Hazing Prevention and Education

Mt. SAC is committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and respectful learning environment for all students. Hazing is strictly prohibited by California law (AB 2193) and the Federal Stop Campus Hazing Act. All students deserve to participate in student life, clubs, teams, and programs without risk of harm, coercion, or humiliation. Hazing is not tolerated under any circumstances. 

• • What is Hazing?

    Hazing is any act or situation created for the purpose of joining, initiating, maintaining membership in, or being accepted by a student group, regardless of a person's willingness to participate.

    Hazing includes any action take that: 

    • Endangers the mental or physical health or safety of another person
    • Causes humiliation, harassment, or intimidation
    • Involves forced or coerced consumption of alcohol, drugs, or other substances
    • Requires illegal, dangerous, or demeaning acts

    Consent is not a defense to hazing: The willingness of an individual to participate in a hazing act does not excuse the behavior of the person(s) or organization(s) committing the hazing. 

    The Federal Definition of Hazing
    The Stop Campus Hazing Act provides a nationally applicable definition for federal reporting requirements under the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act. For these purposes, "Hazing" is specifically defined as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed by a person (individually or in concert with others) against another person(s)—regardless of the victim's willingness to participate—that: 

    • Is committed in the course of an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in, a student organization. 
    • Causes or creates a risk (above the reasonable risk encountered in the course of ordinary participation, such as physical preparation for an athletic team) of physical or psychological injury. 

    Examples of Hazing
    Hazing activities include (but are not limited to) any activity that causes or creates a risk of physical or psychological injury: 

    • Forced alcohol consumption or drinking games
    • Physical tasks such as excessive exercise, "tests of endurance," or sleep deprivation
    • Whipping, beating, striking, or electronic shocking
    • Verbal abuse, humiliation, or name-calling
    • Coercing individuals to perform illegal, dangerous, or unsafe acts
    • Social isolation or confiscation of personal items
    • Confinement in a small space or exposure to the elements
    • Any activity that places another person in reasonable fear of bodily harm through threatening words or conduct

    What is a "Student Organization"? 
    For federal compliance and reporting purposes, the Act broadly defines a Student Organization as an organization at a higher education institution (such as a club, society, association, varsity or junior varsity athletic team, club sports team, fraternity, sorority, band, or student government) in which two or more members are enrolled students, regardless of whether the organization is officially recognized by the institution. 

    Recognizing Hazing Flowchart Graphic

  • Anti-Hazing Policy

    [Insert direct link to official campus policy or Administrative Procedure] 

    Hazing is against the law (Education Code Sections 32050-32052 “Hazing” 32050). Our policy applies to all students, student organizations, athletic teams, campus-recognized groups, and individuals participating in college-sponsored programs. Violations may result in: 

    • Student conduct sanctions 
    • Loss of club or organization recognition 
    • Removal from teams or leadership roles 
    • Referral to law enforcement 
    • Possible civil or criminal penalties under California law 

    California State Law on Hazing 

    Matt’s Law 

    PENAL CODE – PEN [240-248] 
    245.6. 
    (a) It shall be unlawful to engage in hazing, as defined in this section. 
    
    (b) “Hazing” means any method of initiation or preinitiation into a student organization or student body, whether or not the organization or body is officially recognized by an educational institution, which is likely to cause serious bodily injury to any former, current, or prospective student of any school, community college, college, university, or other educational institution in this state. The term “hazing” does not include customary athletic events or school-sanctioned events. 
    
    (c) A violation of this section that does not result in serious bodily injury is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100), nor more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year, or both. 
    
    (d) Any person who personally engages in hazing that results in death or serious bodily injury as defined in paragraph (4) of subdivision (f) of Section 243 of the Penal Code, is guilty of either a misdemeanor or a felony, and shall be punished by imprisonment in county jail not exceeding one year, or by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170. 
    
    (e) The person against whom the hazing is directed may commence a civil action for injury or damages. The action may be brought against any participants in the hazing, or any organization to which the student is seeking membership whose agents, directors, trustees, managers, or officers authorized, requested, commanded, participated in, or ratified the hazing. 
    
    (f) Prosecution under this section shall not prohibit prosecution under any other provision of law. 

    AB-2193 Hazing: educational institutions: prohibition and civil liability: reports and resources. 
    Part 40 of Division 5 of Title 3 of the Education Code 

    SECTION 1. 
    Section 32051 is added to the Education Code, to read: 
    

    32051.
    (a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply: 
    (1) “Hazing” means a method of initiation or preinitiation into a student organization or student body that is likely to cause serious bodily injury to a former, current, or prospective pupil of a school. “Hazing” does not include customary athletic events or school-sanctioned events. 
    (2) “School” means a public or private school in the state maintaining kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive. 
    (b) On or before July 1, 2025, the department shall make available on the department’s internet website both of the following: 
    (1) A model antihazing policy for local educational agencies.
    (2) Resources on hazing prevention for professional development purposes and for increasing awareness among pupils, school staff, and community members of the dangers of hazing. 

    (c) Schools are encouraged to use the resources made available by the department pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) for professional development purposes and for increasing awareness among pupils, school staff, and community members of the dangers of hazing. 

    SEC. 2. 

    Chapter 5.1 (commencing with Section 66305) is added to Part 40 of Division 5 of Title 3 of the Education Code, to read: 

    CHAPTER  5.1. Stop Campus Hazing Act 
    66305. This chapter shall be known, and may be cited, as the Stop Campus Hazing Act.
    66306. Unless the context otherwise requires, for purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:

    (a) “Affiliated” means currently recognized or sanctioned by the educational institution through its official student organization application process. For purposes of this chapter, an organization that had previously been recognized or sanctioned by the educational institution but has subsequently had that recognition or sanction withdrawn or revoked by the educational institution shall not be considered affiliated. 
    

    (b) “Educational institution” means a public or private institution of higher education in the state. The term includes the officers, employees, or governing bodies of the institution, when acting in their official capacity. 

    (c) “Hazing” means any method of initiation or preinitiation into an affiliated student organization or student body, which the initiator knows or should have known is likely to cause serious bodily injury to any former, current, or prospective student of any school, community college, college, university, or other educational institution in this state. The term “hazing” does not include customary athletic events or school-sanctioned events. 

    66307. No person shall be subjected to hazing in any program or activity conducted by any educational institution that receives, or benefits from, state financial assistance or enrolls students who receive state student financial aid.

    66308. (a) Beginning January 1, 2026, a former, current, or prospective student, against whom hazing is directed and who has suffered injury as a result, may commence a civil action for damages. In addition to bringing an action against any participants in the hazing or the organization pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 245.6 of the Penal Code, an action may be brought against any educational institution for the hazing practice of the organization involving one or more students if all of the following apply:

    (1) The educational institution had direct involvement in the hazing practice of the organization, or knew or should have known of the hazing practice and failed to take reasonable steps to prevent the hazing practice of the organization. 

    (2) At the time of the alleged hazing incident, the organization involved in the hazing is affiliated with the educational institution. 

    (3) The alleged hazing incident occurred on or after January 1, 2026. 

    (b) For purposes of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a), there shall be a rebuttable presumption that an educational institution took reasonable steps to prevent the hazing practice of the organization if the educational institution has all of the following: 

    (1) (A) Rules and regulations governing student behavior that include a prohibition on hazing, anonymous reporting of hazing incidents, and disciplinary actions for the violation of the hazing prohibition. 

    (B) Procedures by which all students are informed of the rules and regulations, with applicable penalties, and any revisions to the rules and regulations. 

    (2) (A) Rules and regulations governing employee behavior that include a prohibition on hazing and disciplinary actions for the violation of the hazing prohibition. 

    (B) Procedures by which all employees are informed of the rules and regulations, with applicable penalties, and any revisions to the rules and regulations. 

    (3) (A) A comprehensive prevention and outreach program addressing hazing. The comprehensive prevention program shall include components on identifying hazing, hazing prevention, and bystander intervention strategies. An outreach program shall be provided to inform students of the educational institution’s policy on the prohibition of hazing, and, at a minimum, include a process for contacting and informing the student body, athletic programs, and affiliated student organizations about the educational institution’s overall prohibition on hazing policy. For purposes of this paragraph, “comprehensive prevention and outreach program” includes, but is not limited to, providing information to students about all of the following: 

    (i) Hazing awareness, prevention, and the educational institution’s policy on the prohibition of hazing. 

    (ii) Campus policies and resources relating to hazing, including how to report hazing to the appropriate campus personnel, which includes anonymous reporting. 

    (iii) A focus on prevention and bystander intervention training as it relates to hazing. 

    (B) The comprehensive prevention and outreach program to address hazing shall be part of every incoming student’s orientation and shall be offered annually to the following campus affiliated organizations: 

    (i) Athletic teams. 

    (ii) Affiliated sororities and fraternities. 

    (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, nothing in this section affects existing rights, obligations, and remedies under Section 245.6 of the Penal Code. 

    (d) The duties and obligations imposed by this chapter are cumulative with any other duties or obligations imposed under other law and shall not be construed to relieve any party from any duties or obligations imposed under other law, and do not limit any rights or remedies under existing law.