Print
Senate File 2067 - IntroducedA Bill ForAn Act 1providing for excused absences from school for student
2mental health needs.
3BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 299.1, Code 2020, is amended by adding
2the following new subsection:
3 NEW SUBSECTION. 3. The board of directors of a public
4school district and the governing body of an accredited
5nonpublic school shall adopt a policy permitting a student to
6take an excused absence from school for reasons pertaining to
7the student’s mental health needs. The policy shall allow at
8least three such absences per school year. The policy shall
9not require that a student provide documentation concerning the
10student’s mental health needs in order to take such an absence.
11The policy shall include a protocol for referring a student
12taking such an absence to a school counselor, school nurse, or
13other appropriate personnel, services, or resources available
14through the school district or nonpublic school or through the
15community.
16EXPLANATION
17The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
18the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
19This bill requires school boards and authorities in charge
20of accredited nonpublic schools to adopt a policy permitting
21a student to take an excused absence from school for reasons
22pertaining to the student’s mental health needs. The policy
23shall allow at least three such absences per school year
24and shall not require that a student provide documentation
25concerning the student’s mental health needs in order to
26take such an absence. The policy shall include a protocol
27for referring a student taking such an absence to a school
28counselor, school nurse, or other appropriate personnel,
29services, or resources available through the school district or
30nonpublic school or through the community.
-1-je/jh
2mental health needs.
3BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 299.1, Code 2020, is amended by adding
2the following new subsection:
3 NEW SUBSECTION. 3. The board of directors of a public
4school district and the governing body of an accredited
5nonpublic school shall adopt a policy permitting a student to
6take an excused absence from school for reasons pertaining to
7the student’s mental health needs. The policy shall allow at
8least three such absences per school year. The policy shall
9not require that a student provide documentation concerning the
10student’s mental health needs in order to take such an absence.
11The policy shall include a protocol for referring a student
12taking such an absence to a school counselor, school nurse, or
13other appropriate personnel, services, or resources available
14through the school district or nonpublic school or through the
15community.
16EXPLANATION
17The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
18the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
19This bill requires school boards and authorities in charge
20of accredited nonpublic schools to adopt a policy permitting
21a student to take an excused absence from school for reasons
22pertaining to the student’s mental health needs. The policy
23shall allow at least three such absences per school year
24and shall not require that a student provide documentation
25concerning the student’s mental health needs in order to
26take such an absence. The policy shall include a protocol
27for referring a student taking such an absence to a school
28counselor, school nurse, or other appropriate personnel,
29services, or resources available through the school district or
30nonpublic school or through the community.
-1-je/jh