REACH Act

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require institutions of higher education to disclose hazing incidents, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Report and Educate About Campus Hazing Act REACH Act 2. Inclusion of hazing incidents in annual security reports Section 485(f)(1)(F) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(1)(F) (1) in clause (i)(IX), by striking and (2) in clause (ii), by striking and (3) in clause (iii), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and (4) by adding at the end the following: (iv) of hazing incidents that were reported to campus security authorities or local police agencies. . 3. Definition of hazing Section 485(f)(6)(A) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(6)(A) (1) by redesignating clauses (iii) through (v) as clauses (iv) through (vi), respectively; and (2) by inserting after clause (ii) the following: (iii) The term hazing (I) was committed in connection with an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in, any organization that is affiliated with such institution of higher education (including any athletic team affiliated with that institution); and (II) contributes to a substantial risk of physical injury, mental harm, or degradation or causes physical injury, mental harm, or personal degradation. . 4. Recording of hazing incidents Section 485(f)(7) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(7) For hazing incidents, such statistics shall be compiled in accordance with the definition of that term in paragraph (6)(A)(iii). 5. Educational program on hazing Section 485(f)(8)(B)(i) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(8)(B)(i) (1) in the matter preceding subclause (I), by inserting , and hazing stalking (2) in subclause (I)— (A) in item (aa), by inserting before the semicolon the following: , and hazing (B) in item (bb), by inserting before the semicolon the following: , and the definition of hazing in paragraph (6)(A)(ii) (C) in item (dd), by inserting , or hazing stalking

Summary: Report and Educate About Campus Hazing Act or the REACH Act This bill requires institutions of higher education (IHEs) that participate in federal student-aid programs to report hazing incidents and distribute policies on hazing. Specifically, the bill requires each IHE to disclose hazing incidents that were reported to campus security authorities or local police agencies in its annual security report. The bill defines the term hazing to mean any intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed by a student, or a former student, of an IHE against another student (regardless of that student's willingness to participate), that (1) is connected with an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in an organization that is affiliated with the IHE (e.g., an athletic team); and (2) contributes to a substantial risk of physical injury, mental harm, or degradation or causes physical injury, mental harm, or personal degradation. In addition, each IHE must distribute to enrolled and prospective students its policies on hazing, including information on education programs that promote hazing awareness.