NOTE:  This bill has been prepared for the signature of the appropriate legislative
officers and the Governor.  To determine whether the Governor has signed the bill
or taken other action on it, please consult the legislative status sheet, the legislative
      history, or the Session Laws.
      
      
      HOUSE BILL 08-1186
      
      
      BY REPRESENTATIVE(S) Solano, Benefield, Borodkin, Buescher,
      Butcher, Carroll T., Casso, Curry, Ferrandino, Fischer, Frangas, Gallegos,
      Green, Hodge, Kefalas, Kerr A., Labuda, McFadyen, McGihon, McKinley,
      Merrifield, Middleton, Peniston, Pommer, Primavera, Rice, Riesberg,
      Scanlan, Stafford, and Summers;
      also SENATOR(S) Windels, Bacon, Keller, Shaffer, and Williams.
      
      
      Concerning the exception of certain students' scores from
           calculations of a school's academic performance.
       
      
      Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
      
           SECTION 1.  Article 32 of title 22, Colorado Revised Statutes, is
      amended BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION to read:
      
           22-32-139.  Colorado student assessment program - student
      participation - no penalty.  (1)  A school district or a public school
      shall not penalize a student who is absent during the
      administration of an assessment administered pursuant to section
      22-7-409.  For purposes of this section, a penalty shall include, but
      need not be limited to:
      
           (a)  Withholding of credits toward graduation or denying
      a student the ability to graduate or receive a diploma;
      
           (b)  Denying a student the opportunity to participate in an
      educational program or an extracurricular activity; or
      
           (c)  Denying a student the ability to advance to a
      subsequent grade level.
      
           (2)  The provisions of this section shall not be interpreted to
      prohibit a school district from enforcing compulsory attendance
      requirements as provided in the school district attendance policy
      adopted pursuant to article 33 of this title.
      
           SECTION 2.  Safety clause.  The general assembly hereby finds,
      determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate
      preservation of the public peace, health, and safety.
      
      
      
      
      ________________________________________________________
      Andrew Romanoff                        Peter C. Groff
      SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE                     PRESIDENT OF
      OF REPRESENTATIVES                         THE SENATE
      
      
      
      
      
      
      ____________________________  ____________________________
      Marilyn Eddins                          Karen Goldman
      CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE                 SECRETARY OF
      OF REPRESENTATIVES                         THE SENATE
      
      
      
      
                  APPROVED________________________________________
      
      
      
      
      
                                    _________________________________________
                                    Bill Ritter, Jr.
                                    GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF COLORADO