SB 350: Pupil attendance: excused absences.

Existing law, notwithstanding the requirement that each person between 6 and 18 years of age who is not otherwise exempted is subject to compulsory full-time education, requires a pupil to be excused from school for specified types of absences, including, among others, if the absence is for the purpose of attending the funeral services of a member of the pupils immediate family, provided that the absence is not more than one day if the service is conducted in the state and not more than 3 days if the service is conducted outside the state.

This bill would instead require a pupil to be excused from school for not more than 5 days for the purpose of attending the funeral service or grieving the death of the pupils immediate family member, as provided. The bill would also include as another type of required excused absence an absence for not more than 3 days that is for the purpose of accessing victim or grief support services, as provided, or participating in safety planning as it relates to the death of the pupils immediate family member, as specified. To the extent that this bill would impose additional duties on local educational entities, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 48205 of the Education Code proposed by AB 1503 to be operative only if this bill and AB 1503 are enacted and this bill is enacted last.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.