with intent to intimidate or harass any other person 359
420	455		on account of religion, national origin, alienage, color, race, sex, gender 360
421	456		identity or expression, sexual orientation, blindness, mental disability, 361
422	457		physical disability, age, status as a veteran, [or] status as a victim of 362
423	458		domestic violence, status as a victim of sexual assault or status as a 363
424	459		victim of trafficking in persons, shall be in violation of subsection (a) of 364
425	460		this section. 365
426	461		(e) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, any 366
427		-	person who violates any provision of this section shall be guilty of a 367 Substitute Bill No. 7236
428		-
429		-
430		-	LCO 13 of 26
431		-
	462	+	person who violates any provision of this section shall be guilty of a 367
432	463		class A misdemeanor and shall be fined not less than one thousand 368
433	464		dollars, except that if property is damaged as a consequence of such 369
434	465		violation in an amount in excess of one thousand dollars, such person 370
435	466		shall be guilty of a class D felony and shall be fined not less than one 371
436	467		thousand dollars. 372
437	468		(2) Any person who violates the provisions of this section by 373
438	469		intentionally desecrating a house of religious worship (A) shall be guilty 374
439	470		of a class D felony and shall be fined not less than one thousand dollars 375
440	471		if property is damaged as a consequence of such violation in an amount 376
441	472		up to and including ten thousand dollars, and (B) shall be guilty of a 377
442	473		class C felony and shall be fined not less than three thousand dollars if 378
443	474		the property damaged as a consequence of such violation is in an 379
444	475		amount in excess of ten thousand dollars. 380
445	476		(3) The minimum amount of any fine imposed by the provisions of 381
446	477		this section may not be remitted or reduced by the court unless the court 382
447	478		states on the record its reasons for remitting or reducing such fine. 383
448	479		(4) The court may order restitution for any victim of a violation of this 384
449	480		section pursuant to subsection (c) of section 53a-28. 385
	481	+	Raised Bill No. 7236
	482	+
	483	+
	484	+
	485	+	LCO No. 6336 14 of 27
	486	+
450	487		Sec. 5. Section 46a-59 of the general statutes is repealed and the 386
451	488		following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 387
452	489		(a) It shall be a discriminatory practice in violation of this section for 388
453	490		any association, board or other organization the principal purpose of 389
454	491		which is the furtherance of the professional or occupational interests of 390
455	492		its members, whose profession, trade or occupation requires a state 391
456	493		license, to refuse to accept a person as a member of such association, 392
457	494		board or organization because of his race, national origin, creed, sex, 393
458	495		gender identity or expression, color, status as a veteran, [or] status as a 394
459	496		victim of domestic violence, status as a victim of sexual assault or status 395
460	497		as a victim of trafficking in persons. 396
461	498		(b) Any association, board or other organization which violates the 397
462		-	provisions of this section shall be fined not less than one hundred 398 Substitute Bill No. 7236
463		-
464		-
465		-	LCO 14 of 26
466		-
	499	+	provisions of this section shall be fined not less than one hundred 398
467	500		dollars nor more than five hundred dollars. 399
468	501		Sec. 6. Subsection (b) of section 46a-60 of the general statutes is 400
469	502		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 401
470	503		1, 2025): 402
471	504		(b) It shall be a discriminatory practice in violation of this section: 403
472	505		(1) For an employer, by the employer or the employer's agent, except 404
473	506		in the case of a bona fide occupational qualification or need, to refuse to 405
474	507		hire or employ or to bar or to discharge from employment any 406
475	508		individual or to discriminate against any individual in compensation or 407
476	509		in terms, conditions or privileges of employment because of the 408
477	510		individual's race, color, religious creed, age, sex, gender identity or 409
478	511		expression, marital status, national origin, ancestry, present or past 410
479	512		history of mental disability, intellectual disability, learning disability, 411
480	513		physical disability, including, but not limited to, blindness, status as a 412
481	514		veteran, [or] status as a victim of domestic violence, status as a victim of 413
482	515		sexual assault or status as a victim of trafficking in persons; 414
483	516		(2) For any employment agency, except in the case of a bona fide 415
	517	+	Raised Bill No. 7236
	518	+
	519	+
	520	+
	521	+	LCO No. 6336 15 of 27
	522	+
484	523		occupational qualification or need, to fail or refuse to classify properly 416
485	524		or refer for employment or otherwise to discriminate against any 417
486	525		individual because of such individual's race, color, religious creed, age, 418
487	526		sex, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, 419
488	527		ancestry, present or past history of mental disability, intellectual 420
489	528		disability, learning disability, physical disability, including, but not 421
490	529		limited to, blindness, status as a veteran, [or] status as a victim of 422
491	530		domestic violence, status as a victim of sexual assault or status as a 423
492	531		victim of trafficking in persons; 424
493	532		(3) For a labor organization, because of the race, color, religious creed, 425
494	533		age, sex, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, 426
495	534		ancestry, present or past history of mental disability, intellectual 427
496	535		disability, learning disability, physical disability, including, but not 428
497	536		limited to, blindness, status as a veteran, [or] status as a victim of 429
498		-	domestic violence, status as a victim of sexual assault or status as a 430 Substitute Bill No. 7236
499		-
500		-
501		-	LCO 15 of 26
502		-
	537	+	domestic violence, status as a victim of sexual assault or status as a 430
503	538		victim of trafficking in persons of any individual to exclude from full 431
504	539		membership rights or to expel from its membership such individual or 432
505	540		to discriminate in any way against any of its members or against any 433
506	541		employer or any individual employed by an employer, unless such 434
507	542		action is based on a bona fide occupational qualification; 435
508	543		(4) For any person, employer, labor organization or employment 436
509	544		agency to discharge, expel or otherwise discriminate against any person 437
510	545		because such person has opposed any discriminatory employment 438
511	546		practice or because such person has filed a complaint or testified or 439
512	547		assisted in any proceeding under section 46a-82, 46a-83 or 46a-84; 440
513	548		(5) For any person, whether an employer or an employee or not, to 441
514	549		aid, abet, incite, compel or coerce the doing of any act declared to be a 442
515	550		discriminatory employment practice or to attempt to do so; 443
516	551		(6) For any person, employer, employment agency or labor 444
517	552		organization, except in the case of a bona fide occupational qualification 445
518	553		or need, to advertise employment opportunities in such a manner as to 446
	554	+	Raised Bill No. 7236
	555	+
	556	+
	557	+
	558	+	LCO No. 6336 16 of 27
	559	+
519	560		restrict such employment so as to discriminate against individuals 447
520	561		because of their race, color, religious creed, age, sex, gender identity or 448
521	562		expression, marital status, national origin, ancestry, present or past 449
522	563		history of mental disability, intellectual disability, learning disability, 450
523	564		physical disability, including, but not limited to, blindness, status as a 451
524	565		veteran, [or] status as a victim of domestic violence, status as a victim of 452
525	566		sexual assault or status as a victim of trafficking in persons; 453
526	567		(7) For an employer, by the employer or the employer's agent: (A) To 454
527	568		terminate a woman's employment because of her pregnancy; (B) to 455
528	569		refuse to grant to that employee a reasonable leave of absence for 456
529	570		disability resulting from her pregnancy; (C) to deny to that employee, 457
530	571		who is disabled as a result of pregnancy, any compensation to which 458
531	572		she is entitled as a result of the accumulation of disability or leave 459
532	573		benefits accrued pursuant to plans maintained by the employer; (D) to 460
533	574		fail or refuse to reinstate the employee to her original job or to an 461
534		-	equivalent position with equivalent pay and accumulated seniority, 462 Substitute Bill No. 7236
535		-
536		-
537		-	LCO 16 of 26
538		-
	575	+	equivalent position with equivalent pay and accumulated seniority, 462
539	576		retirement, fringe benefits and other service credits upon her signifying 463
540	577		her intent to return unless, in the case of a private employer, the 464
541	578		employer's circumstances have so changed as to make it impossible or 465
542	579		unreasonable to do so; (E) to limit, segregate or classify the employee in 466
543	580		a way that would deprive her of employment opportunities due to her 467
544	581		pregnancy; (F) to discriminate against an employee or person seeking 468
545	582		employment on the basis of her pregnancy in the terms or conditions of 469
546	583		her employment; (G) to fail or refuse to make a reasonable 470
547	584		accommodation for an employee or person seeking employment due to 471
548	585		her pregnancy, unless the employer can demonstrate that such 472
549	586		accommodation would impose an undue hardship on such employer; 473
550	587		(H) to deny employment opportunities to an employee or person 474
551	588		seeking employment if such denial is due to the employee's request for 475
552	589		a reasonable accommodation due to her pregnancy; (I) to force an 476
553	590		employee or person seeking employment affected by pregnancy to 477
554	591		accept a reasonable accommodation if such employee or person seeking 478
555	592		employment (i) does not have a known limitation related to her 479
	593	+	Raised Bill No. 7236
	594	+
	595	+
	596	+
	597	+	LCO No. 6336 17 of 27
	598	+
556	599		pregnancy, or (ii) does not require a reasonable accommodation to 480
557	600		perform the essential duties related to her employment; (J) to require an 481
558	601		employee to take a leave of absence if a reasonable accommodation can 482
559	602		be provided in lieu of such leave; and (K) to retaliate against an 483
560	603		employee in the terms, conditions or privileges of her employment 484
561	604		based upon such employee's request for a reasonable accommodation; 485
562	605		(8) For an employer, by the employer or the employer's agent, for an 486
563	606		employment agency, by itself or its agent, or for any labor organization, 487
564	607		by itself or its agent, to harass any employee, person seeking 488
565	608		employment or member on the basis of sex or gender identity or 489
566	609		expression. If an employer takes immediate corrective action in 490
567	610		response to an employee's claim of sexual harassment, such corrective 491
568	611		action shall not modify the conditions of employment of the employee 492
569	612		making the claim of sexual harassment unless such employee agrees, in 493
570	613		writing, to any modification in the conditions of employment. 494
571	614		"Corrective action" taken by an employer, includes, but is not limited to, 495
572		-	employee relocation, assigning an employee to a different work 496 Substitute Bill No. 7236
573		-
574		-
575		-	LCO 17 of 26
576		-
	615	+	employee relocation, assigning an employee to a different work 496
577	616		schedule or other substantive changes to an employee's terms and 497
578	617		conditions of employment. Notwithstanding an employer's failure to 498
579	618		obtain a written agreement from an employee concerning a modification 499
580	619		in the conditions of employment, the commission may find that 500
581	620		corrective action taken by an employer was reasonable and not of 501
582	621		detriment to the complainant based on the evidence presented to the 502
583	622		commission by the complainant and respondent. As used in this 503
584	623		subdivision, "sexual harassment" means any unwelcome sexual 504
585	624		advances or requests for sexual favors or any conduct of a sexual nature 505
586	625		when (A) submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or 506
587	626		implicitly a term or condition of an individual's employment, (B) 507
588	627		submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as 508
589	628		the basis for employment decisions affecting such individual, or (C) 509
590	629		such conduct has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with 510
591	630		an individual's work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or 511
592	631		offensive working environment; 512
	632	+	Raised Bill No. 7236
	633	+
	634	+
	635	+
	636	+	LCO No. 6336 18 of 27
	637	+
593	638		(9) For an employer, by the employer or the employer's agent, for an 513
594	639		employment agency, by itself or its agent, or for any labor organization, 514
595	640		by itself or its agent, to request or require information from an 515
596	641		employee, person seeking employment or member relating to the 516
597	642		individual's child-bearing age or plans, pregnancy, function of the 517
598	643		individual's reproductive system, use of birth control methods, or the 518
599	644		individual's familial responsibilities, unless such information is directly 519
600	645		related to a bona fide occupational qualification or need, provided an 520
601	646		employer, through a physician may request from an employee any such 521
602	647		information which is directly related to workplace exposure to 522
603	648		substances which may cause birth defects or constitute a hazard to an 523
604	649		individual's reproductive system or to a fetus if the employer first 524
605	650		informs the employee of the hazards involved in exposure to such 525
606	651		substances; 526
607	652		(10) For an employer, by the employer or the employer's agent, after 527
608	653		informing an employee, pursuant to subdivision (9) of this subsection, 528
609	654		of a workplace exposure to substances which may cause birth defects or 529
610		-	constitute a hazard to an employee's reproductive system or to a fetus, 530 Substitute Bill No. 7236
611		-
612		-
613		-	LCO 18 of 26
614		-
	655	+	constitute a hazard to an employee's reproductive system or to a fetus, 530
615	656		to fail or refuse, upon the employee's request, to take reasonable 531
616	657		measures to protect the employee from the exposure or hazard 532
617	658		identified, or to fail or refuse to inform the employee that the measures 533
618	659		taken may be the subject of a complaint filed under the provisions of 534
619	660		this chapter. Nothing in this subdivision is intended to prohibit an 535
620	661		employer from taking reasonable measures to protect an employee from 536
621	662		exposure to such substances. For the purpose of this subdivision, 537
622	663		"reasonable measures" are those measures which are consistent with 538
623	664		business necessity and are least disruptive of the terms and conditions 539
624	665		of the employee's employment; 540
625	666		(11) For an employer, by the employer or the employer's agent, for an 541
626	667		employment agency, by itself or its agent, or for any labor organization, 542
627	668		by itself or its agent: (A) To request or require genetic information from 543
628	669		an employee, person seeking employment or member, or (B) to 544
629	670		discharge, expel or otherwise discriminate against any person on the 545
	671	+	Raised Bill No. 7236
	672	+
	673	+
	674	+
	675	+	LCO No. 6336 19 of 27
	676	+
630	677		basis of genetic information. For the purpose of this subdivision, 546
631	678		"genetic information" means the information about genes, gene 547
632	679		products or inherited characteristics that may derive from an individual 548
633	680		or a family member; 549
634	681		(12) For an employer, by the employer or the employer's agent, to 550
635	682		request or require a prospective employee's age, date of birth, dates of 551
636	683		attendance at or date of graduation from an educational institution on 552
637	684		an initial employment application, provided the provisions of this 553
638	685		subdivision shall not apply to any employer requesting or requiring 554
639	686		such information (A) based on a bona fide occupational qualification or 555
640	687		need, or (B) when such information is required to comply with any 556
641	688		provision of state or federal law; and 557
642	689		(13) (A) For an employer or the employer's agent to deny an employee 558
643	690		a reasonable leave of absence in order to: (i) Seek attention for injuries 559
644	691		caused by domestic violence, sexual assault or trafficking in persons, 560
645	692		including for a child who is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault 561
646	693		or trafficking in persons, provided the employee is not the perpetrator 562
647		-	of [the] any act of domestic violence, sexual assault or trafficking in 563 Substitute Bill No. 7236
648		-
649		-
650		-	LCO 19 of 26
651		-
	694	+	of [the] any act of domestic violence, sexual assault or trafficking in 563
652	695		persons committed against [the] a child; (ii) obtain services including 564
653	696		safety planning from a domestic violence agency or rape crisis center, as 565
654	697		those terms are defined in section 52-146k, as a result of domestic 566
655	698		violence, sexual assault or trafficking in persons; (iii) obtain 567
656	699		psychological counseling related to an incident or incidents of domestic 568
657	700		violence, sexual assault or trafficking in persons, including for a child 569
658	701		who is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or trafficking in 570
659	702		persons, provided the employee is not the perpetrator of [the] any act of 571
660	703		domestic violence, sexual assault or trafficking in persons committed 572
661	704		against [the] a child; (iv) take other actions to increase safety from future 573
662	705		incidents of domestic violence, sexual assault or trafficking in persons, 574
663	706		including temporary or permanent relocation; or (v) obtain legal 575
664	707		services, assisting in the prosecution of the offense, or otherwise 576
665	708		participate in legal proceedings in relation to the incident or incidents of 577
666	709		domestic violence, sexual assault or trafficking in persons. 578
	710	+	Raised Bill No. 7236
	711	+
	712	+
	713	+
	714	+	LCO No. 6336 20 of 27
	715	+
667	716		(B) An employee who is absent from work in accordance with the 579
668	717		provisions of subparagraph (A) of this subdivision shall, within a 580
669	718		reasonable time after the absence, provide a certification to the employer 581
670	719		when requested by the employer. Such certification shall be in the form 582
671	720		of: (i) A police report indicating that the employee or the employee's 583
672	721		child was a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or trafficking in 584
673	722		persons; (ii) a court order protecting or separating the employee or 585
674	723		employee's child from the perpetrator of an act of domestic violence, 586
675	724		sexual assault or trafficking in persons; (iii) other evidence from the 587
676	725		court or prosecuting attorney that the employee appeared in court; or 588
677	726		(iv) documentation from a medical professional, including a domestic 589
678	727		violence counselor or sexual assault counselor, as those terms are 590
679	728		defined in section 52-146k, or other health care provider, that the 591
680	729		employee or the employee's child was receiving services, counseling or 592
681	730		treatment for physical or mental injuries or abuse resulting in 593
682	731		victimization from an act of domestic violence, sexual assault or 594
683	732		trafficking in persons. 595
684	733		(C) Where an employee has a physical or mental disability resulting 596
685		-	from an incident or series of incidents of domestic violence, sexual 597 Substitute Bill No. 7236
686		-
687		-
688		-	LCO 20 of 26
689		-
	734	+	from an incident or series of incidents of domestic violence, sexual 597
690	735		assault or trafficking in persons, such employee shall be treated in the 598
691	736		same manner as an employee with any other disability. 599
692	737		(D) To the extent permitted by law, employers shall maintain the 600
693	738		confidentiality of any information regarding an employee's status as a 601
694	739		victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or trafficking in persons. 602
695	740		Sec. 7. Subsection (a) of section 46a-64 of the general statutes is 603
696	741		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 604
697	742		1, 2025): 605
698	743		(a) It shall be a discriminatory practice in violation of this section: (1) 606
699	744		To deny any person within the jurisdiction of this state full and equal 607
700	745		accommodations in any place of public accommodation, resort or 608
701	746		amusement because of race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, 609
	747	+	Raised Bill No. 7236
	748	+
	749	+
	750	+
	751	+	LCO No. 6336 21 of 27
	752	+
702	753		gender identity or expression, marital status, age, lawful source of 610
703	754		income, intellectual disability, mental disability, physical disability, 611
704	755		including, but not limited to, blindness or deafness, status as a veteran, 612
705	756		[or] status as a victim of domestic violence, status as a victim of sexual 613
706	757		assault or status as a victim of trafficking in persons, of the applicant, 614
707	758		subject only to the conditions and limitations established by law and 615
708	759		applicable alike to all persons; (2) to discriminate, segregate or separate 616
709	760		on account of race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender 617
710	761		identity or expression, marital status, age, lawful source of income, 618
711	762		intellectual disability, mental disability, learning disability, physical 619
712	763		disability, including, but not limited to, blindness or deafness, status as 620
713	764		a veteran, [or] status as a victim of domestic violence, status as a victim 621
714	765		of sexual assault or status as a victim of trafficking in persons; (3) for a 622
715	766		place of public accommodation, resort or amusement to restrict or limit 623
716	767		the right of a mother to breast-feed her child; (4) for a place of public 624
717	768		accommodation, resort or amusement to refuse entry to a person with a 625
718	769		disability who is accompanied by a service animal; or (5) to deny any 626
719	770		person with a disability or any person training an animal as a service 627
720	771		animal to assist a person with a disability, accompanied by such service 628
721	772		animal, full and equal access to any place of public accommodation, 629
722		-	resort or amusement. Any person with a disability or any person 630 Substitute Bill No. 7236
723		-
724		-
725		-	LCO 21 of 26
726		-
	773	+	resort or amusement. Any person with a disability or any person 630
727	774		training an animal as a service animal may keep such service animal at 631
728	775		all times in such place of public accommodation, resort or amusement 632
729	776		at no extra charge, provided such service animal is in the direct custody 633
730	777		and control of such person. When it is not obvious what service an 634
731	778		animal provides, staff of a place of public accommodation, resort or 635
732	779		amusement may inquire of the owner or keeper whether such animal is 636
733	780		a service animal required because of a disability and what work or task 637
734	781		the animal has been trained to perform. Nothing in this subsection shall 638
735	782		preclude a business owner's ability to recover for damage caused to a 639
736	783		person or property by a service animal. For the purposes of this 640
737	784		subsection, "disability" and "service animal" have the same meanings as 641
738	785		provided in section 22-345 and "place of public accommodation, resort 642
739	786		or amusement" has the same meaning as provided in section 46a-44. 643
	787	+	Raised Bill No. 7236
	788	+
	789	+
	790	+
	791	+	LCO No. 6336 22 of 27
	792	+
740	793		Sec. 8. Subsection (a) of section 46a-66 of the general statutes is 644
741	794		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 645
742	795		1, 2025): 646
743	796		(a) It shall be a discriminatory practice in violation of this section for 647
744	797		any creditor to discriminate on the basis of sex, gender identity or 648
745	798		expression, age, race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, 649
746	799		marital status, intellectual disability, learning disability, blindness, 650
747	800		physical disability, status as a veteran, [or] status as a victim of domestic 651
748	801		violence, status as a victim of sexual assault or status as a victim of 652
749	802		trafficking in persons against any person eighteen years of age or over 653
750	803		in any credit transaction. 654
751	804		Sec. 9. Subsection (a) of section 46a-70 of the general statutes is 655
752	805		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 656
753	806		1, 2025): 657
754	807		(a) State officials and supervisory personnel shall recruit, appoint, 658
755	808		assign, train, evaluate and promote state personnel on the basis of merit 659
756	809		and qualifications, without regard for race, color, religious creed, sex, 660
757	810		gender identity or expression, marital status, age, national origin, 661
758		-	ancestry, status as a veteran, status as a victim of domestic violence, 662 Substitute Bill No. 7236
759		-
760		-
761		-	LCO 22 of 26
762		-
	811	+	ancestry, status as a veteran, status as a victim of domestic violence, 662
763	812		status as a victim of sexual assault, status as a victim of trafficking in 663
764	813		persons, intellectual disability, mental disability, learning disability or 664
765	814		physical disability, including, but not limited to, blindness, unless it is 665
766	815		shown by such state officials or supervisory personnel that such 666
767	816		disability prevents performance of the work involved. 667
768	817		Sec. 10. Subsection (a) of section 46a-71 of the general statutes is 668
769	818		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 669
770	819		1, 2025): 670
771	820		(a) All services of every state agency shall be performed without 671
772	821		discrimination based upon race, color, religious creed, sex, gender 672
773	822		identity or expression, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, 673
774	823		intellectual disability, mental disability, learning disability, physical 674
	824	+	Raised Bill No. 7236
	825	+
	826	+
	827	+
	828	+	LCO No. 6336 23 of 27
	829	+
775	830		disability, including, but not limited to, blindness, status as a veteran, 675
776	831		[or] status as a victim of domestic violence, status as a victim of sexual 676
777	832		assault or status as a victim of trafficking in persons. 677
778	833		Sec. 11. Subsection (b) of section 46a-72 of the general statutes is 678
779	834		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 679
780	835		1, 2025): 680
781	836		(b) Any job request indicating an intention to exclude any person 681
782	837		because of race, color, religious creed, sex, gender identity or expression, 682
783	838		marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, status as a veteran, status 683
784	839		as a victim of domestic violence, status as a victim of sexual assault or 684
785	840		status as a victim of trafficking in persons, intellectual disability, mental 685
786	841		disability, learning disability or physical disability, including, but not 686
787	842		limited to, blindness, shall be rejected, unless it is shown by such public 687
788	843		or private employers that such disability prevents performance of the 688
789	844		work involved. 689
790	845		Sec. 12. Subsection (a) of section 46a-73 of the general statutes is 690
791	846		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 691
792	847		1, 2025): 692
793		-	(a) No state department, board or agency may grant, deny or revoke 693 Substitute Bill No. 7236
794		-
795		-
796		-	LCO 23 of 26
797		-
	848	+	(a) No state department, board or agency may grant, deny or revoke 693
798	849		the license or charter of any person on the grounds of race, color, 694
799	850		religious creed, sex, gender identity or expression, marital status, age, 695
800	851		national origin, ancestry, status as a veteran, status as a victim of 696
801	852		domestic violence, status as a victim of sexual assault, status as a victim 697
802	853		of trafficking in persons, intellectual disability, mental disability, 698
803	854		learning disability or physical disability, including, but not limited to, 699
804	855		blindness, unless it is shown by such state department, board or agency 700
805	856		that such disability prevents performance of the work involved. 701
806	857		Sec. 13. Subsection (a) of section 46a-75 of the general statutes is 702
807	858		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 703
808	859		1, 2025): 704
	860	+	Raised Bill No. 7236
	861	+
	862	+
	863	+
	864	+	LCO No. 6336 24 of 27
	865	+
809	866		(a) All educational, counseling, and vocational guidance programs 705
810	867		and all apprenticeship and on-the-job training programs of state 706
811	868		agencies, or in which state agencies participate, shall be open to all 707
812	869		qualified persons, without regard to race, color, religious creed, sex, 708
813	870		gender identity or expression, marital status, age, national origin, 709
814	871		ancestry, intellectual disability, mental disability, learning disability, 710
815	872		physical disability, including, but not limited to, blindness, status as a 711
816	873		veteran, [or] status as a victim of domestic violence, status as a victim of 712
817	874		sexual assault or status as a victim of trafficking in persons. 713
818	875		Sec. 14. Subsection (a) of section 46a-76 of the general statutes is 714
819	876		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 715
820	877		1, 2025): 716
821	878		(a) Race, color, religious creed, sex, gender identity or expression, 717
822	879		marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, intellectual disability, 718
823	880		mental disability, learning disability, physical disability, including, but 719
824	881		not limited to, blindness, status as a veteran, [or] status as a victim of 720
825	882		domestic violence, status as a victim of sexual assault or status as a 721
826	883		victim of trafficking in persons, shall not be considered as limiting 722
827	884		factors in state-administered programs involving the distribution of 723
828	885		funds to qualify applicants for benefits authorized by law. 724
829		-	Sec. 15. Subsection (a) of section 4a-60 of the general statutes is 725 Substitute Bill No. 7236
830		-
831		-
832		-	LCO 24 of 26
833		-
	886	+	Sec. 15. Subsection (a) of section 4a-60 of the general statutes is 725
834	887		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 726
835	888		1, 2025): 727
836	889		(a) Except as provided in section 10a-151i, every contract to which an 728
837	890		awarding agency is a party, every quasi-public agency project contract 729
838	891		and every municipal public works contract shall contain the following 730
839	892		provisions: 731
840	893		(1) The contractor agrees and warrants that in the performance of the 732
841	894		contract such contractor will not discriminate or permit discrimination 733
842	895		against any person or group of persons on the grounds of race, color, 734
843	896		religious creed, age, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender 735
	897	+	Raised Bill No. 7236
	898	+
	899	+
	900	+
	901	+	LCO No. 6336 25 of 27
	902	+
844	903		identity or expression, status as a veteran, status as a victim of domestic 736
845	904		violence, status as a victim of sexual assault or status as a victim of 737
846	905		trafficking in persons, intellectual disability, mental disability or 738
847	906		physical disability, including, but not limited to, blindness, unless it is 739
848	907		shown by such contractor that such disability prevents performance of 740
849	908		the work involved, in any manner prohibited by the laws of the United 741
850	909		States or of the state of Connecticut; and the contractor further agrees to 742
851	910		take affirmative action to ensure that applicants with job-related 743
852	911		qualifications are employed and that employees are treated when 744
853	912		employed without regard to their race, color, religious creed, age, 745
854	913		marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity or 746
855	914		expression, status as a veteran, status as a victim of domestic violence, 747
856	915		status as a victim of sexual assault or status as a victim of trafficking in 748
857	916		persons, intellectual disability, mental disability or physical disability, 749
858	917		including, but not limited to, blindness, unless it is shown by such 750
859	918		contractor that such disability prevents performance of the work 751
860	919		involved; 752
861	920		(2) The contractor agrees, in all solicitations or advertisements for 753
862	921		employees placed by or on behalf of the contractor, to state that it is an 754
863	922		"affirmative action-equal opportunity employer" in accordance with 755
864	923		regulations adopted by the Commission on Human Rights and 756
865		-	Opportunities; 757 Substitute Bill No. 7236
866		-
867		-
868		-	LCO 25 of 26
869		-
	924	+	Opportunities; 757
870	925		(3) The contractor agrees to provide each labor union or 758
871	926		representative of workers with which such contractor has a collective 759
872	927		bargaining agreement or other contract or understanding and each 760
873	928		vendor with which such contractor has a contract or understanding, a 761
874	929		notice to be provided by the Commission on Human Rights and 762
875	930		Opportunities advising the labor union or workers' representative of the 763
876	931		contractor's commitments under this section, and to post copies of the 764
877	932		notice in conspicuous places available to employees and applicants for 765
878	933		employment; 766
879	934		(4) The contractor agrees to comply with each provision of this 767
	935	+	Raised Bill No. 7236
	936	+
	937	+
	938	+
	939	+	LCO No. 6336 26 of 27
	940	+
880	941		section and sections 46a-68e and 46a-68f and with each regulation or 768
881	942		relevant order issued by said commission pursuant to sections 46a-56, 769
882	943		46a-68e, 46a-68f and 46a-86; and 770
883	944		(5) The contractor agrees to provide the Commission on Human 771
884	945		Rights and Opportunities with such information requested by the 772
885	946		commission, and permit access to pertinent books, records and 773
886	947		accounts, concerning the employment practices and procedures of the 774
887	948		contractor as relate to the provisions of this section and section 46a-56. 775
888		-	Sec. 16. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2025) In the prosecution of or 776
889		-	delinquency proceeding for any misdemeanor offense, it shall be an 777
890		-	affirmative defense that the defendant was under eighteen years of age 778
891		-	at the time the defendant committed the offense and the defendant's 779
892		-	participation in the offense was a result of having been a victim of 780
893		-	trafficking in persons in violation of subsection (a) of section 53a-192a of 781
894		-	the general statutes. 782
895		-	Sec. 17. Subsection (b) of section 17a-106h of the general statutes is 783
896		-	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 784
897		-	passage): 785
898		-	(b) The training program shall include a [video] presentation, 786
899		-	developed and approved by said commissioners, that offers awareness 787
900		-	of human trafficking issues and guidance to (1) law enforcement 788
901		-	personnel, (2) judges of the Superior Court, (3) prosecutors, (4) public 789 Substitute Bill No. 7236
902		-
903		-
904		-	LCO 26 of 26
905		-
906		-	defenders and other attorneys who represent criminal defendants, (5) 790
907		-	hospital emergency room staff, urgent care facility staff and emergency 791
908		-	medical services personnel who have contact with patients, and (6) 792
909		-	persons employed by a local or regional board of education or a 793
910		-	constituent unit, as defined in section 10a-1, who have contact with 794
911		-	students. 795
	949	+	Sec. 16. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2025) In the prosecution of any 776
	950	+	misdemeanor offense, it shall be an affirmative defense that the 777
	951	+	defendant was under eighteen years of age at the time the defendant 778
	952	+	committed the offense and the defendant's participation in the offense 779
	953	+	was a result of having been a victim of trafficking in persons in violation 780
	954	+	of subsection (a) of section 53a-192a of the general statutes. 781
	955	+	Sec. 17. Subsection (b) of section 17a-106h of the general statutes is 782
	956	+	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 783
	957	+	passage): 784
	958	+	(b) The training program shall include a [video] presentation, 785
	959	+	developed and approved by said commissioners, that offers awareness 786
	960	+	of human trafficking issues and guidance to (1) law enforcement 787
	961	+	personnel, (2) judges of the Superior Court, (3) prosecutors, (4) public 788
	962	+	defenders and other attorneys who represent criminal defendants, (5) 789
	963	+	hospital emergency room staff, urgent care facility staff and emergency 790
	964	+	medical services personnel who have contact with patients, and (6) 791
	965	+	persons employed by a local or regional board of education or a 792
	966	+	constituent unit, as defined in section 10a-1, who have contact with 793
	967	+	students. 794
912	968		This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
913	969		sections:
914	970
915	971		Section 1 from passage 46a-170(b)
	972	+	Raised Bill No. 7236
	973	+
	974	+
	975	+
	976	+	LCO No. 6336 27 of 27
	977	+
916	978		Sec. 2 October 1, 2025 46a-51
917	979		Sec. 3 October 1, 2025 46a-64c
918	980		Sec. 4 October 1, 2025 46a-58
919	981		Sec. 5 October 1, 2025 46a-59
920	982		Sec. 6 October 1, 2025 46a-60(b)
921	983		Sec. 7 October 1, 2025 46a-64(a)
922	984		Sec. 8 October 1, 2025 46a-66(a)
923	985		Sec. 9 October 1, 2025 46a-70(a)
924	986		Sec. 10 October 1, 2025 46a-71(a)
925	987		Sec. 11 October 1, 2025 46a-72(b)
926	988		Sec. 12 October 1, 2025 46a-73(a)
927	989		Sec. 13 October 1, 2025 46a-75(a)
928	990		Sec. 14 October 1, 2025 46a-76(a)
929	991		Sec. 15 October 1, 2025 4a-60(a)
930	992		Sec. 16 October 1, 2025 New section
931	993		Sec. 17 from passage 17a-106h(b)
932	994
933		-	JUD Joint Favorable Subst.
	995	+	Statement of Purpose:
	996	+	To amend the membership of the trafficking in persons council, add
	997	+	victims of sexual assault and victims of trafficking in persons as
	998	+	protected classes for purposes of certain anti-discrimination statutes,
	999	+	create an affirmative defense for misdemeanor offenses for young
	1000	+	victims of trafficking in persons and eliminate the requirement that
	1001	+	training in identification and reporting of trafficking in persons be
	1002	+	presented in a video format.
	1003	+
	1004	+	[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
	1005	+	that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
	1006	+	underlined.]
934	1007