A bill to criminalize hazing on Georgia college and university campuses that comes after the death of a fraternity pledge in Louisiana passed in the state Senate on Friday.
Sponsored by state Sen. John Albers, R-Roswell, the bill would make it a felony with prison time and a $50,000 fine for anyone who injures or contributes to killing a member of a fraternity, sorority or other college club through hazing, including by alcohol abuse or physical torture.
Those who do not intervene to stop life-threatening hazing activities would face misdemeanor charges, while those who report hazing allegations to authorities would enjoy legal protections in the event of criminal prosecution or civil claims.
ATLANTA (AP) Georgia lawmakers are again seeking to increase penalties for hazing, seeking to honor a Georgia teen who died from alcohol poisoning after a 2017 incident at a Louisiana State University fraternity.
The Georgia Senate voted 47-0 on Friday for Senate Bill 85, which would make forcing people to participate in hazing a felony when someone is seriously injured, including by alcohol poisoning.
“This bill, the Max Gruver Act, will ultimately save lives and protect our youth,” said state Sen. John Albers, a Roswell Republican.
Gruver was a student from Roswell, an Atlanta suburb, who had only been at LSU a month when he died in September 2017. Witnesses said Matthew Naquin singled Gruver out during a hazing ritual at the Phi Delta Theta fraternity house. Naquin, from Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas, ordered Gruver to chug a bottle of 190-proof liquor. Gruver died the following morning. His blood-alcohol level was 0.495%, which is more than six times the legal limit to drive in
Georgia lawmakers again seek to make college hazing a felony washingtontimes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from washingtontimes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.