Bill Summary: HB 6878

• Allows parties to make interlocutory appeals of trial court denials of governmental immunity defense in civil actions against police officers; requires officers claiming good faith belief their conduct did not violate law to justify immunity defense.

• Establishes "reasonable officer" standard for evaluating use of force justification based on totality of circumstances known to officer at time, rather than with hindsight; permits adverse inference if officer deliberately fails to record use of force in violation of law.

• Restricts law enforcement ability to search motor vehicles during traffic stops to cases involving probable cause, unsolicited consent, or solicited consent when officer has reasonable suspicion of weapons or contraband; requires written documentation of solicitation within 48 hours.

• Revises police pursuit policy to include authority for pursuits of suspects in larceny of motor vehicles, catalytic converter theft, and trafficking in persons; updates policy revision deadline to January 1, 2024.

• Requires sex offense registry verification of residence addresses every 90 days and establishes in-person verification for registrants in towns with split mail delivery or lacking residential mail delivery; effective dates vary from passage through October 1, 2023.