The proposed bill, General Assembly Proposed Bill No. 5595, seeks to amend section 52-196a of the general statutes to provide legal protections for individuals who communicate about incidents of sexual misconduct, sexual abuse, sexual assault, or sexual harassment. Specifically, the bill introduces new legal language that designates such communications, made without malice, as privileged and therefore excluded from the category of statements that could be considered defamatory.

The intent of this legislation is to encourage open dialogue and reporting of sexual misconduct incidents by ensuring that individuals can share their experiences without the fear of facing defamation claims. By making these communications privileged, the bill aims to support victims and promote accountability for perpetrators of sexual misconduct.