BILL NUMBER: SB 278	CHAPTERED  09/11/07

	CHAPTER  204
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  SEPTEMBER 11, 2007
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  SEPTEMBER 11, 2007
	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 27, 2007
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  JUNE 28, 2007
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 20, 2007

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Lowenthal

                        FEBRUARY 15, 2007

   An act to amend Section 48205 of the Education Code, relating to
pupils.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 278, Lowenthal. Pupils: excused absences.
   Existing law requires a pupil to be excused from school when the
pupil is absent due to, among other things, justifiable personal
reasons, including an appearance in court, attendance at a funeral
service, observance of a holiday or ceremony of his or her religion,
attendance at religious retreats, or attendance at an employment
conference.
   This bill would add attendance at an education conference on the
legislative or judicial process offered by a nonprofit organization
to the justifiable personal reasons for which a pupil is required to
be excused from school.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 48205 of the Education Code is amended to read:

   48205.  (a) Notwithstanding Section 48200, a pupil shall be
excused from school when the absence is:
   (1) Due to his or her illness.
   (2) Due to quarantine under the direction of a county or city
health officer.
   (3) For the purpose of having medical, dental, optometrical, or
chiropractic services rendered.
   (4) For the purpose of attending the funeral services of a member
of his or her immediate family, so long as the absence is not more
than one day if the service is conducted in California and not more
than three days if the service is conducted outside California.
   (5) For the purpose of jury duty in the manner provided for by
law.
   (6) Due to the illness or medical appointment during school hours
of a child of whom the pupil is the custodial parent.
   (7) For justifiable personal reasons, including, but not limited
to, an appearance in court, attendance at a funeral service,
observance of a holiday or ceremony of his or her religion,
attendance at religious retreats, attendance at an employment
conference, or attendance at an educational conference on the
legislative or judicial process offered by a nonprofit organization
when the pupil's absence is requested in writing by the parent or
guardian and approved by the principal or a designated representative
pursuant to uniform standards established by the governing board.
   (8) For the purpose of serving as a member of a precinct board for
an election pursuant to Section 12302 of the Elections Code.
   (b) A pupil absent from school under this section shall be allowed
to complete all assignments and tests missed during the absence that
can be reasonably provided and, upon satisfactory completion within
a reasonable period of time, shall be given full credit therefor. The
teacher of the class from which a pupil is absent shall determine
which tests and assignments shall be reasonably equivalent to, but
not necessarily identical to, the tests and assignments that the
pupil missed during the absence.
   (c) For purposes of this section, attendance at religious retreats
shall not exceed four hours per semester.
   (d) Absences pursuant to this section are deemed to be absences in
computing average daily attendance and shall not generate state
apportionment payments.
   (e) "Immediate family," as used in this section, has the same
meaning as that set forth in Section 45194, except that references
therein to "employee" shall be deemed to be references to "pupil."