Update: A few days after this post, the General Assembly failed to give final approval to this measure, leaving it to die at the end of the legislative session on May 9, 2018.
Early Friday morning, the state Senate approved a bill that would significant broaden the sexual harassment prevention training requirements and many other provisions in discrimination law. A similar (but notably different) bill passed the House; now, this Senate bill on the House calendar for this week.
It’s not a done deal just yet, but here are the key provisions of Senate Bill 132 (as amended) as it seems probable this bill is close to final passage. Thanks to the OLR for summarizing the key aspects of the bill of which I’ve borrowed heavily from.
TRAINING
- The bill would change the training requirements for sexual harassment prevention.
- It would require training for supervisory employees of all employers, regardless of size
- For nonsupervisory employees of employers with 20 or more employees, it would also require training.
- Overall, the training would need to take place by October 1, 2019 with some additional tweaks specified in the bill.
- The bill requires CHRO to develop and make available to employers an online training and education video or other interactive method of training and education that fulfills the bill’s training requirements.
- Under the bill, employers who are required to provide such training must, at least every ten years, provide supplemental training to update employees on the content of the training and education.
INFORMATION AND POSTING
- Currently, employers must post a notice that (1) that sexual harassment is illegal and (2) of the remedies available to victims. Under the bill, this information must be sent to employees by email, within three months of hire, if the (1) employer has provided an email account to the employee or (2) employee has provided the employer with an email address. The email’s subject line must include “Sexual Harassment Policy” or something similar.
Continue Reading Revised Sexual Harassment Training Bill (And So Much More) Close To Final Passage