Connecticut HB 7222: AN ACT CONCERNING THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

Bill Text

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General Assembly Raised Bill No. 7222
January Session, 2019 LCO No. 4753

Referred to Committee on JUDICIARY

Introduced by:
(JUD)

AN ACT CONCERNING THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2019) (a) The Attorney General 1
may investigate any allegation that a person has: 2
(1) Interfered with or attempted to interfere with, by threat, 3
intimidation or coercion, another person's exercise or enjoyment of 4
rights secured by the state Constitution or the United States 5
Constitution or by the laws of this state or of the United States, 6
including, but not limited to, through the commission of an act that 7
constitutes a violation of section 53a-181j, 53a-181k or 53a-181l of the 8
general statutes; or 9
(2) Repeatedly or, in a manner violating the public interest, 10
subjected, or caused to be subjected, another person to the deprivation 11
of rights, privileges or immunities secured or protected by the state 12
Constitution or the United States Constitution or by the laws of this 13
state or of the United States. 14

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(b) In conducting investigations under this section, the Attorney 15
General may issue subpoenas and interrogatories, and otherwise 16
gather information, to the extent provided in, and subject to the 17
provisions of, section 35-42 of the general statutes. 18
(c) Whenever a person is alleged to be committing an act described 19
in subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of this section, the Attorney 20
General, in his or her discretion, may (1) intervene in or bring a 21
proceeding before any appropriate agency, board or commission, and 22
(2) intervene in or bring a civil action seeking appropriate relief. 23
(d) If the Attorney General brings a civil action pursuant to 24
subsection (c) of this section, the Attorney General may (1) file such 25
action in the name of the state and on behalf of persons affected in this 26
state, and (2) seek injunctive or declaratory relief, compensatory or 27
punitive damages on behalf of any aggrieved person to the extent 28
authorized by applicable law, civil penalties not to exceed ten 29
thousand dollars per violation, reasonable attorney's fees, investigation 30
costs, litigation costs in an amount to be determined by the court and 31
such other relief as may be available under the law. 32
(e) In lieu of bringing a civil action under this section, the Attorney 33
General may accept an assurance of the discontinuance of any 34
allegedly unlawful or unconstitutional practice. Thereafter, any 35
evidence of a violation of such assurance shall constitute prima facie 36
proof of violation of the applicable law or right in any action 37
commenced by the Attorney General. 38
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1 October 1, 2019 New section

Statement of Purpose:
To clarify the Attorney General's authority to (1) investigate allegations
that an individual's civil rights are being violated, and (2) initiate legal
proceedings in response to such allegations.

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[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline,
except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is
not underlined.]