SB 14 – Expands The Definition Of Excused Absence By Expanding Illness To Include Mental And Behavior Health

Current law requires that each person between the ages of 6 and 18 attend school. Pupils absent from school may be excused for certain absences including illness.

This bill amends the definition of an absence due to the pupil’s illness to include absences for the benefit of the pupil’s mental or behavior health. The State Board of Education is required to update its illness verification regulations to account for a pupil’s absence for the benefit of the pupil’s mental or behavior health.

The State Department of Education is also required to recommend best practices for identifying evidence-based and evidence-informed staff and pupil training. Training in compliance with SB 14 must begin on or before January 1, 2023.

(SB 14 incorporates additional changes to Section 48205 of the Education Code proposed in AB 516. This bill is only operative if AB 516 is also passed, here both bills were passed.)