Higher educational institutions, nonprofit and public; hazing policies. (HB525)

Introduced By

Del. Kathleen Murphy (D-McLean) with support from 8 copatrons, whose average partisan position is:

Those copatrons are Del. Kelly Fowler (D-Virginia Beach), Del. Patrick Hope (D-Arlington), Del. Kaye Kory (D-Falls Church), Del. Ken Plum (D-Reston), Del. Sam Rasoul (D-Roanoke), Irene Shin (D-Herndon), Del. Marcus Simon (D-Falls Church), Del. Rip Sullivan (D-Arlington)

Description

Institutions of higher education; hazing; policies. Establishes mandates at nonprofit private institutions of higher education and public institutions of higher education relating to hazing and defines different types of organizations at such institutions to which the mandates apply. The bill requires student organizations officially recognized by an institution of higher education structured in such a way that upon invitation for membership, individuals do not automatically become members of such organization and have a period of time between invitation for membership and being initiated into membership, to have an advisor present at all official events where new members and members of the student organization hosting the event are invited or are instructed to attend, except that such advisors may be asked to leave the room during ceremonies, rituals, or other such events that are only permitted to be attended by the new members and members. Such advisors shall provide extensive, current, and in-person education and information on hazing to all members and new members of such organizations. The bill requires the governing board of each institution to include as part of its policy, code, rules, or set of standards governing sexual violence a provision for immunity from disciplinary action based on hazing or personal consumption of drugs or alcohol where such disclosure is made in conjunction with a good faith report of an act of hazing in advance of or during an incident of hazing that causes injury to a person. Beginning with the 2022–2023 academic year, the bill requires each institution to maintain and publicly report actual findings of violations of the institution's code of conduct or of federal or state laws pertaining to hazing that are reported to campus authorities or local law enforcement. This bill shall be known as Adam's Law. Read the Bill »

Status

01/11/2022: Awaiting a Vote in the Education Committee

History

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