Bill Text: WV HB2012 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Including a clearer definition of hazing within West Virginia's antihazing statute

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-01-09 - To House Judiciary [HB2012 Detail]

Download: West_Virginia-2014-HB2012-Introduced.html

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H. B. 2012

          (By Delegate Marshall)
          [Introduced February 13, 2013; referred to the
          Committee on the Judiciary.]




A BILL to amend and reenact §18-16-2, §18-16-3 and §18-16-4 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, all relating to West Virginia's antihazing statute; clarifying the definitions of hazing and institution of higher learning; eliminating potential defenses; permitting the accused to have a hearing; providing protections for the identities of the accused; providing that the antihazing statute does not preclude prosecution from more general offenses; providing for instances of hazing that do not result in an injury any penalty must also include remedial instruction and training.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
     That §18-16-2, §18-16-3 and §18-16-4 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted, all to read as follows:
ARTICLE 16. ANTIHAZING LAW.
§18-16-2. Definitions.
     (a) "Hazing" means to cause any action or situation which recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of another person or persons or causes another person or persons to destroy or remove public or private property for the purpose of initiation or admission into or affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in, any organization operating under the sanction of or recognized as an organization by an institution of higher education. The term Hazing includes, but is not limited to, any brutality of a physical nature, such as whipping, beating, branding, forced consumption of any food, liquor, drug or other substance, or any other forced physical activity which could adversely affect affects the physical health and safety of the individual or individuals, and includes any activity which would subject the individual or individuals to extreme mental stress, such as sleep deprivation, forced exclusion from social contact, forced conduct which could result in extreme embarrassment, or any other forced activity which could adversely affect the mental health or dignity of the individual or individuals, or any willful destruction or removal of public or private property. Provided, That the implied or expressed consent or willingness of a person or persons to hazing shall not be a defense under this section.
     (b) It is not a defense to a charge of hazing that: (1) The consent of the victim has been obtained; (2) the conduct or activity that resulted in the death or injury of a person was not part of an official organizational event or was not otherwise sanctioned or approved by the organization; or (3) the conduct or activity that resulted in death or injury of the person was not done as a condition of membership to an organization.
_____(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, hazing does not include initiation activities that further conditioning goals on athletic teams, promotes scholarship within an organization, promotes service to the community, develops leadership and/or social skills, assists career goals, involves students in lawful activities with alumni, builds awareness of organizational history, instills team-building within the organization, fosters solidarity or otherwise promotes the institutional missions of the institution of higher education.
_____(b) (d) "Institution of higher education" or "institution" means any public or private institution as defined in section two, article one, chapter eighteen-b of this code. These terms also include any public and nonpublic postsecondary educational institutions whose students receive state student financial assistance.
§18-16-3. Hazing prohibited.
     Any person or persons who causes hazing is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $1,000, or confined in a regional jail, not more than nine months, or both fined and imprisoned. Provided, That
     (a) If the act would otherwise be deemed a felony as defined in this code, the person committing such act may be found guilty of such felony and, be subject to penalties provided for such felony.
     (b) This section does not preclude prosecution for a more general offense resulting from the same criminal transaction or episode.__
§18-16-4. Enforcement by institution.
     (a) Antihazing policy. -- The university of West Virginia board of trustees created pursuant to article two, chapter eighteen-b of this code and the board of directors of the state college system created pursuant to article three of said chapter shall by August 1, 1995, Each institution of higher education as defined by subsection (d), section two of this article shall promulgate guidelines for antihazing policies. The guidelines shall consist of clear and concise definitions of what hazing is and what hazing is not and be consistent with the language set forth in this article.
     (b) Enforcement and penalties.--
     (1) Each institution shall provide a program for the enforcement of such rules and shall adopt appropriate penalties for violations of such rules to be administered by the person or agency at the institution responsible for the sanctioning or recognition of such organizations. As the negative stigma associated with a hazing allegation is high, all persons and organizations accused of hazing shall be granted a hearing in which they are permitted to face their accusers and be advised of the allegations against them. The hearing shall permit the accused the right to defend himself or herself and shall be conducted by no fewer than three faculty members and one student.
_____(2) The information provided to the accused persons for purposes of a hearing shall not be made known to the public and consistent with the provisions set forth in subsection five-a, article four, chapter eighteen-b of this code, having to do with a strict adherence to protecting the identities of the accusers from the public domain.
_____(2) (3) In the case of an organization which authorizes serious hazing in blatant intentional disregard of such rules, penalties may also include recision of permission for that organization to operate on campus property or to otherwise operate under the sanction or recognition of the institution.
     (4) In the case of an organization that authorizes hazing in reckless disregard where no injuries, physical or mental are sustained, penalties shall include a period of remedial instruction and training designed to educate each person about what hazing is and what it can cause.
_____(3) (5) All penalties imposed under the authority of this section shall be in addition to any penalty imposed for violation of section three of this article or of any of the criminal laws of this state or for violation of any other institutional rule to which the violator may be subject.
     (4) (6) Rules adopted pursuant hereto apply to acts conducted on or off campus whenever such acts are deemed to constitute hazing.


     NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to clarify the definitions of hazing and institution of higher learning. The bill eliminates potential defenses. The bill permits the accused to a hearing. The bill provides protections for the accused identities. The bill provides that the antihazing statute does not preclude prosecution from more general offenses. The bill provides that instances of hazing that do not result in an injury any penalty must also include remedial instruction and training.

     Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.