Bill > HR6092

This bill seeks to strengthen legal accountability for constitutional violations by law enforcement officers by expanding the scope of civil liability for governments and employers. The bill amends Section 1983, a federal law that allows individuals to sue for civil rights violations, by broadening the definition of "person" to include government entities like the United States, states, territories, local governments, and agencies. It introduces a new provision that makes employers directly liable for constitutional rights violations committed by their law enforcement officers, regardless of whether the individual officer would be personally immune or acting under an official policy. The legislation removes current legal barriers that make it difficult to hold government entities accountable, such as the Monell doctrine, which previously required plaintiffs to prove a specific policy or custom led to the violation. The bill also eliminates sovereign immunity protections for states, allowing them to be sued for constitutional violations, and waives sovereign immunity for the federal government. This change is motivated by findings that highlight systemic issues in law enforcement, including inconsistent training, hiring of officers with problematic histories, and a lack of meaningful consequences for repeated misconduct. The bill's ultimate goal is to create stronger incentives for governments and police departments to prevent constitutional rights violations by making them financially responsible for their employees' actions.

Justice

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/6092/all-info