Senate Bill Would Let State AGs Sue Over Federal Civil Rights Violations
A senate committee must act next: committee consideration.
Scores run from -100 (strongly harmful) to +100 (strongly beneficial) for each group, combining impact, certainty, scope, and duration ratings of 1-5. How impact scoring works
People with criminal records are vulnerable to rights violations, particularly while incarcerated or during interactions with law enforcement. By empowering state attorneys general to bring civil suits under Section 242 (deprivation of rights under color of law), this bill could provide redress for abuses by government officials that individuals with criminal records may struggle to challenge on their own.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in Senate
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Rep. Jamie Raskin and Sen. Mazie Hirono reintroduced the State and Local Civil Rights Enforcement Act, which would permit state AGs to initiate civil lawsuits in federal court for violations of federal civil rights laws, providing a new tool to combat hate crimes and police misconduct.
The legislation would allow state attorneys general to bring civil actions in federal court for violations of federal criminal civil rights statutes, such as conspiracy against rights and deprivation of rights under color of law, which are currently only enforceable by the DOJ.
The proposed State and Local Civil Rights Enforcement Act would authorize state attorneys general to bring civil suits for damages or injunctive relief against individuals or groups who violate federal civil rights laws, expanding enforcement beyond the Department of Justice.
No votes or related bills recorded for this bill yet.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
State Authority to Protect Civil Rights
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