Every Voice Connecticut Praises Unanimous Passage of Bill to Address Campus Sexual Violence

Reflecting the resilience and persistency of student leaders and advocates, student-written bill combatting campus sexual violence passes Connecticut Senate at dawn 

June 9, 2021

Hartford, CT: At 3 A.M. on June 5, 2021, after two years of student-led advocacy, community collaborations, and students’ and cosponsors’ persistence, Connecticut’s bipartisan bill HB6374 An Act Concerning Sexual Misconduct on College Campuses unanimously passed through both chambers, effectively pushing it forward to Governor Ned Lamont’s desk to be signed into law.

Students and survivors from universities across Connecticut – including Connecticut College, Yale University, Fairfield University, University of Connecticut, Trinity College, Wesleyan University, Housatonic Community College, Central CT State University, Southern CT State University, and more –came together for the historic passage of HB6374, increasing institution transparency and ensuring the inclusion of student and community inputs for future climate assessments and amendments.

Developed in close collaboration with Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence and higher education leaders and championed by eighty-six Connecticut Senate and House co-sponsors, once signed into law, this bill will (1) establish an amnesty policy, ensuring that reporting students are not penalized if drugs or alcohol were involved during or in relation to the violence that occurred; (2) require Connecticut institutions to biennially conduct a sexual misconduct climate assessment that will be aggregated, anonymized, reviewed, and made publicly accessible; and (3) establish a 20-member Council on Sexual Misconduct Climate Assessments, consisting of experts, community organization members, government officials/proxies and students from both public and independent higher education institutions to assist in the implementation of sexual misconduct climate assessment on campuses.

“I am incredibly proud of the ways our vast student coalition expanded the concept of advocacy, assumed political space, and demanded our right to feel safe, said Alison Hagani, Founder and Co-State Director of Every Voice Connecticut. 

“This success demonstrates the capability that students and the general public can hold in reforming public policy through grassroots advocacy.” Liam O’Donnell, Co-State Director of Every Voice Connecticut.

“With this piece of student-led legislation, we can listen and learn from students about what they’re experiencing on college campuses, and implement protections for those brave survivors or witnesses who report sexual assault.” Representative Josh Elliott.

“What’s most special about this is that college students on both sides of the aisle advocated for this change. The fact that students were the driving force for this legislation gives me faith in our future generation.” Representative Irene Haines.

“This law ensures every student’s voice feels heard,” said State Senator Will Haskell. “It makes sure students reporting a sexual assault are protected and ensures students can confidentially share their stories. I’m grateful our hard work got this across the finish line.”

“This bill is a huge leap closer to providing such critical protections and providing avenues for voices for students in Connecticut’s statutes. Best practices to end sexual misconduct on campus, prevention, and support for survivors will be the outcome.” Policy and Public Relations Director Lucy Nolan, Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence.

National Context

The Every Voice Coalition (www.everyvoicecoalition.org) is an entirely student and survivor-led organization working to pass student and survivor-written, survivor-centered legislation on the state level to prevent campus sexual violence and support survivors Today, Every Voice bills have been passed in five states: New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Illinois, Nevada, and Connecticut. The Coalition is currently working in 12 states.