CT Campus Sexual Violence Bill Revived In Legislature

CONNECTICUT – Legislation meant to establish a statewide sexual misconduct climate survey and protect students who report being a survivor or witness of sexual assault has been raised in the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee in Hartford.

The Every Voice sexual violence bill was put forward by the committee's co-chairs Sen Will Haskell and Rep. Josh Elliott on Tuesday.

Originally filed during the Connecticut General Assembly's 2020 regular session as Senate Bill 19, Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee leadership hope to pass a refiled version of the bill this session, according to a news release.

"College campuses should be safe and welcoming environments for all,” said Haskell. “Sadly, that’s not the case today. This legislation takes two important steps in the right direction: the Every Voice Act will ensure amnesty for individuals who report sexual misconduct (either as a witness or a survivor) and establish a climate survey to evaluate our progress toward eliminating sexual misconduct on campus. I am ready to fight to make sure this bill makes it across the finish line this year."

"With this legislation, we intend to not only listen and learn from students about what they're experiencing on college campuses, but also protect those brave survivors or witnesses who report sexual assault," Rep. Elliott said. "We are aiming to create a safe and healthy learning environment for the state's students, and this bill is a great step in that direction."

"The Alliance working closely with legislators and our college and university partners previously passed legislation enhancing the rights of survivors on campuses and placing Connecticut at the forefront of anti-sexual misconduct legislation in higher education. The Every Voice bill is a natural extension and the next step of that work to measure the success of our prevention programming and response to survivors while continuing the state’s leadership on this issue," said Bridget Koestner, Campus Services Coordinator at the Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence.

The 2020 version of the Every Voice bill received astounding bipartisan support and was only shelved due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Upon being raised in the committee meeting Tuesday, the bill's status can be tracked on the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee's webpage.

Alison Hagani, State Director of Every Voice CT, said, "Connecticut is not exempt from systemic
oppression and violence; the data we do have on sexual violence, despite vastly underreported, show significant rates of campus sexual violence and barriers to support in our State. Ignoring this epidemic and refusing action does not will it away. As a student and a survivor, I am acutely aware that violence does not just hinder one's right to safety – it also limits the potential and opportunities of students in our State. No one bill can eradicate this violence on its own, but our student-led Every Voice bill is a crucial and urgent next step."