NJ Assembly updates harassment policy to include training

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - New Jersey Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin has unveiled a revamped harassment policy for state legislators and legislative employees.

The new policy, the first rewrite since 2009, is scheduled for a vote in the Democrat-led chamber later this month.

The biggest changes include the requirement for training at least every two years for lawmakers and employees. The policy also spells out what kinds of conduct are specifically prohibited and requires a faster time frame for issuing a final determination after a harassment investigation from 120 days to 60 days.

The new policy comes after legislators began pushing for updates in light of the many accounts of sexual misconduct across the country that began with allegations against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.

The Senate is working on a similar update.