Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official source posted by the Massachusetts General Court, fetched 2026-07-15. Nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
SECTION 1. Section 1 of Chapter 76 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting in line 25, after the words “any period of six months”, the following:- “, provided that a school shall excuse absences due to mental health symptoms in the same manner that absences are excused for physical health symptoms. Likewise, any requirement for documentation, either from a parent or health professional, shall be consistent for absence due to mental health symptoms as for physical health symptoms. When documentation is required of a healthcare professional, a school shall accept documentation from licensed mental health care professionals in the same manner as documentation from other health care professionals. A child who is absent due to mental or behavioral health shall be offered the opportunity to meet with a certified school counselor upon return to school, but shall not be required to do so.”
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