2023 -- H 6507

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LC003189

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- SCHOOL COMMITTEES AND SUPERINTENDENTS

     Introduced By: Representatives Cotter, Spears, McGaw, Craven, Chippendale, Place,
Roberts, Casimiro, McNamara, and Kennedy

     Date Introduced: June 08, 2023

     Referred To: House Environment and Natural Resources

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 16-2 of the General Laws entitled "School Committees and

Superintendents [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby

amended by adding thereto the following section:

     16-2-37. Excused absences to include participation in agricultural fairs.

     When a school committee, by its policies, provides for excused absences from attendance

in school, for participation in a sport or any other extracurricular activity, that policy shall be

amended and deemed to also include an excused absence from attendance in school for attending

or participating in agricultural fairs as listed or defined by the department of environmental

management. The department of environmental management shall work in consultation with the

department of elementary and secondary education to define what qualifies as an agricultural fair

for purposes of this section.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC003189

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- SCHOOL COMMITTEES AND SUPERINTENDENTS

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     This act would provide that school policies which provide for excused absences for

participation in a sport or other extracurricular activity would be amended and deemed to include

attending agricultural fairs as an excused absence.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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