Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee
JOINT FAVORABLE REPORT
Bill No.: HB-6374
Title: AN ACT CONCERNING SEXUAL MISCONDUCT ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES.
Vote Date: 3/18/2021
Vote Action: Joint Favorable Substitute
PH Date: 3/2/2021
File No.:
Disclaimer: The following JOINT FAVORABLE Report is prepared for the benefit of the
members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and
explanation and does not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber
thereof for any purpose.
SPONSORS OF BILL:
The Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee
REASONS FOR BILL:
To improve sexual misconduct reporting, data collection, and response at higher education
institutions.
SUBSTITUTE LANGUAGE:
Lines 147-167: establishes a Council on Sexual Misconduct Climate Assessments,
rather than a Council on Sexual Misconduct Climate Surveys
Sec. 2:
o Specifies that one of the three council appointments made by the CT Alliance to
end sexual violence must be someone who is black, indigenous, or a person of
color; adds to the council three student members designated by the Every
Voice Coalition
o Requires the council to submit to the HED committee and all HED institutions a
list of data points developed by the council, rather than copies of each approved
sexual misconduct climate survey
Sec 3:
o Requires HED institutions to conduct a data assessment of enrolled students
using the council-developed data points, rather than selecting a council-
approved survey to administer to students; allows institutions to use any
assessment developed by a HED institution or a national association, as long
as they include all the data points
Makes various conforming and technical changes
RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:
Sarah Chipman, J.D., Interim Associate Vice President, Title IX Coordinator, UConn:
Submitted written testimony in support. UCONN recognizes the importance of incorporating
student voices in planning and programming surrounding this issue and offers many avenues
for reporting. They agree that surveys are a useful tool but note that "colleges and
universities should be permitted to administer surveys in the manner best suited for their
students and respective campuses and aligned with the work that most institutions already
are doing in this area." They explain that UConn already uses many surveys for other
subjects and planned to administer the AAU Campus Climate Survey on Sexual Assault and
Sexual Misconduct in the 2020-2021 Academic Year, but these plans were delayed due to
the pandemic and the low number of students on campus.
Since UConn, and other institutions, already use multiple avenues of information gathering,
and each campus culture is different, they are concerned about the current bill language
which, "permits a council to dictate a single stand-alone survey for all campuses." They
suggest a specific, limited set of data points that institutions can incorporate into existing
surveys. They cite New York as a state that has already done this.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:
CT Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CCADV):
Submitted written testimony in support. CCADV says this bill is a natural extension of
previous legislation from 2014. They explain what sections one and two do and say "[they]
are both necessary actions to promote safety and accountability on college campuses." They
further explain the need and effect of the amnesty provision. They explain that "sexual
violence is pervasive and more prevalent on college campuses when compared to other
crimes." CCADV has released reports on intimate partner violence on campuses in 2014 and
2018, but they lacked information from students. This bill will provide that "crucial"
information.
Zoe Bertone:
Submitted written testimony in support. Ms. Bertone reminds you to respect the demands of
students. After surviving sexual violence, she continued to suffer "immense physical,
emotional, and psychological repercussions for the next few years." She says her experience
is not unique and most of her peers have had a similar experience. "This could have been
prevented," she says, with biennial survey legislation that provides a school with both
information and time to act upon it. Ms. Bertone says, "this summer, almost every
Connecticut university had a survivors [Instagram] page," where survivors could share their
experiences, many for the first time. They found they needed more from their university and
state. The anonymity provided by the Instagram pages shows that the campus climate survey
will also be a good avenue for information gathering, and the amnesty policy will expand the
resources available to survivors following trauma.
Christina Carucci, Vice Campus Lead, Every Voice Coalition, Fairfield University
Submitted written testimony in support. Ms. Carucci, as a survivor herself, understands "the
harrowing trauma of rape and how it can impact lives for years after. She says a lack of
safety and support led to an inability to share her story earlier. The campus climate survey
"will provide a place for students to speak up in a safe, confidential environment," and the
"two year survey will better ensure that all students may have their voices heard"
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Stephanie Chandler, Adult Advocate and Program Coordinator, Rape Crisis Center of
Milford:
Submitted written testimony in support. Ms. Chandler shares the story of her first experience
with a survivor of sexual violence that resulted in a friend dropping out of school after
receiving "No resources, no advocacy, no support." If more of the people involved in her story
had been better informed about their rights, intervention, proper response, problematic
groups, perhaps her friend could have continued with school. Instead, she was terrified of
getting in trouble for underage drinking. Ms. Chandler says that additional knowledge benefits
administrations as well. Receiving anonymous information more frequently can provide focus
for problem areas. The 2-year study gives school the opportunity to demonstrate that they are
listening to their students and responding to their concerns in a timely manner.
Kaitlyn Drake, Student Outreach Coordinator and Campus Lead for Every Voice
Coalition, Fairfield University:
Submitted written testimony in support. Ms. Drake says that as a queer woman, she has "two
targets on [her] back" for sexual violence, and although her school offers support, it is rare
that people actually get it. Her friends are afraid to walk home alone at night despite blue light
systems and the safe location. Ms. Drake says multiple young women were assaulted by a
single perpetrator on the floor above hers last year. While her university provided some
support, many victims were traumatized, not all shared their stories, and these situations are
worse at schools with less support than Fairfield. She says, "It is imperative that we give
survivors more avenues to empower themselves and others," and the biennial campus
climate survey does that.
Caty Fortin:
Submitted written testimony in support. Ms. Fortin is a survivor of sexual violence. She says,
"students are discouraged from reporting, especially when the perpetrators hold significant
importance in the college's academic or sports interests." She says she remained silent
"because the current system revictimizes those who report."
Noah Frank, Director of External Affairs, UConn Undergraduate Student Government:
Submitted written testimony in support. Mr. Frank explains the vast majority of sexual
violence goes unreported. He says that sexual violence is a problem at all campuses and this
bill makes it easier for survivors to report.
Rep. Garibay, 60th Dist.:
Submitted written testimony in support. Rep. Garibay says this bill should be passed to
lessen the growing frequency of sexual violence on college campuses. She says this bill
provides more opportunities to report and removes barriers to reporting like the stigma of
drug and alcohol use.
Rep. Gilchrest, 18th Dist.:
Submitted written testimony in support. As the former Director of Public Policy at the
Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence, Rep. Gilchrest says, " We know from research
that perpetrators are more likely to use alcohol to subdue their sexual assault victims than
guns, threats and fists." This bill ensures a student cannot be disciplined for substance use if
they are disclosing sexual violence. The campus climate survey offers students the
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opportunity to share their experiences safely and anonymously; directly addressing low rates
of reporting by survivors.
Jeffrey Gu, Director of Legislative Affairs, Every Voice Coalition CT:
Submitted written testimony in support. Mr. Gu says that we cannot leave another cohort of
students exposed to the "'Red Zone', a period of four months between August and November
when the majority of sexual violence occurs on college campuses," without the guarantee of
amnesty protections. This bill offers survivors a safe method of sharing while giving
policymakers needed information. "When university resources fail to meet the needs of
student-survivors," he says, "their classmates end up becoming first responders on the scene
and caretakers over the long run we can do better."
Alison Hagani, State Director of Every Voice Coalition CT:
Submitted written testimony in support. Ms. Hagani says her experiences with sexual
violence continue to affect her and likely always will. Her experiences are not isolated, she
says, and we should be concerned this affects the potential of students, and consequently
the potential of the State. She includes an 8-page information packet detailing the bill and its
necessity, along with "myriad endorsements." She urges you to pass this bill and says, "your
action on this bill (or the lack thereof) will affect the lives of students for years to come."
CT Womens Education and Legal Fund (CWEALF):
Submitted written testimony in support. CWEALF explains that involvement of drugs and
alcohol in campus sexual violence is extremely prevalent. Survivors are afraid to report due
to the potential of punishment for substance use even though "their incapacitation could be
the key factor in their school determining they were the victim of sexual assault" They
explain that 38% of survivors experience work and/or school problems and anonymous
reporting encourages survey participation.
Lily James, Co-Executive Director, Every Voice Coalition:
Submitted written testimony in support. Ms. James explains that on average we can expect
10% of current college students to experience sexual violence, and that in Connecticut that
means 20,000 students, or approximately 125% the Hartford XL center's capacity. "We have
an epidemic on our hands," she says, "We know how to address it and we can prevent this
every day and we choose not to." Connecticut has the opportunity to choose to lead by
implementing the biennial campus climate survey.
Rep. Kennedy, 119th Dist.:
Submitted written testimony in support. She explains this bill is needed to address the "Red
Zone," the first three months of school when 50% of campus assaults occur.
Lily Knaggs:
Submitted written testimony in support. Ms. Knaggs is a survivor of sexual violence. She
says the reporting process is "extraordinarily overwhelming, lonely, and even shameful at
times." The campus climate survey helps to understand the depth of the problem in order to
better address it. She says, "By passing this bill you have the chance to protect survivors,
change the harmful narrative around victim-blaming, and make campuses a safer place for
students to be."
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Bridget Koestner, Campus Services Coordinator, Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual
Violence:
Submitted written testimony in support. Ms. Koestner says her position offers her "the
opportunity to hear from individuals who are involved in campus violence prevention and
intervention work in a variety of roles, as well as in many different campus environments."
With this in mind she says the survey results will better inform advocates in preventing sexual
violence and helping survivors. She explains that having a council build this survey ensures it
is comprehensive and trauma-informed, and that the transparency and access of publishing
the results online will be positive for all. She also explains that the increased survey
frequency helps survivors recall more accurate information as they may find details difficult to
recall after 12 months. Ms. Koestner supports the amnesty provisions as well, noting that
substance use in common with sexual violence and a survivor's fear of punishment is a
barrier to reporting.
Mitchel Kvedar:
Submitted written testimony in support. Mr. Kvedar shares his personal feelings and
observations as a young male student at UCONN. He says he owes it to those "who have felt
that they cannot report their abusers or cannot receive adequate help" to advocate on their
behalf.
Cara Mackler, Manager of Campus Education, Training & Outreach, Womens Center of
Greater Danbury:
Submitted written testimony in support. Ms. Mackler says, "Many of the student survivors I
work with feel their voices are not always heard on their campus." "This bill would help
students voices be heard and valued," she says, by removing barriers to reporting and fear
of disciplinary action.
Gary Macnamara, Executive Director of Public Safety & Governmental Affairs, Sacred
Heart University:
Submitted written testimony in support with substitute language. Sacred Heart supports the
two-year survey but wants "the autonomy to choose the instrument that best supports our
campus and culture." Sacred Heart wants to include this with questions concerning equity
and diversity. Mr. Macnamara asks the Committee to "consider modifying the bill so that
rather than having the Council select survey instruments, a limited number of data points are
identified that institutions statewide collect every two years, within their own climate survey
tools, and then report this information back to the legislature via our annual report required
under 10a-55m."
Kelly McConney Moore, Senior Policy Counsel, American Civil Liberties Union of
Connecticut (ACLU-CT):
Submitted written testimony in support. ACLU-CT says sexual violence "disproportionately
harms women and LGBTQ people [which] can deprive a person of equal and free access
to an education, and full participation in college campus activities." They support this bill
because it protects students who report sexual violence in good faith, removes barriers to
reporting, and will help shape better solutions in the future.
Liam ODonnell, Director of Policy, Every Voice Coalition Connecticut:
Submitted written testimony in support. Mr. O'Donnell explains the importance and flexibility
of the 2-year survey frequency.
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Judy Olian, President, Quinnipiac University:
Submitted written testimony in support with substitute language. While Quinnipiac supports
the underlying concepts, "[they] are concerned about the mandate that we must conduct a full
climate survey that the Council selects every two years." They ask the Committee to
"consider modifying the bill so that rather than having the Council select survey instruments,
a limited number of data points are identified that institutions statewide collect every two
years, within their own climate survey tools, and then report this information back to the
legislature via our annual report required under 10a-55m."
Sharyn J. Potter, PhD, MPH, Prevention Innovations Research Center, University of
New Hampshire:
Submitted written testimony in support. Prof. Potter speaks "as an individual faculty member
and my statement does not represent my universitys position." She explains that she has
spent her career researching and developing solutions for this issue, and her findings
"[illustrate] the devastating cost of sexual violence and its catastrophic impact on victims
health, education, and career trajectories." She says aging populations are likely to reduce
the supply of New England college students and it is cheaper to retain current students than
to recruit new ones. You can help to accomplish this by passing this bill. She supports the 2-
year frequency, recommends it be developed by experienced researches, and offer
incentives to increase participation rates so that the sample is representative.
Cindy Prizio, Executive Director, One Standard of Justice (OSJ):
Submitted written testimony in support with substitute language. OSJ wants language in
sections 2a and 2b to be amended "to include a primary stakeholder who will represent the
person accused of the misconduct," and that they be the organization making the
appointment. They explain why they think they are qualified and advocate for restorative
justice.
Rachel Saal:
Submitted written testimony in support. Ms. Saal is a survivor of sexual violence on campus
and Xfinity Theater in Hartford. She says the campus climate survey allows universities to
understand the scope of the problem on their campus, and the 2-year frequency
accommodates graduate and associate degree students.
Christine Siegel PhD, Provost, Fairfield University:
Submitted written testimony in support with substitute language. While Fairfield supports the
underlying concepts, "[they] are concerned about the mandate that we must conduct a full
climate survey that the Council selects every two years." They ask the Committee to
"consider modifying the bill so that rather than having the Council select survey instruments,
a limited number of data points are identified that institutions statewide collect every two
years, within their own climate survey tools, and then report this information back to the
legislature via our annual report required under 10a-55m."
Jack Stone, Trinity College, Student Government Association (SGA):
Submitted written testimony in support with substitute language. Trinity's SGA believes