Michigan bills would give students 5 mental health days
No doctor’s notes required for students claiming mental health ailments
Lawmakers have submitted bills in both chambers of the Michigan Legislature that would give students up to five mental health days per school year.
Students in Michigan are considered truant when they get ten unexcused absences or miss 10% of the available school days during a school year, according to the state education department.
Read them for yourself: Senate Bill 29 of 2023, and House Bill 4389 of 2023
The House version, House Bill 4389 of 2023, was submitted in April 2023 by Rep. Noah Arbit, D-West Bloomfield. Senate Bill 29 of 2023 was submitted in January 2023 by Sen. Sarah Anthony, D-Lansing.
The two-page bills excuse up to five absences “whether or not the pupil provides a medical note for the absences.”
After two such absences, a student could be referred to the “appropriate school personnel.”
Students must be given time to make up any work missed, the bills say.
Both bills were referred to their respective education committees. Neither has received a vote.
Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective.