Washington, DC – In a significant step toward addressing the dangers of hazing on college campuses, the bipartisan Stop Campus Hazing Act (H.R. 5646, S. 2901) passed the House of Representatives by voice vote on September 24, 2024 and is now moving to the Senate for consideration. Co-led by Representatives Lucy McBath (D-GA) and Jeff Duncan (R-SC) in the House and Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) in the Senate, the bill represents a unified, bipartisan effort to improve campus safety nationwide.
The Stop Campus Hazing Act will amend the Clery Act by introducing three critical requirements for institutions of higher education (IHEs):
- Hazing Reporting: IHEs must report known incidents of hazing in their Annual Security Report and submit these statistics annually to the Department of Education.
- Transparency Report: IHEs must maintain a publicly accessible transparency report, detailing their hazing policies and listing organizations that have violated those policies.
- Prevention Programs: IHEs are required to offer research-informed, campus-wide hazing prevention programs.
The Stop Campus Hazing Act builds on the momentum of two previous bills—the Report and Educate About Campus Hazing (REACH) Act and the End All Hazing Act—to create a more comprehensive approach to preventing and reporting hazing incidents. Over 50 organizations, including Clery Center, StopHazing, SAFE Campuses LLC, the American College Health Association (ACHA), the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors (AFA), the Association of Fraternal Leadership & Values, and the Anti-Hazing Coalition, have endorsed the bill.
This legislation has been shaped by the tireless advocacy of families who have lost loved ones to hazing. Members of Congress who supported the bill have often been personally touched by these tragedies in their districts, including the co-leads, Representatives McBath and Duncan.
“I know the pain of losing a child. I know the hole it leaves in your soul and the questions it leaves us to dwell on for the rest of our lives. Throughout this process, I have been heartbroken to hear the stories of those who lost children to hazing and are now continuing their legacies by making change,” said Representative McBath. “Our bipartisan, bicameral legislation strengthens important national standards for data collection and reporting so that students, their families, and our nation can stop these horrific instances. I am delighted to see it pass the House and thank my colleagues for their support as we strive to protect the health, safety, and success of our students.”
Additionally, the bill will rename the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act to the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act to reflect its broader scope, which now addresses hazing as part of campus crime prevention.
The Stop Campus Hazing Act now moves to the Senate, where it is expected to garner further bipartisan support. Advocates are hopeful that the bill will continue its momentum and reach President Biden’s desk for signing into law.
