HB217 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Mack N. ButlerRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

Public K-12 education, absence for student playing Taps at funeral of veteran is excused, Sec. 16-28-13 am'd.

Summary

HB217 would make it an excused absence for public K-12 students in grades 6–12 to miss school to sound Taps at a military honors funeral held in Alabama.

What This Bill Does

The bill adds a specific reason to the list of excused absences: if a student in grades 6–12 leaves school to sound Taps at a military honors funeral held in the state, that absence is excused. It places this absence under the existing framework for good cause or valid excuses and ensures it is treated as an excused absence. The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after it is approved by the Governor.

Who It Affects

• Students in grades 6–12: may miss school to participate in sounding Taps at a military honors funeral in Alabama, and the absence will be excused.
• Public schools and administrators (e.g., principals and attendance staff): must record and treat the Taps-related absence as an excused absence.

Key Provisions

• Adds absence for sounding Taps at a military honors funeral held in Alabama as an excused absence for students in grades 6–12.
• Treats the Taps absence as a valid excuse under the statute's criteria for good cause/valid excuses.
• Establishes the act's effective date as the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education