2014 -- H 7144

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LC003027

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

     Introduced By: Representatives Craven, O'Brien, Serpa, Marshall, and Costa

     Date Introduced: January 21, 2014

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 16-24 of the General Laws entitled "Children with Disabilities" is

hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     16-24-19. Minimum attendance required. -- There is hereby established a minimum

attendance requirement of one hundred fifty-five (155) school days within a school year in order

for a student to be certified, recertified, identified, or otherwise documented as a child with a

disability by a public school or public school district in Rhode Island. This attendance

requirement shall apply to documentation prepared by the school or school district in order for a

student to qualify for any state and/or federal benefits that require such documentation. This

attendance requirement shall not apply in instances where a student’s failure to meet this one

hundred fifty-five (155) day minimum attendance requirement is medically excused by a treating

physician of the student.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

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     This act would require that a child with a disability attend a minimum of one hundred

fifty-five (155) days in school within a school year in order for the student to be documented as

having a disability, for any state or federal benefits that require such documentation.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC003027

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