In reversal, House budget panel votes to limit police immunity to civil suits – By Michael Martz (Richmond Times) / Sept 1 2020
The House Appropriations Committee endorsed legislation on Tuesday that would eliminate sovereign immunity for police officers from civil liability for alleged misconduct while on duty.
The panel’s action reversed a vote the previous day that had defeated one of Democrats’ top priorities for police and criminal justice reforms in the General Assembly special session.
Tuesday’s vote came at the end of a meeting that had been devoted to reviewing the proposed amendments to the state budget. Del. David Reid, D-Loudoun, asked to reconsider House Bill 5013, which he and one other Democrat had joined with Republicans to defeat in the committee on Monday.
The bill, proposed by Del. Jeff Bourne, D-Richmond, would allow police officers to be sued in civil court for violating a person’s constitutional rights in the course of their duties, a step that supporters say is essential to stopping police from abusing their authority and using unnecessary force, especially against African Americans and other minorities.
