SENATE, No. 84

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2020 SESSION

 


 

Sponsored by:

Senator  CHRISTOPHER "KIP" BATEMAN

District 16 (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset)

Senator  LINDA R. GREENSTEIN

District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)

 

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

     Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.

 


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.  Any such hazing act is upgraded to aggravated hazing, a crime of the fourth degree, if serious bodily injury results. 

     This bill increases disorderly persons hazing to a crime of the fourth degree and aggravated hazing to a crime of the third degree.  A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both.  A crime of the third degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of three to five years, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. 

     Additionally, the bill clarifies that prohibited hazing conduct includes, but is not limited to, causing, coercing or forcing the consumption of alcohol or drugs.

 “Timothy J. Piazza’s Law”, upgrades hazing; clarifies that prohibited conduct includes causing, coercing or forcing consumption of alcohol or drugs.