District/School Administration Administration
Education Laws and Regulations

603 CMR 33.00:
Anti-Hazing Reporting

33.01: Authority

603 CMR 33.00 is promulgated by the Board of Education pursuant to M.G.L. c. 269, § 19.

33.02: Scope and Purpose

603 CMR 33.00 governs the content and frequency of reports secondary schools must file with the Board of Education regarding the distribution of copies of the law against hazing and the adoption of a disciplinary policy concerning the organizers of and participants in hazing activities.

33.03: Definitions

Hazing shall mean any conduct or method of initiation into any student organization, whether on public or private property, which willfully or recklessly endangers the physical or mental health of any student or other person. Such conduct shall include whipping, beating, branding, forced calisthenics, exposure to the weather, forced consumption of any food, liquor, beverage, drug or other substance, or any other brutal treatment or forced physical activity which is likely to adversely affect the physical health or safety of any such student or other person, or which subjects such student or other person to extreme mental stress, including extended deprivation of sleep or rest or extended isolation.

Non-school affiliated organization shall mean any group or organization that operates on the campus of a secondary school but is not under the authority of such school.

Secondary school shall mean any school, be it public or private, that has been designated or approved as a secondary school by the school committee.

33.04: Filing of Reports

(1) On or before October 1 of each year, the principal or headmaster of every secondary school shall file a report as required by M.G.L. c. 269, § 19 with the Bureau of Student Services.

(2) Such reports as required by 603 CMR 33.04(1) shall include the following certifications:

(a) that the school has issued a copy of M.G.L. c. 269, §§ 17 through 19 to every group or organization under its authority and to every member, plebe, pledgee or applicant for membership in such group or organization;

(b) that the school has issued a copy of M.G.L. c. 269, §§ 17 through 19, to every non-school affiliated organization;

(c) that the school has obtained an acknowledgement of receipt from an officer of every group or organization under its authority, and every individual which has received a copy of M.G.L. c. 269, '' 17 through 19;

(d) that the school has obtained an acknowledgement from a contact person for each non-school affiliated organization that such organization has distributed a copy of M.G.L. c. 269, '' 17 through 19, to every member, plebe, pledgee or applicant for membership in such group or organization;

(e) that the school has adopted a disciplinary policy with regard to the organizers of and participants in hazing which has been approved by the school committee, is available to anyone upon request and has been filed with the Bureau of Student Services as required by M.G.L. c. 71, § 37H.

33.05: Notifying the Attorney General

(1) On November 1 of each year, the Commissioner of Education shall notify the Attorney General of any failure by a secondary school to file a report as required by M.G.L. c. 269, § 19.

Regulatory Authority:
603 CMR 33.00: M.G.L. c. 269, § 19.