AB 299: Hazing: educational institutions: civil liability: resources.

Existing law makes it unlawful to engage in hazing, which is defined as a method of initiation or preinitiation into a student organization or student body, whether or not the organization or body is officially recognized by an educational institution, that is likely to cause serious bodily injury to a former, current, or prospective student of a school, community college, college, university, or other educational institution in the state. Existing law establishes civil liability for hazing participants or the organization if it is involved in the hazing.

This bill would, beginning January 1, 2025, additionally establish civil liability for an educational institution, which the bill would define as a public or private institution of higher education in the state, if the institution has direct involvement in the hazing practices of the organization, or knew or in the exercise of ordinary care reasonably should have known of the hazing practices of the organization to which the student is seeking membership and unreasonably failed to prevent, discover, or stop the hazing practices, and the organization involved in the hazing is affiliated with the educational institution at the time of the alleged hazing incident. For purposes of determining whether an educational institution unreasonably failed to prevent, discover, or stop the hazing practices, the bill would require consideration of the extent to which the institution had specific antihazing measures in place at the time of the alleged hazing incident.

This bill would also require the State Department of Education to make available on the departments internet website, on or before July 1, 2024, a model antihazing policy for local educational agencies and resources on hazing prevention for professional development purposes and to increase awareness among pupils, school staff, and community members of the dangers of hazing.