Introduced Version
HOUSE BILL No. 1361
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DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL
Citations Affected: IC 20-33-2.
Synopsis: Excused absence from school. Provides that the governing
body of a school corporation or the chief administrative officer of a
nonpublic school system shall authorize the absence and excuse of a
school student if the student participates in certain events offered by
the National FFA Organization, the Indiana FFA Association, or a 4-H
club. Provides that a student's excused absences may not exceed six
days in a school year. Provides that the student must be in good
academic standing.
Effective: July 1, 2024.
Aylesworth, Baird, Culp
January 10, 2024, read first time and referred to Committee on Education.
2024 IN 1361—LS 6911/DI 143 Introduced
Second Regular Session of the 123rd General Assembly (2024)
PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type,
additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional
provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the
word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds
a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts
between statutes enacted by the 2023 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
HOUSE BILL No. 1361
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
education.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
1 SECTION 1. IC 20-33-2-14, AS AMENDED BY P.L.90-2011,
2 SECTION 42, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
3 JULY 1, 2024]: Sec. 14. (a) This section and sections 15 through 17.5
4 17.8 of this chapter apply to a student who attends either a public
5 school or a nonpublic school.
6 (b) The governing body of each school corporation shall have a
7 policy outlining the conditions for excused and unexcused absences.
8 The policy must include the grounds for excused absences required by
9 sections 15 through 17.5 17.8 of this chapter or another law. Any
10 absence that results in a person not attending at least one hundred
11 eighty (180) days in a school year must be in accordance with the
12 governing body's policy to qualify as an excused absence.
13 (c) Service as a page for or as an honoree of the general assembly
14 is a lawful excuse for a student to be absent from school, when verified
15 by a certificate of the secretary of the senate or the chief clerk of the
16 house of representatives. A student excused from school attendance
17 under this section may not be recorded as being absent on any date for
2024 IN 1361—LS 6911/DI 143 2
1 which the excuse is operative and may not be penalized by the school
2 in any manner.
3 SECTION 2. IC 20-33-2-17.8 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
4 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
5 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2024]: Sec. 17.8. (a) Except as provided in
6 subsections (b) and (c), the governing body of a school corporation
7 or the chief administrative officer of a nonpublic school system
8 shall authorize the absence and excuse of each school student if the
9 student participates in a scheduled competition, exhibition, or
10 event offered by:
11 (1) the National FFA Organization;
12 (2) the Indiana FFA Association; or
13 (3) a 4-H club;
14 for educational purposes as evidenced in writing by the student's
15 parent and as approved in writing by the student's school
16 principal. A student excused from school attendance under this
17 section may not be recorded as being absent on any date for which
18 the excuse is operative and may not be penalized by the school in
19 any manner.
20 (b) The number of excused absences a student may receive
21 under subsection (a) may not exceed six (6) instructional days in a
22 school year.
23 (c) In order for a student to receive an excused absence under
24 subsection (a), the student must be in good academic standing, as
25 determined by the school corporation or nonpublic school.
2024 IN 1361—LS 6911/DI 143