HB589: Gangs; voluntarily submitting to hazing as part of initiation.

HB589

HOUSE BILL NO. 589 Offered January 9, 2008 Prefiled January 8, 2008 A BILL to amend and reenact § 18.2-55.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to participating in hazing of youth gang members. ---------- Patron-- Marsden ---------- Committee Referral Pending ----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 18.2-55.1 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 18.2-55.1. Hazing of youth gang members unlawful; criminal liability.

It shall be unlawful to cause bodily injury by hazing (i) any member of a criminal street gang as defined in § 18.2-46.1, or (ii) a person seeking to become a member of a youth gang or criminal street gang. Any person found guilty of hazing is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. Any person who voluntarily submits to being the subject of hazing is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.

For the purposes of this section, "hazing" means to (i) recklessly or intentionally endanger the health or safety of a person or to inflict bodily injury on a person or (ii) engage in an act of carnal knowledge as defined in § 18.2-64.1 with the person who is the subject of hazing, in connection with or for the purpose of initiation, admission into or affiliation with or as a condition for continued membership in a youth gang or criminal street gang regardless of whether the person so endangered, or injured or who engaged in an act of carnal knowledge participated voluntarily in the relevant activity.

Explanation

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