SENATE DOCKET, NO. 213        FILED ON: 1/9/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Bruce E. Tarr

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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 relative to student absences based on religiously held beliefs.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 213        FILED ON: 1/9/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act relative to student absences based on religiously held beliefs.

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. Chapter 71 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting at the end the following:-  

Section __: Notwithstanding section 31A, no student shall be punished for an absence when such absence is the result of the observance of a meaningfully held religious belief.   

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage.