SSB 3041 (LSB 5971XC (2) 91)

SENATE FILE _____ 

BY  (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION BILL BY CHAIRPERSON EVANS)

A BILL FOR

An Act requiring boards of directors of school districts, governing boards of charter schools, and authorities in charge of accredited nonpublic schools to adopt policies related to excusing student absences for 4-H club or FFA activities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 256E.7, subsection 2, Code 2026, is amended by adding the following new paragraph:
   NEW PARAGRAPH.  0w.  Be subject to and comply with the requirements of section 299.1, subsection 5, relating to absences from school because of involvement in an activity or project sponsored by a 4-H club or the FFA in the same manner as a school district.
    Sec. 2.  Section 299.1, Code 2026, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  5.  The board of directors of each public school district and the governing body of each accredited nonpublic school shall adopt a policy that requires the school district or the accredited nonpublic school to grant a student an excused absence when the student is absent from school because of the student’s involvement in an activity or project sponsored by a 4-H club or the FFA. The policy shall also require the school district or accredited nonpublic school to allow a student who is absent from school because of the student’s involvement in an activity or project sponsored by a 4-H club or the FFA to make up any classwork the student was not able to complete as a result of the absence.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill requires boards of directors of school districts, governing boards of charter schools, and authorities in charge of accredited nonpublic schools to adopt policies related to excusing student absences for 4-H club or FFA activities.
   The bill requires the board of directors of each school district, the governing board of a charter school, and the authorities in charge of each accredited nonpublic school to adopt a policy that requires the school to grant a student an excused absence when the student is absent from school because of the student’s involvement in an activity or project sponsored by a 4-H club or the FFA. The bill also requires that the policy allow a student who is absent from school because of the student’s involvement in an activity or project sponsored by a 4-H club or the FFA to make up any classwork the student was not able to complete as a result of the absence.