Substitute House Bill No. 6374 - Summary

• Requires Connecticut higher education institutions to adopt policies establishing affirmative consent as the standard for sexual activity, defining it as active, clear, and voluntary agreement that can be revoked at any time.

• Mandates institutional policies prohibiting intoxication or lack of knowledge as valid defenses when a person was unable to consent due to unconsciousness, sleep, incapacity, or mental/physical conditions.

• Establishes a Council on Sexual Misconduct Climate Assessments to develop data collection standards and recommend sexual misconduct climate assessments for colleges to administer to students by March 1, 2023, and biennially thereafter.

• Requires institutions to conduct investigations using preponderance of evidence standard, train officials annually on sexual assault issues, provide both parties with advisors/support persons, and complete disciplinary proceedings within specified timeframes.

• Mandates annual reporting to the legislature on sexual assault and intimate partner violence incidents, prevention programs, disciplinary cases and outcomes, and biennial climate assessment results.