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The Florida Senate

CS/CS/CS/SB 1080 — Hazing

by Appropriations Committee; Education Committee; Criminal Justice Committee; and Senators Book, Stewart, and Rader

This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.

Prepared by: Criminal Justice Committee (CJ)

The bill amends and reorganizes the definition of hazing in s. 1006.63, F.S., to include the perpetuation or furtherance of a tradition or ritual of any organization operating under the sanction of a postsecondary institution.

Currently, s. 1006.63, F.S., protects persons who are members of or applicants to a student organization from hazing. The bill adds a person who is a former member of the organization as a person who is protected under s. 1006.63, F.S.

Persons who solicit others to commit the crime of hazing or who plan any act of hazing may be prosecuted as if they actively participated in the hazing event under the provisions in the bill. If the hazing results in a permanent injury to the victim, the crime is a third degree felony.

The bill provides that a person who provides aid, before medical assistance, law enforcement, or campus security arrive on the scene or if an individual is the first to call 911 seeking medical attention for a hazing victim, and who otherwise cooperates with and assists first responders may not be prosecuted for the crime of hazing. These provisions are named “Andrew’s Law” by the bill.

If approved by the Governor, these provisions take effect October 1, 2019.

Vote: Senate 40-0; House 114-0