Today, State Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor) and State Representative Liz Linehan (D-Cheshire/Southington/Wallingford), Senate and House Chairs of the Children’s Committee, gathered on the steps of the State Capitol with allies to discuss upcoming legislation currently considered by the Committee intended to fight and end child sexual abuse. April is National Child Abuse Awareness Month, and the legislation was discussed just before the House entered session.
“As a parent and a legislator serving as co-chair of the Children’s Committee, I want people to know that even one child being a victim is too many,” said Sen. Anwar. “Rest assured that we will systematically legislate that no one will hurt our children or rob a child of their childhood. Today, the proposed bills will provide us with more ammunition to protect our children.”
“Ending child sexual abuse has always been a top priority of mine, and by extension, of the Children’s Committee,” said Rep. Linehan. “These bills individually, but especially in totality, will go further to prevent child sexual abuse than ever before, because they focus on three important points – they protect kids while in their ‘safe spaces’ like school, sports, and camps; they educate and empower kids and parents; and they collect data which will be used to shape prevention policy for years to come.”
Sen. Anwar and Rep. Linehan were joined at the Capitol today by Sarah Eagan, Connecticut’s Child Advocate; Marissa Michaels, a Connecticut survivor of teacher sexual misconduct; and representatives from organizations including Beth Hamilton, executive director of the Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence, Deb Kelleher, executive director of the Annie C. Courtney Foundation, John Cattelan, executive director of the Connecticut Alliance of YMCAs, Dr. Sabrina Trocchi, President and CEO of the Wheeler Clinic and Michael Williams, Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Children and Families.
Legislators discussed several key pieces of legislation currently being considered by the Legislature, including the following: