Connecticut § 29-1dd - Prevention of online abuse grant program.

§ 29-1dd. Prevention of online abuse grant program.

Sec. 29-1dd. Prevention of online abuse grant program. (a) As used in this section:

(1) “Eligible entity” means any of the following located in this state: (A) A local or regional school district, (B) a historical society, (C) a tax-exempt entity registered with the office of the Secretary of the State, (D) a government agency, (E) a constituent unit of the state system of higher education, (F) a public library, or (G) any other entity operating under another entity described in this subdivision; and

(2) “Online abuse” means the following acts, when conducted using any interactive computer service: (A) Speech or conduct motivated by hatred, prejudice or bigotry towards a person or group based on the person's actual or perceived religion, national origin, alienage, color, race, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation or disability, (B) harassment, (C) stalking, (D) swatting, (E) doxing, or (F) an assault.

(b) There is established a grant program to provide educational and training opportunities with the goal of preventing online abuse and informing individuals about identifying, reporting, responding to and avoiding online abuse. The grant program shall be administered by the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, in consultation with the State-Wide Hate Crimes Advisory Council, established under section 51-279f.

(c) Not later than three months after receiving funds from the state for any fiscal year, the administrator of the grant program shall issue a request for proposals from any eligible entity. Each response to the request for proposals shall: Specify the types of online abuse that the entity proposes to address in accordance with the purposes of the program under subsection (b) of this section; the methods used to achieve the goals of the program; other specific goals of the eligible entity; the target audience of the training and information that the entity would provide; whether the eligible entity is replicating a program found to have a high likelihood of success as determined by a cost-benefit analysis appearing in a peer reviewed academic journal; and the amount, if any, of matching funds the eligible entity will contribute.

(d) The department may award grants for any programming or service that prevents online abuse or furthers the other goals of the program under subsection (b) of this section, including training teachers or professionals within schools, archiving, public murals, curriculum development and marketing. Eligible entities may use the funds awarded under this subsection collectively, including regionally, through coordinated efforts and conferences that achieve the goals of the program.

(e) The department may only award a grant to an eligible entity in an amount not to exceed thirty thousand dollars during any fiscal year.

(P.A. 22-82, S. 6.)

History: P.A. 22-82 effective July 1, 2022.