Accountability for Federal Law Enforcement Act

This bill changes a federal civil rights law (42 U.S.C. 1983) so that people can sue over rights violations by officers acting under federal law, not only state law. It defines a "public employer" as a federal law enforcement agency that employs or contracts with officers who can search, seize evidence, or make arrests. If such an officer violates a person's constitutional or legal rights while acting under color of law, the officer's employer would be liable to the injured person. This would apply whether or not an agency policy or custom caused the violation and whether or not the officer has a defense or immunity. The bill waives the federal government's sovereign immunity for these claims and keeps existing remedies against individual officers.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Alex Padilla Democrat sponsor
• 12 cosponsors