AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS (Directs the state department of education to establish an anti-hazing policy in student athletics.)

S2495

2026 -- S 2495
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LC004829
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS

Introduced By:
Senators LaMountain, McKenney, Felag, Burke, Gallo, Tikoian,
DiPalma, Murray, and Appollonio

Date Introduced:
February 06, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Judiciary
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Chapter 16-21 of the General Laws entitled "Health and Safety of Pupils" is
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hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
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16-21-44. Policy on addressing and prohibiting hazing in student athletics.

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(a) The department of elementary and secondary education (the “department”), in
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conjunction with the Rhode Island interscholastic league (the “interscholastic league”), shall
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establish an anti-hazing policy (hereinafter “policy”) to address acts of hazing in student athletics.
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The guiding principle behind this policy is that hazing, bullying and harassment have no place in
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any school environment. This policy shall incorporate best practices as determined by the
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department and the interscholastic league. This policy shall also establish zero tolerance for hazing
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and ensure discipline for hazing incidents is transparent and consistently applied across the state.
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(b) This policy shall include the following:
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(1) Definitions and illustrations of hazing;
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(2) Sanctions and penalties to be imposed on students and student-athletes who engage in
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hazing incidents, which penalties may include, but are not limited to, suspension from a team, the
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periods of such suspension, and where appropriate, team-level consequences, which may include
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the cancelation of a team’s season;
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(3) The recognition that consent by a person being subjected to an act of hazing is not a
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defense under this section;
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(4) Education and prevention components that incorporate the opportunity to connect with

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any emerging statewide efforts around school climate, anti-bullying, and anti-hate initiatives in
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Rhode Island schools; and
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(5) A requirement that each student-athlete subject to this policy shall, prior to attending
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any team practices, meetings, games, or other functions, sign an acknowledgement and recognition
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that a violation of the policy may result in the imposition of penalties and sanctions. This document
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may be a separate acknowledgement or combined with other documents student-athletes are
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required to sign as a condition of participation.
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(d) The department and the league shall use best practices to establish a comprehensive
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definition for hazing. By way of guidance, and not as a limitation, the definition of hazing should
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include as an element, the imposition or activity of humiliating, degrading, abusing, or endangering
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a person, often in the context of a group setting.
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(e) Every school and school district participating within the Rhode Island interscholastic
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league shall be subject to the provisions of this section and the anti-hazing policy.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS
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This act would direct the department of elementary and secondary education, in
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conjunction with the Rhode Island interscholastic league, to promulgate rules and regulations to
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address, minimize, and establish an anti-hazing policy for acts of hazing in student athletics.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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