Bill > H1234

This bill proposes changes to existing law, specifically Section 9 of Chapter 258, to ensure public employers are required to cover the personal financial losses and expenses, including legal costs, of their employees up to one million dollars. These reimbursements are for situations arising from intentional wrongful acts or omissions that violate civil rights under federal or state law, provided the employee was acting within their official duties at the time. The bill changes the word "may" to "shall," making this indemnification mandatory rather than discretionary, and replaces the standard of "grossly negligent" with "wanton" when determining if an employee is eligible for indemnification, though it clarifies that employees will not be indemnified if their civil rights violations were "wanton, willful or malicious."