2023 -- H 5222
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LC000707
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S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
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A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE NATHAN BRUNO AND JASON FLATT ACT
Introduced By: Representatives Casimiro, Donovan, Noret, Vella-Wilkinson, Fellela,
Lima, Knight, Serpa, Boylan, and Shanley
Date Introduced: January 25, 2023
Referred To: House Education
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. The title of Chapter 16-21.7 of the General Laws entitled "The Nathan Bruno 1
and Jason Flatt Act" is hereby amended to read as follows: 2
CHAPTER 16-21.7 3
The Nathan Bruno and Jason Flatt Act 4
CHAPTER 16-21.7 5
THE NATHAN BRUNO, JASON FLATT, AND ALICIA BIROS BE REAVEMENT ACT 6
SECTION 2. Chapter 16-21.7 of the General Laws entitled "The Nathan Bruno and Jason 7
Flatt Act" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 8
16-21.7-5. Flexible schools schedule to be implemented upon death of student or 9
educator. 10
In the event of a tragic death of an educator or a student within a local educational agency 11
(LEA), the LEAs shall be given up to five (5) days after the death to implement a flexible school 12
schedule for teachers and students. Within that time, an LEA crisis team shall determine the proper 13
need of those days, which may include, but is not limited to, attending funerals, training staff to 14
support grieving students, days of mourning, and staff working directly with the students that have 15
been affected by the death. Schools shall not be required to make up the grief days at the end of the 16
school year. 17
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SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage. 1
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE NATHAN BRUNO AND JASON FLATT ACT
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This act would provide that in the event of the death of an educator or a student, a local 1
educational agency would be given up to five (5) days after the death to implement a flexible school 2
schedule for teachers and students. This act would also amend the title of chapter 16-21.7 to "The 3
Nathan Bruno, Jason Flatt, and Alicia Biros Bereavement Act." 4
This act would take effect upon passage. 5
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LC000707
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