Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that expands criminal penalties for hazing and implements education and prevention procedures.

Highlights:

• Prohibits any person from recklessly participating in the hazing of another (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits any administrator, employee, faculty member, teacher, consultant, alumnus, or volunteer of any organization including any primary, secondary, post-secondary school, or any other educational institution to recklessly permit the hazing of any person associated with the organization (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits any person from recklessly participating in the hazing of another when it involves coerced consumption of alcohol or drugs of abuse resulting in serious physical harm (Sec. 2903.31).

• Prohibits any administrator, employee, faculty member, teacher, consultant, alumnus, or volunteer of any organization including any primary, secondary, post-secondary school, or any other educational institution to fail in reporting the knowledge of hazing to a law enforcement agency in the county in which the victim resides or where it occurred (Sec. 2903.311).

• Establishes a violation of this section to be a misdemeanor of the fourth degree, and the first degree if the hazing causes serious physical harm (Sec. 2903.311).

• Requires the chancellor of higher education to develop a statewide educational plan to prevent hazing at higher education institutions, and it shall include the following (Sec. 333.0417):

• An anti-hazing policy prohibiting students enrolled in an institution of higher education from engaging in hazing; and

• Guidelines regarding anti-hazing education and training for enrolled students, administrators, faculty members, employees of the institution, and organizations recognized by the institution.

• Requires each institution of higher education to develop an anti-hazing policy prohibiting enrolled students from engaging in hazing, which shall include the following (Sec. 3345.19):

• Rules prohibiting hazing;

• A method to enforce the policy; and

• Appropriate penalties for violations of the policy.

• Requires each institution to provide a copy of the policy and rules to each organization within the institution, and to post it on the institution's publicly accessed website (Sec. 3345.19).

• Requires each institution to maintain a report of all violations of the institution’s policy beginning in the 2022-2023 academic year and post the following on its publicly accessible website (Sec. 3345.19):

• The name of the subject;

• The date when the subject was charged with a violation;

• A general description of the violation, any investigation and findings by the institution, and any penalties imposed on the subject; and

• The date when the matter was resolved.

• Requires each institution to post the initial report on its publicly accessible website not later than January 15, 2023 and thereafter update it on the first day of January and August of each year (Sec. 3345.19).

• Prohibits reports from including personal identifying information of an individual (Sec. 3345.19).

• Requires each institution to provide students with an educational program on hazing including information regarding awareness, prevention, intervention, and the institution’s policy (Sec. 3345.19).

• Requires each institution to provide all staff and volunteers that advise or coach organizations recognized by the institution with mandatory training on hazing (Sec. 3345.19).

Full Bill Text