MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Senate passed the "Back the Blue" police immunity bill by a 25-6 margin on Wednesday.
House Bill 202 (HB202) by State Rep. Rex Reynolds (R-Huntsville) would repeal the current laws on police immunity and establish that a law enforcement officer shall be immune from any claim that seeks to impose civil liability on the officer for conduct performed within the officer's discretionary authority.
The bill creates heightened requirements for a plaintiff to prove that an officer acted outside their authority and new legal proceedings and hearings for the plaintiff to bring a complaint. It also creates additional immunity hearings for officers who are accused of misconduct. The bill's provisions cover both civil and criminal immunity for police.
State Sen. Lance Bell (R-Pell City) said on the Senate floor about the bill, "It aims to strengthen protections for officers while providing accountability measures and data transparency."
"Immunity only applies to reasonable policy-compliant actions. Officers are not protected if acting recklessly or violating rights," he added.
Bell continued, 'This defines and gives the protections that law enforcement officers need."
Democrats opposed the bill.
"I like what I heard, but unfortunately it don't apply," State Sen. Rodger Smitherman (D-Birmingham) said. "This bill puts black folks' lives in danger."
Since the Senate amended the bill, it went back to the House on Thursday night, and they agreed to the Senate's amendments. Governor Kay Ivey said she planned on swiftly signing the bill into law.
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