Pa. OKs tougher penalties for hazing in name of deceased Penn State student
This Oct. 31, 2014, photo provided by Patrick Carns shows Timothy Piazza, (center), with his parents Evelyn and James Piazza, during Hunterdon Central Regional High School football's 'Senior Night' at the high school's stadium in Flemington, N.J. (Patrick Carns via AP)
Stricter criminal penalties for hazing will soon become law under legislation that has unanimously passed both chambers of the Pennsylvania Legislature.
The Senate gave final approval on Monday to a bill that was named after a Penn State student who consumed a dangerous amount of alcohol and suffered a series of lethal falls at a fraternity party nearly two years ago.
The office of Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf said he’ll sign the bill.
The legislation makes the most severe forms of hazing a felony, requires schools to maintain policies to combat hazing and allows confiscation of frat houses where hazing has occurred.
It’s named for Tim Piazza, a 19-year-old from Lebanon, New Jersey.
He died in February 2017 after a night of drinking and hazing at now-closed Beta Theta Pi.
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