Bill > H491

This bill, titled "To restore enforcement of civil rights," amends Chapter 12 of the General Laws by adding a new section, 11M, which prohibits any unit of state, county, or local government from discriminating against individuals in their programs or activities based on race, color, national origin, or sex, either directly or through discriminatory administrative practices. Individuals who believe they have been harmed by such discrimination can file a civil lawsuit in state court within three years of the violation, seeking actual and punitive damages for direct discrimination or actual damages for discriminatory practices, along with potential injunctive relief. The bill also mandates that courts award reasonable attorneys' fees and costs to a "prevailing party," defined as someone who wins a judgment, secures a settlement, or whose non-frivolous claim prompted the government entity to change its position, and clarifies that plaintiffs are not required to exhaust other administrative remedies before pursuing these civil rights claims.