Connecticut 2021 Regular Session Status: Enacted 2 D cosponsors

SB 1023 — AN ACT CONCERNING THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND OPPORTUNITIES.

Last action — SIGNED BY GOVERNOR

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced March 10, 2021. Enacted.

Prognosis

Advancing 58% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 4 sponsors

    4 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (2 D).

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

189 added · 305 removed

189 line(s) added, 305 removed.

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Previous
Latest
Senate General Assembly File No.
Substitute Senate Bill No.
614 January Session, 2021 Substitute Senate Bill No.
1023 Public Act No.
1023 Senate, April 26, 2021 The Committee on Judiciary reportedthrough SEN.
21-109 AN ACT CONCERNING THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND OPPORTUNITIES.
WINFIELD of the 10th Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the Senate, that the substitute bill ought to pass.
AN ACT CONCERNING THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND OPPORTUNITIES.
(4) (A) Each person designated by a state agency, department, board or commission as an equal employment opportunity officer shall (i) be responsible for mitigating any discriminatory conduct within the agency,department,boardorcommission,(ii)investigateall complaints of discrimination made against the state agency, department, board or commission, [except if any such complaint has been filed with the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the state agency, department, board or commission may rely upon the process of the applicable commission, as applicable, in lieu of such investigation,] and (iii) report all findings and recommendations upon the conclusion of an investigation to the commissioner or director of the state agency, department, board or commission for proper action.
(4) (A) Each person designated by a state agency, department, board or commission as an equal employment opportunity officer shall (i) be responsible for mitigating any discriminatory conduct within the agency,department,boardorcommission,(ii)investigateallcomplaints of discrimination made against the state agency, department, board or commission, except if any such complaint has been filed with the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the state agency, department, board or commission may rely upon the process of the applicable commission, as applicable, in lieu of such investigation, and (iii) report all findings and recommendations upon the conclusion of an investigation to the commissioner or director of the state agency, department, board or commission for proper action.
An equal sSB1023 / File No.
An equal employment opportunity officer shallnot disclose witnessstatementsor documents received or compiled in conjunction with the investigation Substitute Senate Bill No.
614 1 sSB1023 File No.
1023 of a complaint of discriminatory conduct within the agency, department, board or commission until the conclusion of such investigation, except that witness statements or documents may be disclosed to personnel charged with investigating or adjudicating such complaint, or to the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities.
614 employment opportunity officer shallnot disclose witnessstatementsor documents received or compiled in conjunction with the investigation of a complaint of discriminatory conduct within the agency, department, board or commission until the conclusion of such investigation, except that witness statements or documents may be disclosed to personnel charged with investigating or adjudicating such complaint, or to the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities.
If a state agency, department, board or commission relies upon the process of an applicable commission investigation pursuant to clause (ii) of this subparagraph, such agency, department, board or commission shall not be relieved of its duty to mitigate discriminatory conduct under clause (i) of this subparagraph or of its responsibility to take immediate corrective action to prevent a like occurrence.
Such hearing shall be a de novo hearing on the merits of the complaint and not an appeal of the commission's processing of the complaint prior to its certification.
Such hearing Public Act No.
21-109 2 of 7 Substitute Senate Bill No.
1023 shall be a de novo hearing on the merits of the complaint and not an appeal of the commission's processing of the complaint prior to its certification.
sSB1023 / File No.
Sec.
614 2 sSB1023 File No.
614 Sec.
Failure to develop an [approved] affirmative action plan [pursuant to this section] that is either approved or deficient without consequence shall act as a bar to bidding on or the award of future contracts until such requirement has been met.
Failure to develop an [approved] affirmative action plan [pursuant to this section] that is either approved or deficient without consequence shall act as a bar to bidding on or the award of future contracts until such requirement has Public Act No.
21-109 3 of 7 Substitute Senate Bill No.
1023 been met.
The executive director or the executive director's designee may revoke the certificate of a contractor if the contractor does not implement its affirmative action plan in compliance with this section sSB1023 / File No.
The executive director or the executive director's designee may revoke the certificate of a contractor if the contractor does not implement its affirmative action plan in compliance with this section and sections 4a-60, 4a-60g, 4a-62, 46a-56, 46a-68b, 46a-68d, and 46a-68e to 46a-68k, inclusive.
614 3 sSB1023 File No.
614 and sections 4a-60, 4a-60g, 4a-62, 46a-56, 46a-68b, 46a-68d, and 46a-68e to 46a-68k, inclusive.
(15) To require an employer having three or more employees to (A) post in a prominent and accessible location information concerning the illegality of sexual harassment and remedies available to victims of sexual harassment, (B) provide, not later than three months after the employee's start date with the employer, a copy of the information concerning the illegality of sexual harassment and remedies available to victims of sexual harassment to each employee by electronic mail with a subject line that includes the words "Sexual Harassment Policy" or words of similar import, if (i) the employer has provided an electronic mail account to the employee, or (ii) the employee has provided the employer with an electronic mail address, provided if an employer has not provided an electronic mail account to the employee, the employer shall post the information concerning the illegality of sexual harassment and remedies available to victims of sexual harassment on the employer's Internet web site, if the employer maintains such an Internet web site.
(15) To require an employer having three or more employees to (A) post in a prominent and accessible location information concerning the illegality of sexual harassment and remedies available to victims of sexual harassment, (B) provide, not later than three months after the employee's start date with the employer, a copy of the information concerning the illegality of sexual harassment and remedies available to victims of sexual harassment to each employee by electronic mail with a subject line that includes the words "Sexual Harassment Policy" or words of similar import, if (i) the employer has provided an electronic mail account to the employee, or (ii) the employee has provided the employer with an electronic mail address, provided if an employer has not provided an electronic mail account to the employee, the employer shall post the information concerning the illegality of sexual harassment and remedies available to victims of sexual harassment on the employer's Internet web site, if the employer maintains such an Internet Public Act No.
21-109 4 of 7 Substitute Senate Bill No.
1023 web site.
An employer having (i) three or more employees, shall provide such training and education to an employee hired on or after October 1, 2019, not later than six months after the date of his or her hire, provided the commission has developed and made available such training and education materials in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (8) sSB1023 / File No.
An employer having (i) three or more employees, shall provide such training and education to an employee hired on or after October 1, 2019, not later than six months after the date of his or her hire, provided the commission has developed and made available such training and education materials in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (8) of subsection (a) of section 46a-56;
614 4 sSB1023 File No.
614 of subsection (a) of section 46a-56;
If an employee has received in-person training provided by the commission or has taken the no cost online training provided by the commission on its Internet web site in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (8) of subsection (a) of section 46a-56, while employed by a different employer within the two years preceding the date of hire, an employer may consider such prior training to satisfy the training requirementsofthissection.
If an employee has received in-person training provided by the commission or has taken the no cost online training provided by the commission on its Internet web site in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (8) of subsection (a) of Public Act No.
21-109 5 of 7 Substitute Senate Bill No.
1023 section 46a-56, while employed by a different employer within the two years preceding the date of hire, an employer may consider such prior training to satisfy thetraining requirements ofthissection.
sSB1023 / File No.
(f) (1) Any complaint filed pursuant to this section for an alleged act of discrimination that occurred prior to October 1, 2021, shall be filed within one hundred and eighty days after the date of the alleged act of discrimination, except that any complaint by a person [(1)] (A) claiming to be aggrieved by a violation of subsection (a) of section 46a-80 that occurred on or before October 1, 2019, shall be filed within thirty days of the date of the alleged act of discrimination, and [(2)] (B) claiming to be aggrieved by a violation of section 46a-60, sections 46a-70 to 46a-78, inclusive, or section 46a-80 or 46a-81c, that occurred on or after October 1, 2019, and prior to October 1, 2021, shall be filed not later than three hundred days after the date of the alleged act of discrimination.
614 5 sSB1023 File No.
614 (f) (1) Any complaint filed pursuant to this section for an alleged act of discrimination that occurred prior to October 1, 2021, shall be filed within one hundred and eighty days after the date of the alleged act of discrimination, except that any complaint by a person [(1)] (A) claiming to be aggrieved by a violation of subsection (a) of section 46a-80 that occurred on or before October 1, 2019, shall be filed within thirty days of the date of the alleged act of discrimination, and [(2)] (B) claiming to be aggrieved by a violation of section 46a-60, sections 46a-70 to 46a-78, inclusive, or section 46a-80 or 46a-81c, that occurred on or after October 1, 2019, and prior to October 1, 2021, shall be filed not later than three hundred days after the date of the alleged act of discrimination.
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Public Act No.
October 1, 2021 Section 1 46a-68(b)(4)(A) Sec.
21-109 6 of 7 Substitute Senate Bill No.
2 October 1, 2021 46a-84(b) Sec.
1023 Approved June 30, 2021 Public Act No.
3 October 1, 2021 46a-68c Sec.
21-109 7 of 7
4 October 1, 2021 46a-54(15) Sec.
5 October 1, 2021 46a-82(f) Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
In Section5(f)(2), ", providedsuchallegedact of discriminationoccurred on or after October 1, 2021" was deleted from the end of the sentence to avoid repetition.
Show all 91 changed rows (51 more)
Previous
Latest
JUD Joint Favorable Subst.
sSB1023 / File No.
614 6 sSB1023 File No.
614 The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose.
In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional knowledge.
Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.
OFA Fiscal Note State Impact:
None Municipal Impact:
None Explanation The bill requires state equal employment opportunity (EEO) officers to investigate discrimination complaints filed against a state agency, by eliminating an exception in current law that allows them to instead rely on the Commission for Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO).
In FY 20, there were 2,319 total complaints filed;
of this amount 223, or approximately 10% of those were filed against state agencies.
This shift, from requiring EEO officers to investigate complaints instead of only CHRO, is not expected to result in costs to the state or municipalities.
Additionally, the bill exempts employers from requiring workplace sexual harassment prevention training from an employee who, within two years before their hire, received this training under another employer.
This also has no fiscal impact as this training, provided by CHRO, has no cost to state agencies or municipalities.
Finally, the bill allows claimants to file a complaint within 300 days after any alleged discriminatory act, instead of 180 days as is current practice for certain types of discriminatory practice complaints.
Extending the deadline to 300 days for the types of complaints that are still at 180 (i.e.
housing, certain public accommodations, and credit) is expected to result in a minimal number of additional claims being filed.
As such, this change has no fiscal impact.
The Out Years sSB1023 / File No.
614 7 sSB1023 File No.
614 State Impact:
None Municipal Impact:
None sSB1023 / File No.
614 8 sSB1023 File No.
614 OLR Bill Analysis sSB 1023 AN ACT CONCERNING THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND OPPORTUNITIES.
SUMMARY This bill makes various changes affecting the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO) and related laws.
It requires state entities’ equal employment opportunity officers to investigate discrimination complaints filed against the entity, even if a complaint has also been filed with CHRO or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
It does so by eliminating an exception in current law that allows them to instead rely on CHRO’s or theEEOC’sprocess.
Asunder current law, thisprovisionappliestostate agencies, departments, boards, or commissions.
For CHRO complaints that reach the public hearing stage, the bill specifies that the chief referee may serve the complaint and required notice by first class mail, email, fax, or file transfer protocol.
By law, CHRO’s executive director must approve, conditionally approve, or disapprove certain contractors’ affirmative action plans within 120 days of their submission.
The bill specifies that these contractors are not barred from bidding on future contracts if the executive director failed to meet the deadline and the plan was deemed deficient without consequence.
Current law already provides that these contractors are not barred if their plans are deemed approved (see BACKGROUND).
Forpurposesofexistingrequirementsforemployeetraininginsexual harassment laws, the bill allows employers to not provide the training to an employee who, within two years before being hired, received the training while working for another employer.
This applies if that sSB1023 / File No.
614 9 sSB1023 File No.
614 training was provided by CHRO (1) in-person or (2) through its online training program required by law (see BACKGROUND).
Finally, for all types of discriminatory practice complaints, the bill allows claimants to file a complaint within 300 days after the alleged act.
This applies to discriminatory acts that allegedly occurred on or after October 1, 2021.
Under current law, claimants have 300 days to file complaints for certain types of discrimination (e.g., employment and several types of state agency discrimination) and 180 days for other types (e.g., housing, public accommodations, and credit).
EFFECTIVE DATE:
October 1, 2021 BACKGROUND Affirmative Action Plans and Contract Bidding By law, the successful bidder for certain large state, municipal, or quasi-publicagency contractsmust filewithandobtainCHROapproval for an affirmative action plan before the contract is awarded.
A contractor who is not subject to this requirement still must file an affirmative action plan with CHRO if the contractor (1) has 50 or more employees and (2) is awarded such a contract for more than $50,000 (hereinafter, “other contractors”).
The CHRO executive director or her designee must review and approve, conditionally approve, or disapprove affirmative action plans submitted by other contractors within 120 days after their submission.
If she or her designee fails to do so, the plans are deemed approved or deficient without consequence.
Employee Training on Sexual Harassment Laws By law, employers generally must provide their employees, within specified deadlines, with two hours of training on sexual harassment laws and remedies available to victims.
(For employers with less than three employees, the requirement only apples to supervisory employees.) CHRO must develop and make available to employers a free, online training video or other interactive method that meets these training requirements.
sSB1023 / File No.
614 10 sSB1023 File No.
614 COMMITTEE ACTION Judiciary Committee Joint Favorable Substitute Yea 34 Nay 1 (04/09/2021) sSB1023 / File No.
614 11
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Action History

  1. SIGNED BY GOVERNOR

  2. TRANSMITTED BY SECRETARY OF THE STATE TO GOVERNOR

  3. TRANSMITTED TO SECRETARY OF THE STATE

  4. PUBLIC ACT 21-109

  5. IN CONCURRENCE

  6. HOUSE PASSED, SEN. AMEND. SCH. A

  7. HOUSE REJECTED HOUSE AMEND. SCH. A

  8. HOUSE ADOPTED SEN. AMEND. SCH. A

  9. HOUSE CALENDAR NUMBER 541

  10. FAV. RPT., TABLED FOR HOUSE CALENDAR

  11. ON CONSENT CALENDAR

  12. SEN. PASSED, SEN. AMEND. SCH. A

  13. SEN. ADOPTED SEN. AMEND. SCH. A

  14. FILE NO. 614

  15. SENATE CALENDAR NUMBER 345

  16. FAV. RPT., TAB. FOR CAL., SEN.

  17. RPTD. OUT OF LCO

  18. REFERRED TO Office of Legislative Research AND Office of Fiscal Analysis 04/26/21

  19. FILED WITH LCO

  20. Joint Favorable Substitute

  21. PUBLIC HEARING 0315

  22. REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Judiciary

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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4 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 183 not signed on

Sponsors (4)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (183)

183 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 183 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

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Subjects

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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 1023?
SB 1023 is sponsored by Stallworth, Charlie L., Hilda E. Santiago (Democratic), Steven J. Stafstrom (Democratic), and Gucker, Kenneth M.
What is the current status of SB 1023?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced March 10, 2021. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 1023?
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