HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1803        FILED ON: 2/11/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 572

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Carol A. Doherty

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act expanding reasons for excused absences from school to include mental or behavioral health.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Carol A. Doherty

3rd Bristol

2/11/2021

Tram T. Nguyen

18th Essex

2/22/2021

Lindsay N. Sabadosa

1st Hampshire

2/22/2021

David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf

17th Worcester

2/23/2021

Peter Capano

11th Essex

2/26/2021

Danillo A. Sena

37th Middlesex

2/26/2021

Marcos A. Devers

16th Essex

3/11/2021

Elizabeth A. Malia

11th Suffolk

3/15/2021

Adam J. Scanlon

14th Bristol

4/2/2021

Michael P. Kushmerek

3rd Worcester

4/3/2021

David Allen Robertson

19th Middlesex

4/27/2021

Rebecca L. Rausch

Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex

5/5/2021

Carlos González

10th Hampden

5/7/2021

Jack Patrick Lewis

7th Middlesex

5/10/2021

Edward R. Philips

8th Norfolk

5/18/2021


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1803        FILED ON: 2/11/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 572

By Ms. Doherty of Taunton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 572) of Carol A. Doherty and others relative to excused absences from school to include mental or behavioral health.  Education.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

_______________

 

An Act expanding reasons for excused absences from school to include mental or behavioral health.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 1 of Chapter 76 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting in line 25, after the words “any period of six months”, the following:-

“, provided, however, that a school shall excuse two absences due to mental or behavioral health reasons in a six month period. A school shall not require a note or diagnosis from a medical professional to excuse an absence for mental or behavioral health reasons, nor shall a school require an explanation for said absence from the student or their parent or guardian. A child who is absent due to mental or behavioral health shall be offered the opportunity to meet with a certified school counselor upon return to school, but shall not be required to do so.”