H.F. 285 Section 1. Section 299.1, Code 2023, is amended by adding 1 the following new subsection: 2 NEW SUBSECTION . 3. Policies and rules adopted by a board of 3 directors of a public school district pursuant to this section 4 shall include excusing the absence of a student who has been 5 diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder as defined in section 6 514C.28, subsection 2, to do any of the following: 7 a. Attend an appointment with a health care practitioner. 8 b. Receive services generally recognized to assist people 9 with autism spectrum disorder including applied behavioral 10 analysis, speech therapy, and occupational therapy. 11 c. Travel to an appointment or receive services as described 12 in paragraph “a” or “b” . 13 EXPLANATION 14 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 15 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 16 This bill requires the policies and rules adopted by a public 17 school district’s board of directors to include excusing the 18 absence of a student diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder 19 to attend an appointment with a health care practitioner; to 20 receive services generally recognized to assist people with 21 autism spectrum disorder including applied behavioral analysis, 22 speech therapy, and occupational therapy; or to travel to these 23 appointments or services. The bill’s requirements do not 24 extend to charter schools or nonpublic schools. 25 -1- LSB 2092HH (2) 90 dg/jh 1/ 1