Bill > SB129

This bill provides comprehensive legal protections and defines specific terms related to law enforcement officers' conduct and immunity in civil lawsuits. The bill establishes that law enforcement officers shall be immune from civil liability for actions performed within their discretionary authority, with exceptions for cases where an officer acts recklessly without law enforcement justification or violates a clearly established constitutional right. To file a civil lawsuit against a law enforcement officer, plaintiffs must now provide highly specific legal and factual details about their claim, and the bill imposes an automatic stay on discovery proceedings during initial legal proceedings. The bill also introduces a mechanism for law enforcement officers to seek mandamus relief if a motion to dismiss is improperly denied, and mandates that private employers hiring off-duty law enforcement officers maintain at least $500,000 in liability insurance. Additionally, the bill amends existing state law to more precisely define terms like "law enforcement officer" and "discretionary authority" and establishes a pretrial hearing process for determining whether force used by an officer was legally justified. The bill will take effect on October 1, 2025, and is designed to provide clearer legal protections and standards for law enforcement officers in Alabama.

Justice

https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/bill-search