Constitutional Accountability Act

This bill would change the main federal law that lets people sue over violations of their constitutional rights (42 U.S.C. 1983). It would allow lawsuits against the United States, states, territories, the District of Columbia, local governments, and their agencies when a law enforcement officer they employ or contract with violates someone's constitutional or federal legal rights. The government employer would be liable even if the officer would be immune and even if the officer was not following an official policy or custom. The bill would remove state sovereign immunity and waive federal sovereign immunity for these claims.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. Democrat sponsor
• 4 cosponsors