JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – With about a week left in the Missouri legislative session, lawmakers are considering a measure that would protect those who call for help for someone in need at a party.
It was inspired by a University of Missouri student who was left with serious injuries after a hazing incident at a now-shuttered fraternity.
Danny Santulli, now 19, was at a party at his fraternity when former members of his same student organization began giving him alcohol.
Court documents show members of the now defunct fraternity chapter of Phi Gamma Delta said fraternity brothers ordered Santulli, a minor at the time, to drink an entire bottle of vodka at the 2021 party. This left Santulli with a host of lasting medical issues, including blindness and being bound to a wheelchair.
The incident saw several fraternity members criminally charged, as well as massive lawsuits filed against the fraternity, its members, its national chapter, and the University of Missouri.
State lawmakers are pushing for a new law that would grant immunity to people who call 911 during or after a hazing incident.
State Senator Kurtis Gregory, R-Marshall, is optimistic Danny’s Law will pass in the last week of the session.
“Peer pressure is a huge thing. Kids want to fit in and we just want to make sure that if there is an incident that happens, a hazing type incident, that first responders are called, that aid is rendered to someone that is having issues,” he said. ” We just want people to not be scared to call for help if there is something happening, because it may not even be related to the hazing.”
Although the bill itself got morphed into a larger omnibus-like measure, Kurtis said he is optimistic is will pass and make it to the governor’s desk.
The bill awaits a final vote in the Missouri House, which could happen as early as Thursday.