Senate Bill No. 297–Senator Titus

March 3, 1999

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Referred to Committee on Judiciary

 

SUMMARY—Prohibits hazing at high schools, colleges and universities in this state. (BDR 15-712)

FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: Yes.

Effect on the State or on Industrial Insurance: No.

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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted. Green numbers along left margin indicate location on the printed bill (e.g., 5-15 indicates page 5, line 15).

 

AN ACT relating to crimes; prohibiting hazing at high schools, colleges and universities in this state; providing a penalty; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

1-1 Section 1. Chapter 200 of NRS is hereby amended by adding thereto a

1-2 new section to read as follows:

1-3 1. A person who engages or conspires to engage in hazing is guilty

1-4 of:

1-5 (a) A misdemeanor, if no substantial bodily harm results.

1-6 (b) A gross misdemeanor, if substantial bodily harm results.

1-7 2. Consent of a victim of hazing is not a valid defense to a

1-8 prosecution conducted pursuant to this section.

1-9 3. For the purposes of this section, an activity shall be deemed to be

1-10 "forced" if initiation into or affiliation with a student organization,

1-11 academic association or athletic team is directly or indirectly conditioned

1-12 upon participation in the activity.

1-13 4. As used in this section, "hazing" means an activity in which a

1-14 person intentionally or recklessly endangers the physical health of

1-15 another person for the purpose of initiation into or affiliation with a

1-16 student organization, academic association or athletic team at a high

1-17 school, college or university in this state. The term:

1-18 (a) Includes, without limitation, any physical brutality or brutal

1-19 treatment, including, without limitation, whipping, beating, branding,

2-1 forced calisthenics, exposure to the elements or forced consumption of

2-2 food, liquor, drugs or other substances.

2-3 (b) Does not include any athletic, curricular, extracurricular or quasi-

2-4 military practice, conditioning or competition that is sponsored or

2-5 approved by the high school, college or university.

2-6 Sec. 2. The amendatory provisions of this act do not apply to offenses

2-7 that were committed before October 1, 1999.

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