ATLANTA – State Representative Sandra Scott (D-Rex) today announced that Governor Nathan Deal signed House Bill 718 into law on Thursday, May 3, 2018. HB 718, which Rep. Scott sponsored during the 2018 legislative session of the Georgia General Assembly, will allow schools to grant military children excused absences to attend military affairs sponsored events.

“I am so excited that Gov. Deal signed this important piece of legislation into law,” said Rep. Scott. “I was proud to sponsor HB 718, which will greatly benefit students with parents who serve in the armed forces of the United States, and I believe that this measure will further improve Georgia’s pro-military reputation.”

HB 718 will authorize schools to grant students up to five excused absences to attend military affairs sponsored events if a student’s parent or guardian currently serves or previously served in the armed forces, Reserves or National Guard. HB 718 will require students to present proper documentation to the school system prior to the absence, and absences may not exceed five days per school year for a maximum of two years. This bill will not require all school systems to adopt this excused absence policy.

For more information on HB 718, please click here.

Representative Sandra Scott represents the citizens of District 76, which includes portions of Clayton and Henry counties. She was first elected to the House Representatives in 2010 and currently serves on the Defense & Veterans Affairs, Human Relations & Aging, Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment, Science and Technology and Special Rules committees.

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