2003 Senate Bill 783 / 2004 Public Act 111

Ban "hazing" in schools.

Introduced in the Senate

Oct. 21, 2003

Introduced by Sen. Michelle McManus (R-35)

To establish criminal penalties for "hazing" in schools and colleges. The bill would make activity resulting in injury a misdemeanor, and a felony if it results in serious injury or death. The bill exempts any activity that is normal and customary in an athletic, military training, or similar program. "Hazing" is an initiation to a student organization that causes danger, personal degradation, or disgrace. The bill lists specific activities that may be considered hazing, and establishes that the consent of the victim is no excuse.

Referred to the Committee on Judiciary

March 11, 2004

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (S-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

March 16, 2004

Substitute offered

To replace the previous version of the bill with one that revises details but does not change the substance of the bill as previously described. The substitute was amended to expand the scope of the bill to include school employees.

The substitute passed by voice vote

March 17, 2004

Passed in the Senate 37 to 0 (details)

To establish criminal penalties for "hazing" by students or employees in schools and colleges. The bill would make activity resulting in injury a misdemeanor, and a felony if it results in serious injury or death. The bill exempts any activity that is normal and customary in an athletic, military training, or similar program. "Hazing" is an initiation to a student organization that causes danger, personal degradation, or disgrace. The bill lists specific activities that may be considered hazing, and establishes that the consent of the victim is no excuse. Note: In a party-line vote, the body voted that a Democratic amendment to include bullying provisions (see Senate Bill 93) was not germane, and therefore would not receive a vote.

Received in the House

March 17, 2004

Referred to the Committee on Criminal Justice

March 31, 2004

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (H-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

April 20, 2004

Substitute offered

To replace the previous version of the bill with one that also applies its prohibitions to a person who is a volunteer of an educational institution; increases the maximum imprisonment for a violation causing serious impairment of a body function, from one year to five years; and includes expands the definition of “hazing” to include illegal actions done for the purpose of participating in any organization.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. David Woodward (D-26)

To require the board of each educational institution to adopt a written policy banning hazing.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Doug Spade (D-57)

To expand the scope of he bill to include elementary schools.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Chris Kolb (D-53)

To require health care providers who treat a person for injuries incurred as a result of hazing to notify the local law enforcement agency.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Passed in the House 98 to 5 (details)

To establish criminal penalties for "hazing" by students or employees in schools and colleges. The bill would make activity resulting in injury a misdemeanor, and a felony if it results in serious injury or death. The bill exempts any activity that is normal and customary in an athletic, military training, or similar program. "Hazing" is an initiation to a student organization that causes danger, personal degradation, or disgrace. The bill lists specific activities that may be considered hazing, and establishes that the consent of the victim is no excuse.

Received in the Senate

April 21, 2004

May 4, 2004

Amendment offered by Sen. Alan L. Cropsey (R-33)

To not apply the bill to elementary schools (where some playground behaviors might be defined as "hazing" under the bill; strip out a provision that requires reporting to police by health care providers "while the individual is on the premises"; and strip out a provision which requires the board of each educational institution to adopt a written hazing policy, but provides no money for this.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Passed in the Senate 37 to 0 (details)

To concur with the House-passed version of the bill, but only after stripping out provisions that apply the bill to elementary schools, require reporting to police by health care providers, and require the boards of educational institution to adopt written hazing policies. See Cropsey amendment.

Received in the House

May 4, 2004

May 11, 2004

Passed in the House 97 to 2 (details)

To concur with the Senate-passed version of the bill.

Received in the Senate

May 12, 2004

Signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm

May 20, 2004