Earlier this year, we reported on an upcoming bill in Connecticut that could make life very difficult for CT college students. The bill, if passed, would ask college students at schools in Connecticut to fill out anonymous surveys regarding their sexual conduct every two years.

The goal of this bill? To understand up-to-date information about sexual violence on or near campus. Often, student codes of conduct have only vague examples of punishable behavior. This proposed bill sought to make the general specific by going straight to the source. While there were those who thought the measure would pose problems—for example, that the two-year timeframe would be a lot to manage while failing to actually capture of-the-moment helpful information—many were in favor.

Sexual Misconduct Survey Bill Receives Support Despite Misgivings

Over the past few months, this CT sexual misconduct survey bill has gained a lot of support.

“Despite pushback from some Connecticut schools, the state House of Representatives voted to advance [the] bill,” according to the Hartford Courant. This could, if support continues, result in schools reporting surveyed information to the state by early 2023.

There are those who are much less excited about this bill's gaining traction. Currently, the Association of American Universities gathers information about sexual misconduct from colleges—including at least one in CT—every four years, causing people to wonder what the added benefits of this bill are.

There's also a question about a provision in the bill that provides amnesty for students who have violated alcohol and drug policies in return for disclosing sexual misconduct. This may seem to incentivize reporting one type of infraction while ignoring the effects of another—giving less-than-scrupulous students a chance to benefit from reporting their peers.

One CT college administrator also spoke up about the timeframe, pointing out that “survey fatigue” and a lack of “adequate time to take action from the results” made a two-year survey period less effective than the current four-year model. Yet other schools wanted the autonomy to add other questions to the survey, not just those about suspected sexual misconduct.

Despite these misgivings, the bill has received bipartisan support. Policymakers expect to see similar results when the bill shortly faces the state's Senate.

Students in Connecticut should be wary of this narrowing focus on sexual misconduct. If you have misconduct in your past, it's time to deal with that now, before too much time passes. At the Lento Law Firm, that's what we do. We can help you protect your future from any miscommunications or misunderstandings regarding sexual behavior you may have experienced in your past.

Call Joseph D. Lento, an Experienced Student Defense Lawyer

If you need assistance defending your reputation, particularly in the midst of an academic culture interested in learning more information about students and defining their sexual behaviors, reach out to attorney Joseph D. Lento. He has years of experience navigating complex due process at schools across the nation. He can guide you towards a successful outcome. Contact the Lento Law Firm at 888-535-3686 today for more information.