The New York City Council on Thursday passed legislation that would make it easier to sue police officers for use of excessive force and other forms of misconduct. The legislation would limit so-called qualified immunity, a decades-old legal protection that has given police officers near-immunity from lawsuits. Mayor Bill de Blasio is expected to sign the legislation, making New York City the largest jurisdiction to limit police officers’ use of qualified immunity. The bill was among several other measures the council approved Thursday, including a $72 million plan to improve police practices and accountability.