HARTFORD, CT – Today, state Senator Christine Cohen (D-Guilford) applauded the bipartisan passage of Senate Bill 3, “An Act Combatting Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment,” which advanced by a unanimous vote. Also referred to as the “Time’s Up” bill, this legislation would increase certain sexual harassment penalties, extend the time limits people have to file lawsuits for sexual assault, allow more time for criminal prosecution of sexual assault, and provide more employer-sponsored sexual harassment training.
“I am pleased to see this important piece of legislation advanced out of the state Senate,” said Sen. Cohen. “The current manner in which our state handles sexual assault does not protect survivors. Twenty other states have longer limits for their statute of limitations than Connecticut, which has one of the shortest in the nation. We need to do all we can to ensure justice as a result of these crimes and additionally to ensure everyone is aware of what is and what is not acceptable behavior. There is no excuse for Connecticut to continue down this road and I am proud that today we took a stand and said enough is enough.”
Compared to other states and the District of Columbia, Connecticut’s statute of limitations for rape of an adult — five years — is one of the shortest in the country. Forty-five states and the District of Columbia have no statute of limitations for rape or a limit longer than Connecticut’s.
Senate Bill 3 would extend our existing statute of limitations for sexual assault crimes from five years to 20 years for Class B, C, and D felony sexual assault (e.g., forced rape, rape by drugs, forced sexual contact). For a non-felony (e.g. unwanted sexual contact, and other class A misdemeanors), the statute of limitations would extend from one year to 10 years. In each of these cases, if the victim is 18, 19, or 20, the statute of limitations is 30 years following the victim’s 21st birthday, effectively the victim’s 51st birthday.
Under current law, the most serious sexual assault crimes committed against minors are class A felonies and there is no statute of limitations for these crimes. But, for all other felonies and misdemeanor sexual assault committed against a minor, the current statute of limitations is 5 years from when the crime is reported, but no later than the victim’s 48th birthday. This bill would eliminate the statute of limitations for all sexual assault crimes committed against a minor.
In addition, Senate Bill 3 makes changes to the statute of limitations for civil cases of sexual assault. Currently the statute of limitations for a victim under 18 is the victim’s 48th birthday. Under the bill, the statute of limitations for a victim under 21 is the victim’s 51st birthday. This is a significant change for those victims aged 18, 19, and 20 who currently must bring claims within the default statute of limitations for torts, which is 3 years.
Currently, employers with only 50 or more employees are required to provide at least two hours of training on sexual harassment to supervisory employees within six months of their employment. Senate Bill 3 requires employers with three or more employees to provide training to all employees, not just supervisors. The bill requires the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities to make training materials available online. Employers may then use these resources to comply with the training requirement.
The bill now awaits a vote by the House of Representatives.