Bill > S1118

This bill introduces new legal protections against sexual harassment specifically targeting professional investors doing business in Massachusetts. The legislation defines key terms like "professional investor" (which includes banks, investment companies, venture capital funds, and other financial institutions), "venture capital company", and "venture capital investment". The bill makes it unlawful for a professional investor to make sexual advances, request sexual favors, or engage in sexually inappropriate conduct under two primary circumstances: when such advances are made a condition of business investment transactions, or when such conduct creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment. Individuals or businesses injured by such actions can sue the professional investor in court and seek damages, including compensatory, incidental, consequential, and punitive damages, as well as injunctive relief. The Attorney General is also empowered to bring enforcement actions against violators. The bill allows for legal actions to be brought within three years of the last alleged unlawful act or injury, and it is designed to be interpreted broadly to accomplish its purpose of preventing sexual harassment in professional investment settings. Importantly, the law does not replace existing legal protections but adds an additional layer of defense against sexual harassment in the professional investment sphere.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S1118