Sponsored by:
Senator CHRISTOPHER "KIP" BATEMAN
District 16 (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset)
Senator LINDA R. GREENSTEIN
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
Senator TROY SINGLETON
District 7 (Burlington)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senator Corrado
SYNOPSIS
“Timothy J. Piazza’s Law”, upgrades hazing; clarifies that prohibited conduct includes causing, coercing or forcing consumption of alcohol or drugs.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning hazing and designated as Timothy J. Piazza’s law, and amending P.L. 1980, c.169.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 1 of P.L.1980, c.169 (C.2C:40-3) is amended to read as follows:
1. Hazing. a. A person is guilty of hazing, a [disorderly persons offense] crime of the fourth degree, if, in connection with initiation of applicants to or members of a student or fraternal organization, he knowingly or recklessly organizes, promotes, facilitates or engages in any conduct, including, but not limited to causing, coercing or forcing the consumption of alcohol or drugs, other than competitive athletic events, which places or may place another person in danger of bodily injury.
b. A person is guilty of aggravated hazing, a crime of the [fourth] third degree, if he commits an act prohibited in subsection a. which results in serious bodily injury to another person.
(cf: P.L.1980, c.169, s.1)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
Currently, a person commits the disorderly persons offense of hazing if, in connection with initiation of applicants to or members of a student or fraternal organization, he knowingly or recklessly organizes, promotes, facilitates or engages in any conduct, other than competitive athletic events, which places or may place another person in danger of bodily injury. A person is guilty of aggravated hazing, a crime of the fourth degree, if serious bodily injury results. This bill increases hazing to a crime of the fourth degree and aggravated hazing to a crime of the third degree. The bill further clarifies that prohibited conduct includes, but is not limited to, causing, coercing or forcing the consumption of alcohol or drugs.