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12/2/2025
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McNamara prefiles legislation that would create zero tolerance policies for school sports hazing incidents
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 STATE HOUSE — Rep. Joseph M. McNamara (D-Dist. 19, Warwick, Cranston) has prefiled legislation that would create a statewide anti-hazing policy for Rhode Island public schools.
The legislation, which would compel the Department of Education to develop the policy in conjunction with the Rhode Island Interscholastic League, would establish zero tolerance for hazing and ensure discipline that is transparent and consistent.
“As a retired educator, coach and former student athlete, I can state without reservation that hazing is degrading, abusive and dangerous,” said Representative McNamara, who chairs the House Education Committee. “We’ve all worked hard to make schools safer, more welcoming and more inclusive. Athletics should not be an exception to that rule. Regardless of what form it takes, hazing creates an environment of trauma and humiliation, and we have to take it more seriously.”
The proposed legislation comes on the heels of an incident at Smithfield High School where five seniors locked a freshman in the bathroom while spraying him with Lysol, and another at Rogers High School in Newport where four teens were arrested for assaulting a student with special needs in a locker room.
Representative McNamara has forwarded the proposed legislation to the Department of Education and the Interscholastic League for their input. Under the proposal as it stands now, sanctions and penalties would be imposed on students and student-athletes who engage in hazing incidents, and could include suspension from a team, and where appropriate, cancelation of a team’s season.
“We need a statewide policy where every student-athlete, coach and administrator will understand that these behaviors will no longer be acceptable and there will be consequences to both athletes and teams,” said Representative McNamara. “I look forward to the feedback from the Department of Education an the Rhode Island Interscholastic League before I introduce this bill in January.”
For more information, contact:
Daniel Trafford, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401)222-1922
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