Loading chat...
NY A01081
Bill
Status
1/8/2025
Primary Sponsor
Phillip Steck
Click for details
AI Summary
-
Creates civil liability for any person who, acting under color of state law, deprives another of rights, privileges, or immunities secured by New York's constitution and laws
-
Grants New York Supreme Court jurisdiction over civil rights suits, with parties entitled to jury trials and application of common law where state remedies are deficient
-
Requires courts to award reasonable attorney's fees and expert fees to prevailing parties in civil rights enforcement actions
-
Waives sovereign immunity for the state, its subdivisions, agencies, and public authorities, and abolishes immunities that exist under federal civil rights laws (42 U.S.C. §§ 1983 and 1988)
-
Holds the state and all municipal entities (counties, school districts, towns, villages) liable under respondeat superior for constitutional violations by their employees
Legislative Description
Establishes civil liability for anyone subjecting another person to the deprivation of any rights, privileges or immunities secured by law; establishes that the supreme court shall have jurisdiction over such matters and that the prevailing party shall be awarded reasonable attorney's fees as part of the costs; provides that the state waives sovereign immunity for violations of such law.
Last Action
enacting clause stricken
1/15/2026