Signed by Governor Ned Lamont

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that expands the definition of domestic violence to include coercive control.

Highlights:

• Defines “domestic violence” as the following, but is not limited to (Sec. 1):

• A continuous threat of present physical pain or physical injury against a family or household member;

• Stalking of such family or a household member;

• A pattern of threatening of such family, a household member, or a third party that intimates such family or household member; and

• Coercive control.

• Defines “Coercive control” as a pattern of behavior that in purpose or effect unreasonably interferes with a person’s free will and personal liberty (Sec. 1).

• Expands behaviors that are classified as “coercive control” to include the following actions (Sec. 1):

• Isolating the family or household member from friends, relatives, or other sources of support;

• Depriving the family or household member of basic necessities;

• Controlling the family or household member’s daily behavior and economic resources;

• Compelling the family or household member by force, threat or intimidation based on actual or suspected immigration status;

• Committing or threatening to commit cruelty to animals that intimidates the family or household member;

• Forcing sex acts, or threats of a sexual nature, including, but not limited to:

• Threatened acts of sexual conduct;

• Threats based on a person’s sexuality; or

• Threats to release sexual images.

• Authorizes a family relations court to obtain the testimony of any party or child through alternative means, including, but not limited to (Sec. 3):

• Videoconference;

• In a room other than the courthouse; or

• At another location outside the state. 

• Requires the Chief Court Administrator of court constructed prior to July 1, 2021 where family violence matters are heard, to provide a secure room for victims of family violence crimes that is separate from any public or private area in the courthouse (Sec. 11). 

• Requires a proper court officer to accept all documents necessary for a family violence matters hearing in an electronic format (Sec. 2).

• Requires an expedited hearing when a motion for contempt is filed for violation of a restraining order (Sec. 2).

• Extends legal representation for eligible indigent individuals throughout the restraining order process by means of grant funding (Sec. 15).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that expands the definition of domestic violence to include coercive control.

Highlights:

• Defines “domestic violence” as the following, but is not limited to (Sec. 1):

• A continuous threat of present physical pain or physical injury against a family or household member;

• Stalking of such family or a household member;

• A pattern of threatening of such family, a household member, or a third party that intimates such family or household member; and

• Coercive control.

• Defines “Coercive control” as a pattern of behavior that in purpose or effect unreasonably interferes with a person’s free will and personal liberty (Sec. 1).

• Expands behaviors that are classified as “coercive control” to include the following actions (Sec. 1):

• Isolating the family or household member from friends, relatives, or other sources of support;

• Depriving the family or household member of basic necessities;

• Controlling the family or household member’s daily behavior and economic resources;

• Compelling the family or household member by force, threat or intimidation based on actual or suspected immigration status;

• Committing or threatening to commit cruelty to animals that intimidates the family or household member;

• Forcing sex acts, or threats of a sexual nature, including, but not limited to:

• Threatened acts of sexual conduct;

• Threats based on a person’s sexuality; or

• Threats to release sexual images.

• Authorizes a family relations court to obtain the testimony of any party or child through alternative means, including, but not limited to (Sec. 3):

• Videoconference;

• In a room other than the courthouse; or

• At another location outside the state. 

• Requires the Chief Court Administrator of court constructed prior to July 1, 2021 where family violence matters are heard, to provide a secure room for victims of family violence crimes that is separate from any public or private area in the courthouse (Sec. 11). 

• Requires a proper court officer to accept all documents necessary for a family violence matters hearing in an electronic format (Sec. 2).

• Requires an expedited hearing when a motion for contempt is filed for violation of a restraining order (Sec. 2).

• Extends legal representation for eligible indigent individuals throughout the restraining order process by means of grant funding (Sec. 15).

Full Bill Text