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BELLEFONTE, Pa. — A Pennsylvania lawmaker has proposed a bill that would make severe hazing a felony punishable by up to seven years in prison — and fraternity houses where the hazing happened subject to confiscation.

Flanked by the family of Timothy Piazza, the 19-year-old who died after an alcohol-fueled fraternity pledge event at Penn State University last year, state Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman said Friday that the new bill would create "tiers" of hazing offenses. That means hazing could be a third-degree misdemeanor if it resulted in bodily injury and a third-degree felony if it resulted in serious bodily injury or death.

"This is something that's been extremely important because under current law dealing with hazing, prosecutors can only charge M2s, misdemeanor twos, which may not reflect the severity of the crime," Corman, a Republican, told reporters.

Organizations, such as fraternities and sororities, and institutions, such as colleges and universities, would also be subject to these tiers, and if they knowingly promoted hazing, they could be subject to property forfeiture, Corman added.

"This would now hold organizations that do not step up to be accountable for their actions," the lawmaker said.

Corman's voice was choked with emotion as he praised Piazza's parents for their role in the bill.

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"We're here today because of the courage of Jim and Evelyn Piazza," he said. "As a parent, if it were me, I probably would have crawled into my bed, pulled up the covers, and stayed there. But because of their courage, we are here to make sure that this never happens again."

Corman — calling it the "largest and most comprehensive rewrite of the hazing law" in Pennsylvania and possibly the entire country — said the bill is expected to be considered by the state Senate in April and is "very confident" it would pass.