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 aims to classify such communications as privileged, meaning they cannot be considered defamatory as long as they are made without malice. This change is intended to encourage individuals to report and discuss these serious issues without the fear of facing defamation claims.

In summary, the bill introduces new legal language that protects communications regarding sexual misconduct and related incidents from being categorized as defamation, provided they are made without malice. This amendment is designed to foster a safer environment for victims and witnesses to come forward with their experiences, thereby promoting accountability and awareness of sexual misconduct.