Bill > A07722

This bill amends the New York civil rights law to create a new legal pathway for individuals to sue local government peace officers who violate constitutional rights. Specifically, the bill allows individuals to bring civil actions against peace officers (as defined in the criminal procedure law) who, while acting "under color of law" (meaning while performing official duties), deprive someone of rights guaranteed by the state constitution's bill of rights. The bill removes several traditional legal protections for officers, explicitly stating that statutory immunities, governmental immunity, and qualified immunity cannot be used as defenses in such lawsuits. Additionally, the bill mandates that courts must award reasonable attorney fees to a prevailing plaintiff, with a broad interpretation of "prevailing" that includes cases where the lawsuit was a significant factor in achieving the desired legal outcome. If a court finds a lawsuit to be frivolous, it may award attorney fees to the defendant. The bill takes effect immediately and applies to any cause of action that occurs on or after its effective date, potentially providing a significant new mechanism for holding local law enforcement accountable for constitutional rights violations.

Justice

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A7722