What's happening
This bill expands second degree assault to include causing serious injury during first degree hazing in New York.
Why it matters
Raises the legal consequences for hazing. By classifying serious injuries from first degree hazing as second degree assault, the bill significantly increases the potential penalties for those involved in hazing incidents that result in severe harm.
Targets group accountability. The amendment applies not only to the person directly causing the injury, but also to any participant in the hazing event, broadening legal responsibility and potentially deterring group complicity.
Aims to deter dangerous initiation practices. The change is likely to make fraternities, sororities, athletic teams, and other organizations reconsider or reform initiation rituals, as the risk of felony charges and prison time becomes more explicit.
Addresses gaps in current law. Previously, causing serious injury during hazing may not have triggered assault charges at this level; this bill closes that gap, signaling a stronger stance against violent or harmful hazing in New York.
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Who cares
People participating in first-degree hazing
They could face second-degree assault charges if they or another participant cause serious physical injury to another person during and in furtherance of the hazing.
Hazing victims
The bill would make serious physical injury caused during and in furtherance of first-degree hazing a basis for second-degree assault charges.
Prosecutors and criminal defense attorneys
The bill would add a second-degree assault provision covering serious injury caused by a hazing participant, including someone other than the person charged.
Headline styles
Increase Penalties for Hazing Injuries
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
9 Co-sponsors
3 Multi-sponsors
History
- Referred to codes
- Referred to codes
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Hazing Injuries Become Felony
In Senate Committee · Codes · Sponsor Betty Little
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1580
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 15, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. JONES, SIMON, PICHARDO, DAVILA, RAIA, LAWRENCE, BLANKENBUSH, MONTESANO, PALUMBO, TAYLOR -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. ENGLEBRIGHT, GALEF, STEC, THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to expanding the offense of assault in the second degree to include the infliction of serious physical injury in the course of committing hazing in the first degree
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 14 of section 120.05 of the penal law, as added by chapter 268 of the laws of 2016, is amended and a new subdivision 15 is added to read as follows:
14. With intent to prevent or obstruct a process server, as defined in section eighty-nine-t of the general business law, from performing a lawful duty pursuant to article three of the civil practice law and rules, or intentionally, as retaliation against such a process server for the performance of the process server's duties pursuant to such article, including by means of releasing or failing to control an animal evincing the actor's intent that the animal prevent or obstruct the lawful duty of the process server or as retaliation against the process server, he or she causes physical injury to such process server[.]; or
15. In the course of and in furtherance of the commission of the crime of hazing in the first degree, as defined in section 120.16 of this article, he or she, or another participant if there be any, causes serious physical injury to another person.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of November next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03002-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.