Bill > HB05602

This bill amends Connecticut's existing laws to establish stricter accountability for state elected officials' actions related to constitutional rights. Specifically, the bill prohibits any state elected official (including members of the General Assembly, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Comptroller, Treasurer, and Secretary of State) from depriving any person or group of equal protection under state laws or constitutional privileges. Importantly, the bill modifies the standard of governmental immunity for these officials in civil rights lawsuits. Under the new provision, these officials can only claim governmental immunity if they can demonstrate that at the time of the alleged constitutional violation, they had an objectively good faith belief that their conduct was legally permissible. This change is designed to hold state elected officials to a similar standard of accountability as law enforcement personnel, ensuring they can be held legally responsible for intentional or reckless violations of constitutional rights. The bill aims to provide a stronger legal mechanism for protecting residents' constitutional rights by reducing the scope of immunity for state elected officials.

Justice

https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=HB05602&which_year=2025