This bill aims to establish a civil cause of action for individuals whose constitutional rights have been violated by law enforcement officers in Nebraska. It introduces new legal definitions and provisions, including the elimination of the qualified immunity defense for law enforcement officers in such cases. The bill mandates that public employers indemnify their law enforcement officers for judgments against them, except in cases of bad faith or malicious intent. Additionally, it waives sovereign immunity for claims brought under this act and exempts these claims from the Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act and the State Tort Claims Act.

The bill also outlines the types of relief available to plaintiffs, including compensatory and punitive damages, as well as attorney's fees. It specifies that actions must be filed within three years of the violation and includes a severability clause to ensure that if any part of the act is deemed invalid, the remaining provisions will still stand. The act is set to become operative on January 1, 2027, and repeals the original sections of the relevant statutes.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 13-903