(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assemblymen Bob Andrzejczak and Dan Benson to encourage students to honor and assist veterans and active duty military members continues to advance in the Legislature, most recently getting the approval of the Senate Education committee.
The bill (A-4148) would provide an excused absence on Veterans Day for any student who participates in activities for veterans or active duty members. Activities could include attending a ceremony honoring a veteran or active member returning from overseas deployment, or assisting a veteran at a hospital or food shelter.
“Attending a ceremony honoring a veteran or active duty member, or helping a veteran at a hospital or food shelter, has immeasurable educational value,” said Andrzejczak (D-Cape May/Atlantic/Cumberland), who was a sergeant in the U.S. Army and was injured during a deployment to Iraq. “Students can learn tremendously from our veterans and active duty members, all of whom have so much to teach about service to our nation, personal commitment or history, among the many, many possibilities.”
The student would have the absence recorded by the school district as excused upon providing documentation of participation in the activity.
“We should encourage students to participate in community service activities,” said Benson (D-Mercer/Middlesex). “Engaging with veterans and active duty military will provide them with real-life lessons and an insight into valuable experiences that will eventually be a part of America’s history.”
The bill also stipulates that when a school district is making a determination on whether or not a student has a perfect attendance record for the school year, the district may not count as an absence the excused absence that is authorized under this bill.
The bill was approved by the Senate Education Committee on Dec. 14. It was approved 72-0 by the full Assembly on June 11. It must now go before the full Senate for final legislative approval.