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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2947 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 557
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Carol A. Doherty
_________________
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act expanding reasons for excused absences from school to include mental or behavioral
health.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Carol A. Doherty3rd Bristol1/16/2025James K. Hawkins2nd Bristol2/11/2025 1 of 1
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2947 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 557
By Representative Doherty of Taunton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 557) of
Carol A. Doherty and James K. Hawkins relative to excused absences from school. Education.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act expanding reasons for excused absences from school to include mental or behavioral
health.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Section 1 of Chapter 76 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020
2Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting in line 25, after the words “any period of six
3months”, the following:-
4 “, provided that a school shall excuse absences due to mental health symptoms in the
5same manner that absences are excused for physical health symptoms. Likewise, any
6requirement for documentation, either from a parent or health professional, shall be consistent
7for absence due to mental health symptoms as for physical health symptoms. When
8documentation is required of a healthcare professional, a school shall accept documentation from
9licensed mental health care professionals in the same manner as documentation from other health
10care professionals. A child who is absent due to mental or behavioral health shall be offered the
11opportunity to meet with a certified school counselor upon return to school, but shall not be
12required to do so.”