Whereas, graduation will have passed by the time the Legislature adjourns; and

Whereas, this legislation needs to be an emergency in order to allow diplomas to be awarded before the end of the current school year; and

Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §4722, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 1983, c. 859, Pt. C, §§5 and 7, is amended to read:

4. Exception. A secondary school student who has satisfactorily completed the freshman year in an accredited degree-granting institution of higher education may be eligible to receive a high school diploma from the school the student last attended, although the student may not meet the graduation requirements of this Title. A veteran of World War II who was honorably discharged may be eligible to receive a high school diploma from the school the veteran attended, although the veteran may not have met the graduation requirements of this Title.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

This bill allows a local school board the option of granting a diploma to a veteran of World War II who was honorably discharged even though the veteran does not meet the graduation requirements of this Title.