Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that increases penalties for bullying and hazing.

Highlights:

• Prohibits a person from recklessly participating in hazing when it includes the coerced consumption of alcohol or drugs that result in serious harm (Sec 1).

• Prohibits administrators, employees, faculty members, teachers, consultants, alumnus, parents, or volunteers of any organization or school to permit the hazing of a person associated with an organization when it includes the coerced consumption of alcohol or drugs that result in serious harm (Sec 1).

• Specifies that participation in or permission of hazing is classified as a third-degree felony (Sec 1).

• Requires all administrators, employees, faculty members, teachers, consultants, alumnus, parents, or volunteers of any organization or school to immediately report any knowledge or reasonable cause to suspect that a person has suffered or is facing harm related to hazing (Sec 1).

• Specifies that failure to report hazing is classified as a fourth-degree misdemeanor, and the failure to report hazing that causes serious physical harm is a first-degree misdemeanor (Sec 1).

• Expands the definition of hazing to include any act to continue or reinstate membership in or affiliation with any student or other organization that causes, creates, or increases the risk of mental or physical harm, including coercing a person to consume alcohol or a drug (Sec 1).

• Requires the governing authority of each chartered nonpublic school to (Sec 1):

• Adopt a policy addressing harassment, intimidation, or bullying;

• Review it at least once every 3 years;

• Submit the policy to the Department of Education; and

• Post it to the school’s website.

• Requires district boards of education to amend their established harassment, intimidation, or bullying policy to (Sec 1):

• Require each district to maintain a record, verifying that the custodial parent or guardian was notified of an incident; 

• Outline a disciplinary procedure for any student guilty of retaliation against a person who reported said incident; and

• Authorize the review and amendment of the policy at least once every 3 years.

• Requires district boards of education to adopt a resolution that requires the district to take disciplinary action against any pupil who commits an offense of harassment, intimidation, or bullying (Sec 1).

• Authorizes the board to impose additional or alternative measures on a pupil subject to detention or suspension as a result of harassment, intimidation, or bullying (Sec 1).

• Requires the principal or administrator, after receiving notification of a potential incident of harassment, intimidation, or bullying, to conduct an investigation to determine if it occurred (Sec 1).

• Requires the superintendent of a school district to investigate any report of harassment, intimidation, or bullying by an administrator, employee, faculty member, teacher, consultant, or volunteer of a school district (Sec 1).

• Requires each state institution of higher education to adopt a policy regarding harassment, intimidation, or bullying, including the penalties for prohibited actions (Sec 1).

• Requires the Department of Education to provide school districts with evidence-based practices regarding policies to prohibit harassment, intimidation, or bullying (Sec 1).

Full Bill Text