The Connecticut General Assembly is considering legislation that, if passed, would allow employees to file discrimination and harassment claims directly in state court thereby circumventing the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities altogether. The law presently requires that all discrimination and harassment claims are filed with the CHRO first. If an employee wants to pursue her claim in state court, she must then wait until 210 days have elapsed. Only then can the employee request a release of jurisdiction from the CHRO to sue in state court.
The new legislation also would significantly extend the timeframe for filing discrimination and harassment cases in state court to two years. Presently, the statute of limitations for filing a claim at the CHRO is 180 days. To read the full text of the bill, click here. We will be sure to provide updates as developments with the bill occur.