Bill Text: HI HB1988 | 2020 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To Education.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2020-03-11 - Re-Referred to EDU, JDC. [HB1988 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2020-HB1988-Amended.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
1988 |
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THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020 |
H.D. 2 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO EDUCATION.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that pursuant to section 302A-1140, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the board of education is required to excuse any student absence caused by the observation of a religious holy day. However, the legislature recognizes that students may also miss school due to the observation of other religious practices. Further, while absences for the observation of religious holy days are treated as excused absences in certain circumstances, the legislature believes that absences caused by the observation of other religious practices should not be considered absences of any kind, nor should these absences prevent an otherwise eligible student from receiving perfect attendance.
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to extend the requirement that the board of education release from school attendance students observing religious holy days to include the observation of other religious practices.
SECTION 2. Section 302A-1140, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"[[]§302A-1140[]] Religious
[holy days.] practices. (a)
The board shall release any public school student from school
attendance for the purpose of observing religious holy days that fall on regularly
scheduled school days, when the release is requested in writing by a parent,
guardian, or other person having custody or control of the pupil. Actual attendance at observances shall count
as an excused absence at the public schools for all purposes where attendance
forms the basis of computation.
(b) The board shall release any public school
student from school attendance for the purpose of observing a religious practice
not otherwise addressed in subsection (a) that occurs during a regularly
scheduled school day, when the release is requested in writing by a parent,
guardian, or other person having custody or control of the pupil; provided that
an absence from school for the purpose of observing a religious practice
pursuant to this subsection shall not be deemed an absence of any kind and
shall not prohibit any student from achieving perfect attendance.
(c) For the purposes of this section, "religious practice" means a significant event connected with a deeply held religious belief."
SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.
Report Title:
BOE; Attendance; Religious Practices
Description:
Expands the requirement that the Board of Education release from school attendance students observing holy days to also include the observation of other religious practices. Takes effect on 7/1/2050. (HD2)
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
