Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
 1   State of Arkansas
 2   94th General Assembly                        A Bill
 3   Regular Session, 2023                                                             HOUSE BILL 1781
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 5   By: Representative J. Mayberry
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 7                                     For An Act To Be Entitled
 8                  AN ACT TO AMEND THE NUMBER OF STUDENT ATTENDANCE DAYS
 9                  APPROVED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF ELEMENTARY AND
10                  SECONDARY EDUCATION FOR THE USE OF ALTERNATIVE
11                  METHODS OF INSTRUCTION; TO CLARIFY THAT STUDENT
12                  ATTENDANCE DAYS APPROVED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF
13                  ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION FOR THE USE OF
14                  ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF INSTRUCTION SHALL COUNT
15                  TOWARDS THE ON-SITE, IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION DAYS FOR
16                  WHICH A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL BE OPEN; AND FOR
17                  OTHER PURPOSES.
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20                                                 Subtitle
21                           CONCERNING STUDENT ATTENDANCE DAYS
22                           APPROVED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF
23                           ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION FOR
24                           THE USE OF ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF
25                           INSTRUCTION.
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28   BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
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30          SECTION 1.       Arkansas Code § 6-10-127(b)(1), concerning the use of
31   alternative methods of instruction, is amended to read as follows:
32          (b)(1)(A)        The Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education may
33   grant up to the equivalent of ten (10) five (5) student attendance days for
34   public school districts that have an alternative instruction plan approved by
35   the commissioner for the use of alternative methods of instruction, including
36   without limitation virtual learning, on days when the public school district
     *TNL423*                                                                   3/29/2023 2:36:59 PM TNL423
                                                                               HB1781
 1   is closed due to exceptional or emergency circumstances such as:
 2                    (A)(i)    A contagious disease outbreak, inclement weather,
 3   or other acts of God; or
 4                    (B)(ii)   A utility outage.
 5                    (B)   The student attendance days approved by the
 6   commissioner under subdivision (b)(1)(A) of this section for the use of
 7   alternative methods of instruction shall count towards the number of on-site,
 8   in-person instruction days for which a public school district shall be open
 9   as required by law or Division of Elementary and Secondary Education rule.
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                                         2              3/29/2023 2:36:59 PM TNL423
Statutes affected: 
HB 1781: 6-10-127(b)