BILL NUMBER: AB 796	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 17, 2009

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Carter

                        FEBRUARY 26, 2009

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



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 796, as amended, Carter. Pupil attendance: civic engagement
activities.
   Existing law authorizes a pupil to be excused from school for
specified reasons, including for the purpose of serving as a member
of a precinct board for an election. A pupil who is absent from
school for these reasons is required to be permitted to complete all
assignments and tests missed during the absence that can be
reasonably provided.
   This bill would include civic engagement activities  , as
defined,  offered by a nonprofit organization or a governmental
entity among the types of absences that are excused.  The bill
would prohibit a school from excusing a pupil from school when the
absence is due to participation in a demonstration or political
campaign. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


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,
or participation in civic engagement activities offered by a
nonprofit organization or governmental entity, 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 of the school
district.
   (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 for the
assignments and tests. 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, and participation in civic
engagement activities shall not exceed 10 days per academic year.
 
   (c) A pupil shall not be excused from school when the absence is
due to participation in a demonstration or political campaign. 
   (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
 
   (e) For purposes of this section:  
   (1) Attendance at religious retreats shall not exceed four hours
per semester, and participation in civic engagement activities shall
not exceed 10 days per academic year.  
   (2) "Civic engagement activities" means volunteering to work in a
community to help address a problem or interact with the institutions
of representative democracy. Civic engagement activities may
include, but are not limited to, volunteering to work at a
community-based nonprofit organization, serving on a neighborhood
association, tutoring or mentoring young children, testifying before
the local city council, or appearing before a state or federal board
or committee. Civic engagement activities shall not include
participation in a demonstration or political campaign. 
    (f)     "Immediate family" has the same
 meaning as that set forth in Section 45194, except that
references in that section to "employee" shall be deemed to be
references to "pupil."