By
Eric Swedlund
Arizona Daily Wildcat
PHOENIX - The Senate approved a bill yesterday that would mandate a hazing prevention policy at all public schools.
House Bill 2476 would require every Arizona public educational institution to "adopt, post, and enforce a hazing prevention policy."
An amendment adopted to the bill requires schools to print the hazing policy in student handbooks and requires that any printed definition is consistent with the bill's definition.
The Senate passed the bill 27-3.
The bill defines hazing as "a situation that causes a victim to experience mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment or ridicule for reasons including initiation, pre-initiation, and discrimination."
Hazing is already prohibited under the University of Arizona's student code of conduct, which also prescribes sanctions against violations.
The House of Representatives has already passed the bill, sponsored by Rep. Steve May, R-Paradise Valley, but will need to reconsider the bill because of the amendment before advancing the legislation to Gov. Jane Hull.