Bills › 88th General Assembly
Providing for excused absences from school for student mental health needs
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 22, 2020
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 23, 2020
- Stopped: Senate committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: House committee
- Next: Passes the House
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The 2020 session adjourned on June 14, 2020, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary School boards and leaders of private schools would be required to create a policy that lets students miss school for mental health reasons. Students could use at least three of these excused absences each year without needing to show any medical paperwork. The policy must also include a plan to connect these students with school counselors or other helpful community resources.1
Read the official explanation
This bill requires school boards and authorities in charge of accredited nonpublic schools to adopt a policy permitting a student to take an excused absence from school for reasons pertaining to the student’s mental health needs. The policy shall allow at least three such absences per school year and shall not require that a student provide documentation concerning the student’s mental health needs in order to take such an absence. The policy shall include a protocol for referring a student taking such an absence to a school counselor, school nurse, or other appropriate personnel, services, or resources available through the school district or nonpublic school or through the community.
Senate subcommittee
Named January 23, 2020. It hasn’t reported yet.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part