Substitute House Bill No. 5414 (sHB5414), identified by File No. 538, proposes amendments to enhance legal protections for victims of sexual assault, trafficking in persons, and stalking under the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO) statutes. The bill revises definitions and terms, including "commission legal counsel," "discriminatory employment practice," and "discriminatory practice," and adds clarifications to terms like "learning disability" and "sexual orientation." It introduces insertions such as the expansion of the definition of discrimination based on sex and religious creed, and the inclusion of ethnic traits historically associated with race and protective hairstyles under the term "race." The bill also mandates state agency training on these issues for all employees and requires employers with three or more employees to post information about these issues in a prominent location. It outlines penalties for desecrating public property or religious symbols, and prohibits professional associations from refusing membership based on victim status, with fines for violations. The bill makes it a discriminatory practice for employers to discriminate in employment based on victim status, with an effective date of October 1, 2024.

The bill further extends discrimination protections to include an individual's status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking in persons, or stalking, applying to employment, public accommodations, housing, credit, state services, and certain public contracts. It allows individuals or CHRO to file a complaint if they believe they have been discriminated against based on these statuses. The bill also makes technical and conforming changes, with no anticipated fiscal impact to the state or municipalities, as CHRO can handle additional complaints with current staff. It prohibits employment discrimination, requires reasonable leave for victims, and mandates confidentiality for employees' victim status. The bill extends protections to public accommodations, housing, and credit transactions, and covers other areas under CHRO jurisdiction. State agencies are required to provide training on domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking, and stalking. The bill also relates to sHB 5419 (File 455), which extends to the attorney general the authority to petition the court for relief in cases involving housing and public accommodation anti-discrimination laws. The Judiciary Committee reported favorably on the bill with a vote of 27 Yea to 8 Nay on March 28, 2024.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill:
JUD Joint Favorable Substitute:
File No. 538: