Connecticut Attorney General William Tong in his Hartford office in February. Photo by Michael Marciano/ALM

The state House of Representatives voted 82-63 Wednesday in favor of establishing a civil rights division within the Office of Attorney General.

The Democrat-controlled state Senate and Gov. Ned Lamont are expected to give their approval before the end of the legislative session on June 5.

Attorney General William Tong, a Democrat, made establishing a civil rights division a cornerstone of his campaign for office.

Leading the way in the House for the proposal is Steven Stafstrom Jr., also head of the House Judiciary Committee, which approved the bill 24-15 in April.

“I think that, certainly, the need for this bill should be obvious to most folks,” Stafstrom, also a member at Hartford's Pullman & Comley, told the Connecticut Law Tribune Thursday. “We've seen a rise in reports of bigotry, bias, hate crimes and the deprivation of civil rights over the last several years in Connecticut and nationwide.”

Those engaging in hate crimes, Stafstrom said, “should know that, in addition to potentially facing criminal liability through the State Attorney's Office or the U.S. Attorney's Office, that there is a severe risk of civil liability to be enforced by the state of Connecticut through the Office of Attorney General.”

More than 20 states, including New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts, have civil rights divisions under their attorneys general. The new division in Connecticut would expand the powers of the Office of Attorney General and would work hand-in-hand with the state's Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, which receives complaints and investigates them.

Under House Bill 7222, the office would be able to investigate alleged civil rights violations, and then litigate in state and federal courts. The bill would also allow the office to bring civil suits on behalf of victims, and seek damages of up to $10,000 per violation.

“This bill strengthens the ability of the Office of the Attorney General to proactively seek justice for those whose rights and liberties have come under attack,” Tong said in a statement. ”Now, more than ever, we cannot take our civil rights for granted. The Office of the Attorney General has the capacity, expertise and desire to take on this important work.”

Most who spoke on the proposed legislation during a March public hearing were in favor of the creation of the proposed civil rights division. But opponents included the National Federation of Independent Business, which advocates on behalf of small and independent business owners.

“NFIB is concerned that the bill, as currently drafted, is too broad and could potentially result in costly new civil investigations, litigation, and/or enforcement actions being brought against small business owners by the Office of Attorney General for an allegation of violation of any state or federal law,” Andy Markowski, the group's state director in Connecticut, wrote in remarks that were entered into the record. “After all, just one frivolous lawsuit can force a small business to close its doors forever.”

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