A bill on hazing co-authored by Texas Sen. Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo) and Texas Sen. Donna Campbell (R-New Braunfels) has gained traction in the Texas Legislature.
Senate Bill 38 strengthens the statutory definitions of hazing, clarifies immunity provisions and broadens reporting requirements for universities. The Texas Senate’s Criminal Justice Committee approved the bill 5-2. The Senate likewise approved SB 38 and sent it to the House of Representatives.
Under SB 38, the definition of hazing would include coercing the student to consume an alcoholic beverage, liquor or drug, along with the existing definitions of physical brutality, sleep deprivation, confinement in a small space, or other activities that subject the student “to an unreasonable risk of harm or that adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of the student.” Immunity would be extended to any person who voluntarily reports a specific hazing incident before being contacted by the institution concerning the incident and is considered to be acting in good faith throughout any institutional process regarding the incident as determined by the dean of students or other appropriate official.
Another of Zaffirini’s bills, SB 46, would extend sexual harassment protections to workers at any business that employs one or more people. Zaffirini’s bill has an identical companion bill in the house filed by Rep. Erin Zwiener (D-Driftwood). Zwiener explained in an interview with the Daily Record earlier in the legislative session that right now, state law only protects employees at businesses with 15 or more workers. Zwiener’s bill was left pending in the House International Relations and Economic Development Committee last month, but Zaffirini’s bill passed the Senate Committee on State Affairs by a vote of 9-0.
According to the Texas Legislature’s website, Zaffirini is named as an author on more than 200 pieces of legislation in the 86th Legislature. She prefiled 32 bills before the session even began.
