Laws and Policies

Chad Meredith Act FL Statute 1006.63

‘(1)As used in this section, the term “hazing” means any action or situation that recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for purposes including, but not limited to:
(a) Initiation into any organization operating under the sanction of a postsecondary institution;
(b) Admission into any organization operating under the sanction of a postsecondary institution; (c) Affiliation with any organization operating under the sanction of a postsecondary institution; or (d) The perpetuation or furtherance of a tradition or ritual of any organization operating under the sanction of a postsecondary institution.’
Also see Andrew’s Law addendum: Statute 1006.63 (Section 11 a-b & 12)

NOTE: Florida Statute 1006.63; deems hazing as a criminal offense. A person commits hazing, a third degree felony, when he or she intentionally or recklessly commits any act of hazing upon another person who is a member of or an applicant to any type of student organization and the hazing results in serious bodily injury or death of such other person. A person commits hazing, a first degree misdemeanor, when he or she intentionally or recklessly commits any act of hazing upon another person who is a member of or an applicant to any type of student organization and the hazing creates a substantial risk of physical injury or death to such other person.

Florida Board of Governors

Hazing means any action or situation, which occurs on or off university property, that recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for purposes including, but not limited to, initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or the perpetuation or furtherance of a tradition or ritual of any university student organization or group whether or not officially recognized by the university.

Stop Campus Hazing Act 2024

In December 2024, The United States Congress passed the Stop Campus Hazing Act, which amends the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act (“Clery Act”). The Stop Campus Hazing Act requires additional publication of hazing reports in the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (ASFSR) and information of confirmed hazing violations in a new Campus Hazing Transparency Report

The term ‘hazing’ means any intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed by a person (whether individually or in concert with other persons) against another person or persons regardless of the willingness of such other person or persons to participate, that
“(I) is committed in the course of an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in, a student organization; and

“(II) causes or creates a risk, above the reasonable risk encountered in the course of participation in the institution of higher education or the organization (such as the physical preparation necessary for participation in an athletic team), of physical or psychological injury