(1) DEFINITION.—As used in this section, “hazing” means any action or situation that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student at a school with any of grades 6 through 12 for purposes including, but not limited to, initiation or admission into or affiliation with any organization operating under the sanction of a school with any of grades 6 through 12. “Hazing” includes, but is not limited to:

(a) Pressuring, coercing, or forcing a student into:

1. Violating state or federal law;

2. Consuming any food, liquor, drug, or other substance; or

3. Participating in physical activity that could adversely affect the health or safety of the student.

(b) Any brutality of a physical nature, such as whipping, beating, branding, or exposure to the elements.

Hazing does not include customary athletic events or other similar contests or competitions or any activity or conduct that furthers a legal and legitimate objective.

(2) SCHOOL DISTRICT POLICY.—Each school district shall adopt in rule a policy that prohibits hazing and establishes consequences for a student who commits an act of hazing. The policy must include:

(a) A definition of hazing, which must include the definition provided in this section.

(b) A procedure for reporting an alleged act of hazing, including provisions that permit a person to anonymously report such an act. However, disciplinary action may not be based solely on an anonymous report.

(c) A requirement that a school with any of grades 9 through 12 report an alleged act of hazing to a local law enforcement agency if the alleged act meets the criteria established under subsection (3).

(d) A provision for referral of victims and perpetrators of hazing to a certified school counselor.

(e) A requirement that each incident of hazing be reported in the school’s safety and discipline report required under s. 1006.09(6). The report must include the number of hazing incidents reported, the number of incidents referred to a local law enforcement agency, the number of incidents that result in disciplinary action taken by the school, and the number of incidents that do not result in either referral to a local law enforcement agency or disciplinary action taken by the school.

(3) CRIMINAL PENALTIES.—This subsection applies only to students in any of grades 9 through 12.

(a)1. A person who commits an act of hazing upon another person who is a member of or an applicant to any type of student organization commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083, if the person knew or should have known the act would result in serious bodily injury or death of such other person and the act results in serious bodily injury or death of such other person.

2. A person who commits an act of hazing upon another person who is a member of or an applicant to any type of student organization commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083, if the person knew or should have known the act would create a potential risk of physical injury or death to such other person and the act creates a potential risk of physical injury or death to such other person.

(b) As a condition of any sentence imposed pursuant to paragraph (a), the court:

1. Shall order the defendant to attend and complete a 4-hour hazing education course and may also impose a condition of drug or alcohol probation.

2. May require the defendant to make a public apology to the students and victims at the school.

3. May require the defendant to participate in a school-sponsored antihazing campaign to raise awareness of what constitutes hazing and the penalties for hazing.

(c) It is not a defense to a charge of hazing that:

1. Consent of the victim had 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.

(4) CONSTRUCTION.—This section shall not be construed to preclude prosecution for a more general offense resulting from the same criminal transaction or episode.

History.—s. 2, ch. 2005-146; s. 9, ch. 2014-184.