Lafayette Representative Nancy Landry is proposing a bill that would substantially increase legal penalties for campus hazing related incidents, in response to the 2017 death of LSU student Maxwell Gruver. Hazing is currently covered by education statues, and not criminal statues, and carries a fine of 100 dollars or less, plus a possible 30 days in jail. Landry’s bill would change that.
Under the proposed legislation, if the incident involves serious injuries, or death, the penalty would escalate to 10,000 dollars and five years in jail.
Landry says the current penalties are far too low for such a dangerous activity.
Under current law, Landry says fraternities, sororities, or other school organizations are rarely held liable in the event of a hazing related death. Landry says that needs to change.