department of revenue;
technical correction
As introduced,
eliminates an obsolete reference to the Governor’s gender. The
proposed strike-everything amendment requires a hazing prevention policy for
all Arizona schools, universities, and community colleges.
Hazing incidents have been documented in the military, athletic teams, marching bands, religious cults, professional schools and other types of groups and organizations, including men’s and women’s clubs and among student groups in middle and high schools as well as in higher education institutions.
Currently, 42 states have anti-hazing laws. Arizona and seven other states do not have state laws prohibiting hazing. Other state statutes describe hazing as a situation that causes a victim to experience mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment or ridicule for reasons including initiation, preinitiation and discrimination.
The proposed strike-everything amendment will require a policy of no tolerance for hazing in any Arizona public educational institutions.
· The hazing prevention policy shall include a description of how the educational institution will ensure that teachers and other staff members receive training in preventing, recognizing and responding to hazing. It must incorporate statements that hazing is prohibited and that all teachers and staff shall take reasonable measures to prevent hazing. It is not a defense to a complaint or violation of a hazing policy if the person against whom the hazing was directed, consented to or acquiesced in the hazing activity. The policy shall also include procedures for directing students and staff how to report violations, file complaints, and investigate reports of violations and complaints. This policy needs to include the appropriate penalties or sanctions for organizations or individuals who engage in hazing. Appropriate penalties include the revocation or suspension of an organization’s permission to operate or exist within the institution’s preview, if that organization knowingly permits, authorizes or condones hazing.
·
Provides definitions
of Educational Institutions, Hazing, Organization, and Student.
HB 2476 proposed strike everything amendment was adopted in the Ways
and Means committee as listed in the provisions.
HB 2476 strike everything amendment was adopted in Committee of the
Whole with the following changes:
· Provides that any staff or teacher that authorized, condoned, or permitted any hazing activity shall be subject to disciplinary actions by the educational institution.
· Specifies that the effective Hazing Prevention Policy is that of the educational institution where a person has been accepted for, promoted to, where a person intends to enroll or be promoted to within the next twelve calendar months.