Illinois teachers, coaches and school administrators would face punishment for failing to report hazing under legislation approved by an Illinois House panel. Anyone employed by a school, college, or university who knew about hazing, but did not report it to police, would face up to a year in prison and a $2500 fine.
Representative Martin Moylan, D-Des Plaines, says his proposal will make people accountable for reporting hazing.
“You know, a lot of people thought that hazing had gone by the wayside. But as we found recently, it's still going on.”
Moylan is referring to a case from earlier this year in which a high school in his district fired its soccer coach for failing to report the hazing of several freshmen players.
Illinois Public Radio's Chris Slaby contributed to this report