Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S420 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 510 FILED ON: 1/13/2025
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 420
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Patrick M. O'Connor
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act relative to supporting student participation in 4-H programs.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Patrick M. O'ConnorFirst Plymouth and Norfolk 1 of 2
16	16	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 510 FILED ON: 1/13/2025
17	17	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 420
18	18	By Mr. O'Connor, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 420) of Patrick M. O'Connor for
19	19	legislation relative to supporting student participation in 4-H programs. Education.
20	20	[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
21	21	SEE HOUSE, NO. 4427 OF 2023-2024.]
22	22	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
23	23	_______________
24	24	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
25	25	(2025-2026)
26	26	_______________
27	27	An Act relative to supporting student participation in 4-H programs.
28	28	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
29	29	of the same, as follows:
30	30	1 SECTION 1. Chapter 76 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition,
31	31	2is hereby amended by adding the following section:-
32	32	3 Section 22. (a) A student who participates in an activity or program sponsored by
33	33	4Massachusetts 4-H shall be credited as present, for a maximum of 5 school days, by the school in
34	34	5which the student is enrolled in the same manner as an educational field trip. A school committee
35	35	6shall not count a student absent, for a maximum of 5 school days, for participating in an activity
36	36	7or program sponsored by Massachusetts 4-H.
37	37	8 (b) Upon request from a school committee, a Massachusetts 4-H agent shall provide
38	38	9documentation as proof of a student's participation in an activity or program sponsored by
39	39	10Massachusetts 4-H. 2 of 2
40	40	11 (c) A school committee shall ensure that a student has the opportunity to make up any
41	41	12school work missed while the student was participating in an activity or program sponsored by
42	42	13Massachusetts 4-H. A school committee shall ensure that a student's class grades are not
43	43	14adversely affected for lack of attendance or participation due to the student's participation in an
44	44	15activity or program sponsored by Massachusetts 4-H.
45	45	16 (d) Notwithstanding subsection (a), a school committee shall not credit a student who
46	46	17participates in an activity or program sponsored by Massachusetts 4-H as present if the student's
47	47	18participation occurs during:
48	48	19 (1) The schedule established by the commissioner of education for the administration of
49	49	20the Massachusetts comprehensive assessment system tests; or
50	50	21 (2) Any period of time for which the student has been suspended or expelled, if the
51	51	22student's suspension or expulsion would otherwise preclude the student from participating in an
52	52	23educational field trip.
53	53	24 SECTION 2. This act shall take effect as of the 2025-2026 academic year.