Panel approves bill allowing diplomas for students with terminal illness at parental request

Representative Silcox presented HB1284 (LC492729S), telling the committee the measure responds to a subcommittee testimony in which a family affected by childhood cancer described the meaning a diploma could have for a student and their family. The substitute would permit a high school, at a parent’s request, to grant a diploma to a student with end-of-life circumstances or to award it posthumously.

The sponsor described the subcommittee hearing’s emotional testimony and said the bill acknowledges the significance of a diploma for a student facing terminal illness. “The bottom line is this bill would provide that if there was a request from a parent, that the high school in that district, school district, would grant that diploma, to the parents either while they were still in life or posthumously, if that was the case,” Representative Silcox said.

Members praised the bill’s compassion and moved a friendly amendment to correct spelling of a family name referenced in the substitute; they voted on the amendment, approved it, then voted to pass the amended bill.

Next steps: HB1284 advances out of committee to the House calendar for further consideration.