Legislation

Current Efforts

We are currently working on a variety of legislative actions during this year’s 2022 legislative session. Click below for a list of The Alliance’s legislative priorities.

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Public Policy Efforts

Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence works to end sexual violence through public policy advocacy including engaging in the legislative process as well as serving on various government and community boards, commissions and councils. The Alliance also serves as a convener for discussions surrounding prevention and response to campus sexual violence.

Through legislative advocacy work, The Alliance influences laws and policies to promote prevention of sexual violence as well as to advocate for victims and survivors of sexual violence. The Alliance’s legislative advocacy efforts have resulted in changes to the law such as: making spousal rape a crime; creating the State of Connecticut Gail Burns-Smith Sexual Assault Forensic Examiners Program; extending the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse; and requiring hospitals to offer emergency contraception to rape victims. Through advocacy work on community and appointed government boards, commissions and councils, The Alliance serves as a voice for victims and survivors of sexual violence and brings to the table an expert perspective on sexual violence prevention and response.

2017 Mid Session Update

Read about our legislative efforts during the 2017 Connecticut Legislative Session.

View the Document

2017 Legislative Priorities

Learn more about The Alliance’s legislative goals and priorities for 2017.

View the Document

2016 Mid Session Update

The 2016 Legislative Action Committee was extremely active and effective, submitting testimony on 20 bills and testifying in person on 11 bills during the session.

View the Document

2016 Legislative Agenda

Here you can learn more about The Alliance’s legislative goals and priorities from 2016.

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2015 Session Report

Find out what bills affected victims and survivors of sexual assault in Connecticut’s last legislative session which ended in June 2015.

Read the Report

Public Hearings

A public hearing is an opportunity for members of the public to speak directly to legislators about a particular piece of legislation. Legislative committees, subject-specific groups of legislators that initially view and vote on legislation before it goes on to the full house and senate, set dates for public hearings and invite the public to either submit written testimony or to come to the Legislative Office Building to present their testimony in person. Written testimony is usually one or two pages long, and oral testimony should be limited to three minutes in length.

When public hearings are announced, The Alliance will post that information on our website or social media. A video on how to present testimony in person is available here. It is very important to be involved in legislative advocacy. Advocates and survivors have unique perspectives and insights into sexual violence, and legislators can learn a lot from what you have to say. If legislators do not hear from many people on a particular issue, they may assume that it is not important. Your voice and your perspective will make a difference in the legislative process.

How a Bill Becomes a Law

A Guide to the General Assembly

Tips for Effective Lobbying