New anti-hazing law signed in Penn State Pennsylvania after death

HARRISBURG, Pa. – A new anti-hazing law by the death of a Penn State student after a night of drinking in a fraternity house early last year was signed Friday by Pennsylvania's governor.

Gov. Tom Wolf called it "long overdue" as he put his signature to the law.

The law is named for Tim Piazza, a 19-year-old sophomore engineering student who died of severe head and abdominal injuries after suffering a series of falls in the Beta Theta Pi house in February 2017.

His parents Jim and Evelyn Piazza, who have become national advocates for anti-hazing efforts, attended the bill in Capitol.

"Our young people deserve better and we must protect them from this rampant criminal behavior," Jim Piazza said.

The law requires schools to maintain policies to combat hazing and classifies the fate of the hazing incidents that result in severe injury or death. High schools, colleges and universities are required to report hazing incidents.

Authorities said Tim Piazza, who was at the Beta Theta House for a ceremony to accept a pledge bid, consumed a dangerous amount of alcohol before being injured in a downward set of steps.

Security camera footage heard how fraternity members made half-hearted and even counterproductive efforts to address his injuries. Piazza spent the night, mostly on a first floor couch, visible agony, and had additional falls.

He ended up unconscious in the basement by the next morning. After 40 minutes to summon an ambulance. He died the next day at a hospital.

About two dozen Beta Theta Pi Prosecutors have secured guilty pleas, while others are scheduled for trial early next year.

Penn State president Eric Barron said the law will make a difference.

"The fact that aggravated hazing is a powerful, it's powerful of the police side of things," Barron said.

The new law defines hazing as a condition of acceptance into a group on breaking the law; consuming food, booze or drugs that is someone in emotional or physical harm; brutality of a sexual nature; putting them through whipping, beating, branding, calisthenics or exposure to severe weather; or sleep deprivation, "exclusion from social conduct" or extreme embarrassment.

It also establishes third parties for hazing. The least-serious incidents are low-level violations. Hazing that's definitely likely to hurt someone's misdemeanor, while severe injury or death makes it a felony.

There is a "safe harbor" that can not be helped by victims.

The Piazzas said they hoped the Pennsylvania law would inspire changes in other states.

"They have given us justice in this way, and we can hope that they will be able to use these tools so that the law becomes a deterrent to prevent other families from having to endure the loss that we have," they said.

The law takes effect next month.