House votes to make sexual harassment training mandatory [View all]

The New Hampshire House voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to require its members to attend sexual harassment education training, a year after the #MeToo movement cast a spotlight on State House policies.

In a 284-92 vote, members opted to introduce a new rule – House Rule 67 – which would require all legislators and State House staff to “attend in-person education and training regarding sexual and other unlawful harassment and discrimination.”

The training sessions, held at the beginnings of each two-year legislative term, have previously been voluntary and sparsely attended.

But the rule change appeared to have an immediate effect; on Wednesday afternoon, hundreds of representatives showed up to a scheduled harassment hearing. At an earlier harassment training in February, fewer than 40 representatives and staff members appeared.

Read more: https://www.concordmonitor.com/New-Hampshire-House-makes-sexual-harassment-policies-mandatory-22506756