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HB 3 Delaware House · 152nd General Assembly (2023-2024)

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 RELATING TO SCHOOL ATTENDANCE.

Summary
According to a recent CDC survey, the COVID pandemic exacerbated an existing mental health crisis for students. One in 5 school aged children has a mental health condition, and 45% of children may have experienced a traumatic event. This bill provides for excused absences for the mental or behavior health of a student and requires that any student taking more than 2 such excused absences will be referred to a behavioral health specialist. This bill provides a supplemental tool to identify students struggling with mental and behavioral health issues and legitimizes these struggles faced by many students. Moreover, this bill makes clear that the mental and behavioral health of students is a priority in this State.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2023
Committee Review
Jun 2023
House Passage
May 2023
Senate Passage
Jun 2023
Signed into Law
Aug 2023
Introduced Apr 25, 2023 Signed Aug 16, 2023
Floor votes · House May 16, 2023

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
9
Key actions
6
Committee
2
Amendments
2
Aug 16, 2023
Signed into law
Signed by Governor
executive
Jun 30, 2023
Upper · Passed
Passed By Senate. Votes: 15 YES 6 NO
upper
Jun 7, 2023
Upper · Passed
Reported Out of Committee (Education) in Senate with 2 Favorable, 5 On Its Merits
upper
May 16, 2023
Introduced
Assigned to Education Committee in Senate
upper
May 16, 2023
Lower · Passed
Passed By House. Votes: 34 YES 3 NO 4 ABSENT
lower
May 16, 2023
Lower · Passed
Amendment HA 1 to HB 3 - Passed In House by Voice Vote
lower
May 16, 2023
Introduced
Amendment HA 1 to HB 3 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
lower
May 10, 2023
Lower · Passed
Reported Out of Committee (Education) in House with 10 Favorable, 4 On Its Merits
lower
Apr 25, 2023
Introduced
Introduced and Assigned to Education Committee in House
lower
16 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Brian Pettyjohn
Brian Pettyjohn
RRepublican
DE
19
P
Photo of Dave Sokola
Dave Sokola
DDemocratic
DE
8
P
Photo of Ed Osienski
Ed Osienski
DDemocratic
DE
24
P
Photo of Eric Morrison
Eric Morrison
DDemocratic
DE
27
P
Photo of Jack Walsh
Jack Walsh
DDemocratic
DE
9
P
Photo of Kendra Johnson
Kendra Johnson
DDemocratic
DE
5
P
Photo of Laura Sturgeon
Laura Sturgeon
DDemocratic
DE
4
P
Photo of Marie Pinkney
Marie Pinkney
DDemocratic
DE
13
P
Photo of Mike Smith
Mike Smith
RRepublican
DE
22
P
Photo of Pete Schwartzkopf
Pete Schwartzkopf
DDemocratic
DE
14
P
Photo of Russ Huxtable
Russ Huxtable
DDemocratic
DE
6
P
Photo of Sherry Dorsey Walker
Sherry Dorsey Walker
DDemocratic
DE
3
P
Photo of Stell Selby
Stell Selby
DDemocratic
DE
20
P
Photo of Tizzy Lockman
Tizzy Lockman
DDemocratic
DE
3
P
Photo of Trey Paradee
Trey Paradee
DDemocratic
DE
17
P
Photo of Val Longhurst
Val Longhurst
DDemocratic
DE
15