Senator Linares Sexual Assault Amendment Passes Senate

May 4, 2018

Hartford – An amendment to sexual harassment legislation submitted by State Senator Art Linares (R-33) today received overwhelming support in the State Senate. The amendment would allow the revocation the pension of a state official convicted of sexual assault or a state employee convicted of sexual assault while on the job.

“The Hartford Courant reported recently that you can rape someone on the job as a state employee and still be eligible for your state pension,” Sen. Linares said. “A man is in prison for raping two severely disabled women. One was quadriplegic, the other was blind, and both were unable to speak. He did this for years while working at the state Department of Developmental Services group home, yet he’s still eligible for a pension.”

Sen. Linares said the legislation he proposed would require the Connecticut Attorney General to petition the Superior Court for an order to revoke the state pension of state officials or employees found guilty of sexual assault. The amendment compliments Sen. Linares’s other legislative initiatives in support of pension reform.

The amendment would apply to cases where the individual is found guilty, pleads guilty, or pleads no contest to a crime of first-degree sexual assault or aggravated sexual assault. For state officials, the crime would have to be perpetrated while the individual is in office. For state employees, the crime would have to be perpetrated while the employee is on the job.

“I think this a logical addition to this bill (concerning sexual harassment) and I would urge the (Senate) Chamber’s support,” he said. “We should stand up for people that are victims of aggravated sexual assault. We shouldn’t just do it for people that are in the private sector who are victims . . . we should do it for everyone. That includes holding our own state employees accountable. We shouldn’t be afraid to do that.”

The amendment was approved by a vote of 30–6. The underlying bill, Senate Bill 132, An Act Combatting Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault, was approved by the Senate by a vote of 31–5 and now goes to the state House of Representatives.

Sen. Linares represents the communities of Chester, Clinton, Colchester, Deep River, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Lyme, Old Saybrook, Portland and Westbrook.