Bill Text: CT SB00918 | 2011 | General Assembly | Comm Sub

Connecticut Senate Bill 918 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: An Act Concerning The Sexual Assault Of Persons Whose Ability To Communicate Lack Of Consent Is Substantially Impaired.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 2-1)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2011-06-05 - House Calendar Number 612 [SB00918 Detail]

Download: Connecticut-2011-SB00918-Comm_Sub.html


General Assembly		*Raised Bill No. 918*
*January Session, 2011*		LCO No. 2979
		_____SB00918JUD___041511____
Referred to Committee on Judiciary
Introduced by:
(JUD)

AN ACT CONCERNING THE SEXUAL ASSAULT OF PERSONS WHOSE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE LACK OF CONSENT IS SUBSTANTIALLY IMPAIRED.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 53a-71 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2011):

(a) A person is guilty of sexual assault in the second degree when such person engages in sexual intercourse with another person and: (1) Such other person is thirteen years of age or older but under sixteen years of age and the actor is more than three years older than such other person; or (2) [such other person is mentally defective to the extent that such other person is unable to consent to such sexual intercourse; or (3) such other person is physically helpless] the ability of such other person to communicate lack of consent to such sexual intercourse is substantially impaired because of a mental or physical condition and the actor knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the ability of such other person to communicate lack of consent to such sexual intercourse is so impaired; or [(4)] (3) such other person is less than eighteen years old and the actor is such person's guardian or otherwise responsible for the general supervision of such person's welfare; or [(5)] (4) such other person is in custody of law or detained in a hospital or other institution and the actor has supervisory or disciplinary authority over such other person; or [(6)] (5) the actor is a psychotherapist and such other person is (A) a patient of the actor and the sexual intercourse occurs during the psychotherapy session, (B) a patient or former patient of the actor and such patient or former patient is emotionally dependent upon the actor, or (C) a patient or former patient of the actor and the sexual intercourse occurs by means of therapeutic deception; or [(7)] (6) the actor accomplishes the sexual intercourse by means of false representation that the sexual intercourse is for a bona fide medical purpose by a health care professional; or [(8)] (7) the actor is a school employee and such other person is a student enrolled in a school in which the actor works or a school under the jurisdiction of the local or regional board of education which employs the actor; or [(9)] (8) the actor is a coach in an athletic activity or a person who provides intensive, ongoing instruction and such other person is a recipient of coaching or instruction from the actor and (A) is a secondary school student and receives such coaching or instruction in a secondary school setting, or (B) is under eighteen years of age; or [(10)] (9) the actor is twenty years of age or older and stands in a position of power, authority or supervision over such other person by virtue of the actor's professional, legal, occupational or volunteer status and such other person's participation in a program or activity, and such other person is under eighteen years of age.

(b) Sexual assault in the second degree is a class C felony or, if the victim of the offense is under sixteen years of age, a class B felony, and any person found guilty under this section shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of which nine months of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced by the court.

Sec. 2. Section 53a-73a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2011):

(a) A person is guilty of sexual assault in the fourth degree when: (1) Such person intentionally subjects another person to sexual contact who is (A) under thirteen years of age and the actor is more than two years older than such other person, or (B) thirteen years of age or older but under fifteen years of age and the actor is more than three years older than such other person, or (C) [mentally defective or mentally incapacitated to the extent that such other person is unable to consent to such sexual contact, or (D) physically helpless] a person whose ability to communicate lack of consent to such sexual contact is substantially impaired because of a mental or physical condition and the actor knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the ability of such other person to communicate lack of consent to such sexual contact is so impaired, or [(E)] (D) less than eighteen years old and the actor is such other person's guardian or otherwise responsible for the general supervision of such other person's welfare, or [(F)] (E) in custody of law or detained in a hospital or other institution and the actor has supervisory or disciplinary authority over such other person; or (2) such person subjects another person to sexual contact without such other person's consent; or (3) such person engages in sexual contact with an animal or dead body; or (4) such person is a psychotherapist and subjects another person to sexual contact who is (A) a patient of the actor and the sexual contact occurs during the psychotherapy session, or (B) a patient or former patient of the actor and such patient or former patient is emotionally dependent upon the actor, or (C) a patient or former patient of the actor and the sexual contact occurs by means of therapeutic deception; or (5) such person subjects another person to sexual contact and accomplishes the sexual contact by means of false representation that the sexual contact is for a bona fide medical purpose by a health care professional; or (6) such person is a school employee and subjects another person to sexual contact who is a student enrolled in a school in which the actor works or a school under the jurisdiction of the local or regional board of education which employs the actor; or (7) such person is a coach in an athletic activity or a person who provides intensive, ongoing instruction and subjects another person to sexual contact who is a recipient of coaching or instruction from the actor and (A) is a secondary school student and receives such coaching or instruction in a secondary school setting, or (B) is under eighteen years of age; or (8) such person subjects another person to sexual contact and (A) the actor is twenty years of age or older and stands in a position of power, authority or supervision over such other person by virtue of the actor's professional, legal, occupational or volunteer status and such other person's participation in a program or activity, and (B) such other person is under eighteen years of age.

(b) Sexual assault in the fourth degree is a class A misdemeanor or, if the victim of the offense is under sixteen years of age, a class D felony.

Sec. 3. Section 53a-65 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2011):

As used in this part, except section 53a-70b, the following terms have the following meanings:

(1) "Actor" means a person accused of sexual assault.

(2) "Sexual intercourse" means vaginal intercourse, anal intercourse, fellatio or cunnilingus between persons regardless of sex. Its meaning is limited to persons not married to each other. Penetration, however slight, is sufficient to complete vaginal intercourse, anal intercourse or fellatio and does not require emission of semen. Penetration may be committed by an object manipulated by the actor into the genital or anal opening of the victim's body.

(3) "Sexual contact" means any contact with the intimate parts of a person not married to the actor for the purpose of sexual gratification of the actor or for the purpose of degrading or humiliating such person or any contact of the intimate parts of the actor with a person not married to the actor for the purpose of sexual gratification of the actor or for the purpose of degrading or humiliating such person.

[(4) "Mentally defective" means that a person suffers from a mental disease or defect which renders such person incapable of appraising the nature of such person's conduct.]

[(5)] (4) "Mentally incapacitated" means that a person is rendered temporarily incapable of appraising or controlling such person's conduct owing to the influence of a drug or intoxicating substance administered to such person without such person's consent, or owing to any other act committed upon such person without such person's consent.

[(6) "Physically helpless" means that a person is unconscious or for any other reason is physically unable to communicate unwillingness to an act.]

[(7)] (5) "Use of force" means: (A) Use of a dangerous instrument; or (B) use of actual physical force or violence or superior physical strength against the victim.

[(8)] (6) "Intimate parts" means the genital area or any substance emitted therefrom, groin, anus or any substance emitted therefrom, inner thighs, buttocks or breasts.

[(9)] (7) "Psychotherapist" means a physician, psychologist, nurse, substance abuse counselor, social worker, clergyman, marital and family therapist, mental health service provider, hypnotist or other person, whether or not licensed or certified by the state, who performs or purports to perform psychotherapy.

[(10)] (8) "Psychotherapy" means the professional treatment, assessment or counseling of a mental or emotional illness, symptom or condition.

[(11)] (9) "Emotionally dependent" means that the nature of the patient's or former patient's emotional condition and the nature of the treatment provided by the psychotherapist are such that the psychotherapist knows or has reason to know that the patient or former patient is unable to withhold consent to sexual contact by or sexual intercourse with the psychotherapist.

[(12)] (10) "Therapeutic deception" means a representation by a psychotherapist that sexual contact by or sexual intercourse with the psychotherapist is consistent with or part of the patient's treatment.

[(13)] (11) "School employee" means: (A) A teacher, substitute teacher, school administrator, school superintendent, guidance counselor, psychologist, social worker, nurse, physician, school paraprofessional or coach employed by a local or regional board of education or a private elementary, middle or high school or working in a public or private elementary, middle or high school; or (B) any other person who, in the performance of his or her duties, has regular contact with students and who provides services to or on behalf of students enrolled in (i) a public elementary, middle or high school, pursuant to a contract with the local or regional board of education, or (ii) a private elementary, middle or high school, pursuant to a contract with the supervisory agent of such private school.

Sec. 4. Subsection (a) of section 53a-67 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2011):

(a) In any prosecution for an offense under this part based on the victim's being [mentally defective,] mentally incapacitated, [or physically helpless,] it shall be an affirmative defense that the actor, at the time such actor engaged in the conduct constituting the offense, did not know of such condition of the victim.

Sec. 5. Subdivision (2) of section 54-250 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2011):

(2) "Criminal offense against a victim who is a minor" means (A) a violation of subdivision (2) of section 53-21 of the general statutes in effect prior to October 1, 2000, subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section 53-21, subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section 53a-70, subdivision (1), [(4), (8) or (10)] (3), (7) or (9) or subparagraph (B) of subdivision [(9)] (8) of subsection (a) of section 53a-71, as amended by this act, subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section 53a-72a, subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section 53a-86, subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section 53a-87, section 53a-90a, 53a-196a, 53a-196b, 53a-196c, 53a-196d, 53a-196e or 53a-196f, (B) a violation of subparagraph (A) of subdivision [(9)] (8) of subsection (a) of section 53a-71, as amended by this act, or section 53a-92, 53a-92a, 53a-94, 53a-94a, 53a-95, 53a-96 or 53a-186, provided the court makes a finding that, at the time of the offense, the victim was under eighteen years of age, (C) a violation of any of the offenses specified in subparagraph (A) or (B) of this subdivision for which a person is criminally liable under section 53a-8, 53a-48 or 53a-49, or (D) a violation of any predecessor statute to any offense specified in subparagraph (A), (B) or (C) of this subdivision the essential elements of which are substantially the same as said offense.


This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1	October 1, 2011	53a-71
Sec. 2	October 1, 2011	53a-73a
Sec. 3	October 1, 2011	53a-65
Sec. 4	October 1, 2011	53a-67(a)
Sec. 5	October 1, 2011	54-250(2)