CT SB00197

Adds veteran status as a protected class under Connecticut's anti-discrimination laws across employment, housing, public accommodations, credit, and professional organizations, effective October 1, 2016.

Expands discriminatory practice violations to include desecrating public property or religious objects, placing burning crosses, and placing nooses with intent to intimidate based on protected characteristics including newly added veteran status.

Changes employment discrimination remedy provisions from permissive ("may order") to mandatory ("shall order") hiring, promotion, or reinstatement with back pay, and adds requirement for reasonable attorney's fees and costs regardless of damages awarded.

Applies veteran status protections across all state employment, licensing, educational programs, and service delivery to ensure equal treatment in state-administered benefits and programs.