By Mr. Walsh of Lynn, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 592) of Steven M. Walsh and others for legislation to authorize local school committees to create a community service graduation requirement.  Education.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PETITION OF:

Steven M. Walsh

Barry R. Finegold

Lida E. Harkins

Kathi-Anne Reinstein

Thomas P. Kennedy

Barbara A. L'Italien

Martha M. Walz

Thomas M. McGee

Jennifer M. Callahan

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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

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An Act relative to creating a community service graduation requirement. .

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

Chapter 71 of the Massachusetts General Laws, as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after Section 2B the following section:-

Section 2C.

Local School Committees shall have the option of instituting a requirement of all secondary school students to complete no less than ten hours of community service over the course of their secondary school career in order to receive a high school diploma.  Individual school districts shall determine which activities or projects in their local area qualify as “community service”.