Marilyn Moore

Moore Applauds Senate Passage of Time’s Up Act Overhauling Connecticut’s Sexual Harassment Laws

Fulfilling a promise the caucus made at the beginning of the General Assembly’s legislative session, Senator Marilyn Moore (D-Bridgeport) today declared “time’s up” on sexual harassment and sexual assault and led passage (31-5) of the Senate Democrats’ Time’s Up Act, a legislative package that includes a massive overhaul of Connecticut’s sexual harassment and sexual assault laws.

“Tonight Connecticut Democrats declared that ‘Time’s Up’ for companies that turn a blind eye to sexual harassment in the workplace. Time’s up for men in positions of power who think they can get away with sexual harassment against their female colleagues. Time’s up for people who blame and shame sexual assault victims who speak out against their attackers,” Senator Marilyn Moore (D-Bridgeport) said. “Victims will be heard, companies must protect them, and if they don’t there will be consequences. Every woman and man deserves to work in an environment free from harassment and fear of retaliation. I am proud to stand up for victims of sexual harassment and sexual assault and vote in favor of this bill.”

The Senate Democrats’ Time’s Up Act reforms Connecticut’s sexual harassment and sexual assault laws and processes to create stronger protections for victims and to increase penalties for offenders by:

• reforming the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO) complaint process by extending deadlines to file complaints
• strengthening and expanding Connecticut’s mandated reporter laws
• eliminating statutes of limitation for all Class B and C felonies, and extending the statute of limitations for class D felonies from 5 to 25 years and for class A misdemeanors from 1 to 5 years.
• increasing financial penalties for offenders
• setting a universal process for investigations of harassment complaints against school administrators, and
• requiring increased training and education of sexual harassment in Connecticut workplaces.

The Time’s Up Act will result in more than 70 percent of Connecticut employees having two hours of sexual harassment training, which can be fulfilled by accessing online video and materials provided by CHRO.

• At employers with 20 or more employees, all employees will need to satisfy the training requirement.
• At employers with less than 20 employees, only supervisors need to satisfy the training.
• Beginning on October 1, 2018 and thereafter, employer must ensure training of new hires within 6 months of employment start date.
• As of October 1, 2018, then current employees will have 1 year (October 1, 2019 deadline)
• Employers do not have to hire outside consultants for the training, there is no need for HR to do training in house, there is minimal expense to employers.