A bill to provide a special defense to the liability of political subdivisions of States under section 1979 of the Revised Statutes (42 U.S.C. 1983) relating to civil actions for the deprivation of rights.

Amends current law creating a Federal cause of action for the violation of a person's civil rights under color of State law to exempt from liability a local government which acted in good faith with a reasonable belief that its actions were not in violation of constitutional rights or laws providing for equal rights of citizens or persons.