Amends the effectiveness of provisions related to the submission of physician profile information

2025 Regular Session Introduced by John McDonald

Allows 16+ public school pupils serving as paid poll workers on election days to take an excused absence that does not count toward perfect attendance, with required documentation.

SIGNED CHAP.34

Overview

Bill number: A 926

Title: Amends the effectiveness of provisions related to the submission of physician profile information

Purpose (as introduced): Creates an excused absence provision for certain public school pupils serving as poll workers on election days, and supplements attendance rules for 18A education statutes.

Current status: Signed into law as Chapter 34 (CHAP. 34); effective immediately

Introduced: January 9, 2024

Primary sponsor: John T. McDonald III

Companion bill: S 769 (Senate)

Note: Although the introduced title references physician profile information, the bill text and statement of purpose focus on excused absences for pupil poll workers. The enacted version in practice provides an election-day excused absence provision.

Key Provisions

Eligibility and purpose: Applies to public school pupils age 16 or older who are absent on an election day in order to perform paid service as a poll worker during a State election.

Excused absence designation: The absence for the election-day poll work shall be recorded as an excused absence on the pupil’s attendance record (or the record of any group or class to which the pupil belongs).

Transcripts and reporting: Any transcript, application, employment form, or similar document requesting attendance information must display only absences other than those excused under this provision.

Perfect attendance consideration: When determining whether a pupil has a perfect attendance record for the school year, a district must not count the excused absence authorized by this bill as an absence.

Documentation: Pupils must provide documentation deemed necessary by the district superintendent or administrative principal to prove eligibility for the excused absence under this provision.

Effective date: Immediate upon enactment.

Affected Parties and Impacts

Pupils: Public school students 16 years or older who miss school to serve as paid poll workers on election days. They gain an excused absence without it affecting perfect attendance status.

School districts: Must record the absence as excused, refrain from listing it as an absence on transcripts for perfect attendance purposes, and may request documentation to verify eligibility.

Transcripts and employment forms: Will not reflect this excused absence when listing absences, aligning with the policy distinguishing excused absences from unexcused ones.

Administrative staff: Responsible for collecting required documentation and applying the excused status consistently.

Legislative Timeline and Status

January 9, 2024: Introduced in the Assembly (A 926); referred to Assembly Education.

January–February 2025: Progressive steps through committees and readings; Assembly and Senate actions culminate in passage.

February 12–14, 2025: Delivered to Governor; bill signed into law.

February 14, 2025: Signed as Chapter 34 (CHAP. 34); effective immediately.

Additional Context

Legislative relationship: S 769 is the companion Senate bill.

Policy intent: Facilitates civic participation by students serving as poll workers, while preserving attendance records and minimizing disruption to academic records.

If you’d like, I can add a brief comparison to how the companion S 769 aligns or differs, or provide a one-page quick-reference for school administrators.

Bill