SENATE BILL NO. 29

A bill to amend 1976 PA 451, entitled

"The revised school code,"

(MCL 380.1 to 380.1852) by adding section 1586a.

the people of the state of michigan enact:

Sec. 1586a. (1) The school officials of a public school shall consider up to 5 absences due to an illness that impacts a pupil's mental or behavioral health to be excused absences, regardless of whether or not the pupil provides a medical note for the absences.

(2) A pupil must be given the opportunity to make up any school work that he or she missed during an absence described in subsection (1).

(3) If a pupil is absent for 2 or more days due to an illness described in subsection (1), the school officials of the public school in which the pupil is enrolled may, as determined by the board of the school district or intermediate school district or board of directors of the public school academy in which the pupil is enrolled, refer the pupil to the appropriate school personnel.

(4) As used in this section, "medical note" means a note issued by a mental health professional as that term is defined in section 100b of the mental health code, 1974 PA 258, MCL 330.1100b.