Every Voice Connecticut Unanimously Passes Bill to Address Campus Sexual Violence into Law

State Coalition celebrates passage of student-led anti-sexual violence bill

Hartford, CT: On June 28, 2021, Governor Ned Lamont signed House Bill 6374 into law after a completely unanimous juncture in the Connecticut General Assembly. Every Voice CT, a student coalition leading advocacy for the passage of this bill, applauds this milestone and Connecticut's newest addition to anti-violence legislation. 

House Bill 6374, now Public Act 21-81, has been in effect since July 1, 2021, and details a plan to aid colleges and universities in taking meaningful action against campus sexual violence. The bill includes two distinct facets to achieve this goal; the first, a biennial campus climate assessment; the second, a statewide amnesty policy. The campus climate assessment ensures colleges and universities are receiving and acting upon non-punitive and more holistic data. Questions on these assessments will be determined and approved by a council of representatives from the Higher Education Committee, lobbyists for private and state universities, members of community centers, and students themselves. Connecticut colleges and universities, including community colleges, are all required to distribute the survey and publish the results every two years. The second component of the bill, the amnesty policy, prohibits colleges and universities from disciplining students for drug and alcohol violations that occurred during an instance of violence. Support was earned from both sides of the aisle, including from 90 cosponsors, leading to its passage. 

Words of Support

Representative Josh Elliott, Chair of the Committee on Higher Education said, “I am proud that we got this life-saving bill across the finish line this session, and elated that as of July 1, 2021 the bill became law. We heard from brave students over the past few months that Connecticut’s educational institutions are not exempt from systemic oppression and sexual violence. With this new law in place, our State is standing in solidarity with student allies and survivors of sexual violence. We know there is more work to be done, but with this massive step in the right direction, I am proud of the future we are securing for the safety of our students.”

“The Alliance is happy to celebrate the passage of this critical legislation, and is appreciative of our collaborative efforts with legislators, campus partners, and student leaders from the Every Voice Coalition to ensure that it will be beneficial to student survivors and higher education communities statewide,” said Bridget Koestner, the Education and Youth Services Coordinator with the Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence. “We believe that campus climate surveys are a critical step in developing a better understanding of the success of previous legislation to prevent sexual violence and protect Connecticut’s students, as well as where we can continue to do more to support survivors. The new amnesty provision is especially crucial as it removes barriers for survivors who want to report to their campus and affirms that survivors are never to blame for someone else harming them.” 

“This Fall, Connecticut's laws will provide critical protections for students as they return to campus. I'm grateful that Governor Lamont signed this legislation to ensure amnesty for students who come forward to report sexual misconduct. I also look forward to continued conversations with student advocates as we analyze the anonymous surveys that this legislation launches and review both the scope of the problem and potential next steps,” said Senator Will Haskell, who was an original cosponsor. “I’m proud of all that the Every Voice Coalition CT has accomplished, and I'm grateful to be their partner.” 

“I am ecstatic that this legislation was finally passed,” said Kaitlyn Drake, Every Voice CT’s Campus Lead at Fairfield University and Member of the Steering Committee. “It is high time that students are treated with dignity and respect on campus, especially those from marginalized communities who are disproportionately affected by sexual violence. This is the step we need to help more students feel safer about reporting, and I am elated to see this crucial legislation signed into law with support from so many different members of the community. With honest statistics about sexual violence on campuses, we can truly combat the epidemic at its core. This work is quite literally vital to revolutionizing the world we live in.” 

“This legislation is not the end, but the beginning of essential reform in how we address sexual misconduct on Connecticut campuses. A vital component of protecting students and empowering them in their educational journeys is a safe-reporting protocol,” said Representative Jillian Gilchrest. ”It is time to remove the stigma and shame associated with surviving an assault.”

The Every Voice Coalition (www.everyvoicecoalition.org) is an entirely student and survivor-led organization working to pass student and survivor-written, survivor-centered legislation on the state level to prevent campus sexual violence and support survivors Today, Every Voice bills have been passed in five states: New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Illinois, Nevada, and Connecticut. The Coalition is currently working in 12 states.
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MEDIA CONTACTS:

With direct inquiries, please contact connecticut.everyvoice@gmail.com
Bella T Fong | bfong@everyvoicecoalition.org