OHIO LEGISLATIVE SERVICE COMMISSION
Office of Research Legislative Budget
www.lsc.ohio.gov and Drafting Office
H.B. 135 Bill Analysis
135th General Assembly
Click here for H.B. 135’s Fiscal Note
Version: As Introduced
Primary Sponsors: Reps. Hall and Creech
Effective Date:
Allison Schoeppner, Research Analyst
SUMMARY
 Requires school districts to grant excused absences to students for participation in
scheduled 4-H and FFA activities or programs.
DETAILED ANALYSIS
4-H and FFA excused absences
The bill requires school districts to grant excused absences for participation in scheduled
4-H and FFA activities or programs to students in grades K-12 and to allow those students to
make up any school work missed as a result of that absence. To qualify as an excused absence,
a 4-H or FFA educator must submit written documentation to the school principal or
attendance officer as proof of student participation in a 4-H or FFA activity or program.
The bill, however, prohibits a school principal or a designee from granting an excused
absence for participation in 4-H or FFA activities during either a scheduled administration of
state assessments or any period of time for which the student has been disciplined by or
suspended or expelled from school.1
Absences excused under this bill specifically are included when considering whether a
student is excessively absent triggering a notice to the student’s parent, guardian or custodian
under continuing law. Under that law, a student is considered excessively absent when the
student’s combined nonmedical excused absences and unexcused absences exceed 38 hours in
one school month or 65 hours in a school year. However, only a student’s unexcused absences
count toward truancy.2
1 R.C. 3321.043(B).
2 R.C. 3321.191(C)(1), not in the bill.
May 15, 2023
Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
HISTORY
Action Date
Introduced 03-28-23
ANHB0135IN-135/ks
P a g e |2 H.B. 135
As Introduced