Lawmakers discuss bill that would criminalize hazing in New Mexico
Albuquerque Democrat Senator Harold Pope tried this bill last year, but it never got a full vote. However, this time Pope thinks lawmakers can get it done. 'They can no longer turn a blind eye to this and say boys will be boys or this is just what happens in athletics,' said Senator Harold Pope, (D-Albuquerque).
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Saying hazing culture needs to end at New Mexico schools, Senator Harold Pope is now re-introducing the 'Anti-Hazing Act,' a bill aimed at keeping hazing from happening in higher-ed.
'New Mexico is one of the states that doesn't have anti-hazing laws, so we've wanted this for a while. I think unfortunately these instances that have happened, that brought it even more to the forefront,' said Sen. Pope.
The effort comes a month after the attorney general released a scathing report about what happened with the New Mexico State University men's basketball team two years ago. Investigators say three players spent months targeting team members with sexualized attacks.
The bill would make a code of conduct and a hazing prevention committee at New Mexico universities and require annual reports on hazing incidents. It would also make hazing a misdemeanor. 'I think it's really the accountability piece. My hope is that no one ever gets a misdemeanor. My hope is that we change the culture when folks are coming to the school whether they be an employee or a student they are trained on hazing is unacceptable,' said Senator Pope.
Attorney General Raul Torrez has urged lawmakers to push hazing legislation this session. 'We think it's a necessary element of any comprehensive package, but I do want to stress the fact that it's far past time for New Mexico to move on these issues,' said Raúl Torrez, New Mexico Attorney General.
Senator Harold's bill would also require universities and colleges to give students and staff hazing prevention education at the start of each academic year.
Lawmakers debated the bill in a first committee Wednesday where some raised concerns about how the law was written and how it could also apply to minors in middle or high schools when the intent is to address hazing in higher education. The bill is expected to be brought back to the committee by the end of the week.
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