CT HB06588

Peace officers responding to family violence incidents must provide victims with information about licensed professional counselors trained in trauma-informed care and report to the Department of Children and Families in accordance with section 17a-101b, effective July 1, 2011.

Family relations counselors must disclose to the Department of Children and Families information indicating a defendant poses danger to a child, changing discretionary disclosure ("may") to mandatory disclosure ("shall"), effective July 1, 2011.

Family violence intervention units shall contract for victim services that include trauma-informed care provided by licensed professional counselors, defined as services based on understanding the neurological, biological, psychological and social effects of trauma and violence, effective July 1, 2011.

School bullying policies must include acts of dating violence between students in the definition of bullying and may address such acts occurring outside school settings if they negatively impact students' academic performance or safety, effective July 1, 2011.

Department of Children and Families social worker trainees must receive training that includes prevention, identification and effects of family violence before being assigned a case load, effective July 1, 2011.