HOUSE BILL 300

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2013

INTRODUCED BY

Doreen Y. Gallegos

AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS; REQUIRING SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS TO ESTABLISH POLICIES THAT PROVIDE EXCUSED ABSENCES FOR PREGNANT AND PARENTING STUDENTS FOR DOCUMENTED PREGNANCIES, FOR THE DOCUMENTED BIRTH OF THE STUDENT‛S CHILD AND FOR ABSENCES OF A PARENTING STUDENT TO CARE FOR THE STUDENT‛S CHILD WHO IS UNDER THE AGE OF THIRTEEN; REQUIRING STUDENTS TO BE GRANTED TIME FOR MAKE-UP WORK; REQUIRING DISTRIBUTION OF POLICIES TO ALL SECONDARY EDUCATION STUDENTS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. A new section of Chapter 22, Article 12 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] EXCUSED ABSENCES FOR PREGNANT AND PARENTING STUDENTS.--

          A. Each school district and charter school shall maintain an attendance policy that:

                (1) provides ten days of excused absences for a student who provides documentation of the birth of the student's child; provided that the student shall be allowed a time period to make up the work that the student missed that equals the number of days the student was absent for the birth of a child; and

                (2) provides four days of excused absences for a student who provides appropriate documentation of pregnancy or that the student is the parent of a child under the age of thirteen needing care; and allows the student a time period to make up the work that the student missed that equals the number of days the student was absent.

          B. The pregnant or parenting student is responsible for communicating the student's pregnancy and parenting status to the appropriate school personnel if the student chooses to disclose the information.

          C. The school district or charter school shall provide a copy of the pregnant and parenting student absence policies to all students in middle, junior high and high schools."

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