Massachusetts HD 719: An Act relative to supporting student participation in 4-H programs

Bill Text

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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 719 FILED ON: 1/12/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 713

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Kenneth P. Sweezey
_________________
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to supporting student participation in 4-H programs.
_______________
PETITION OF:

NAME: DISTRICT/ADDRESS: DATE ADDED:
Kenneth P. Sweezey 6th Plymouth 1/12/2025
Steven J. Ouellette 8th Bristol 1/13/2025
Adrianne Pusateri Ramos 14th Essex 3/7/2025
Todd M. Smola 1st Hampden 3/12/2025
Richard G. Wells, Jr. 7th Norfolk 3/19/2025
Carmine Lawrence Gentile 13th Middlesex 3/19/2025
Sally P. Kerans 13th Essex 3/27/2025
Bruce E. Tarr First Essex and Middlesex 4/2/2025
John J. Marsi 6th Worcester 4/4/2025
Ryan C. Fattman Worcester and Hampden 5/6/2025
James B. Eldridge Middlesex and Worcester 6/12/2025

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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 719 FILED ON: 1/12/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 713
By Representative Sweezey of Duxbury, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 713) of
Kenneth P. Sweezey, Steven J. Ouellette and Adrianne Pusateri Ramos relative to student
participation in 4-H programs. Education.

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 4427 OF 2023-2024.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
_______________

An Act relative to supporting student participation in 4-H programs.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:

1 SECTION 1. Chapter 76 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition,
2 is hereby amended by adding the following section:-
3 Section 22. (a) A student who participates in an activity or program sponsored by
4 Massachusetts 4-H shall be credited as present, for a maximum of 5 school days, by the school in
5 which the student is enrolled in the same manner as an educational field trip. A school committee
6 shall not count a student absent, for a maximum of 5 school days, for participating in an activity
7 or program sponsored by Massachusetts 4-H.

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8 (b) Upon request from a school committee, a Massachusetts 4-H agent shall provide
9 documentation as proof of a student's participation in an activity or program sponsored by
10 Massachusetts 4-H.
11 (c) A school committee shall ensure that a student has the opportunity to make up any
12 school work missed while the student was participating in an activity or program sponsored by
13 Massachusetts 4-H. A school committee shall ensure that a student's class grades are not
14 adversely affected for lack of attendance or participation due to the student's participation in an
15 activity or program sponsored by Massachusetts 4-H.
16 (d) Notwithstanding subsection (a), a school committee shall not credit a student who
17 participates in an activity or program sponsored by Massachusetts 4-H as present if the student's
18 participation occurs during:
19 (1) The schedule established by the commissioner of education for the administration of
20 the Massachusetts comprehensive assessment system tests; or
21 (2) Any period of time for which the student has been suspended or expelled, if the
22 student's suspension or expulsion would otherwise preclude the student from participating in an
23 educational field trip.
24 SECTION 2. This act shall take effect as of the 2025-2026 academic year.