Rep. Marcelle’s Bill Aims to Support Student’s Mental Health

Article archive / April 2023

Originally published: . Volume 14, No. 4. Source pages: 6.

HB 353 by Rep. Marcelle provides relative to student behavior, discipline, and behavioral and mental health. Elements of the bill include: The present law provides for exemptions from compulsory school attendance, including when children are mentally, physically, or emotionally incapacitated to perform school duties as certified in writing. The proposed law adds that a student may be absent for up to three days in any school year related to the student's mental or behavioral health, that such absences shall not require a certification in writing in order to be excused, that the child may make up missed school work, and that the child shall be referred to school support personnel following the second day of absence. Present law requires instruction on mental health and lists the minimum information to be included. Proposed law adds the difference between mental and physical health and the management of stress and anxiety to the list. Present law provides for in-service training for school


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