Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §5001-A, sub-§2, ¶C, as amended by PL 1985, c. 123, §1, is further amended to read:

C. A person whose absence is excused under section 5051. The parent of an habitual truant who has been denied a waiver of this paragraph, may appeal to the commissioner in accordance with section 5051, subsection 2, paragraph E; or

Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §5001-A, sub-§2, ¶D, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 123, §2, is amended to read:

D. A person who has matriculated and is attending an accredited, post-secondary postsecondary, degree-granting institution as a full-time student. An exception to attendance in public school under this paragraph must be approved by the commissioner.; or

Sec. 3. 20-A MRSA §5001-A, sub-§2, ¶E is enacted to read:

E.__A person who is absent from a course when the course content conflicts with the sincerely held religious beliefs and practices of that person or that person's parent or guardian and when the person has been provided with an accommodation in accordance with subsection 8.

Sec. 4. 20-A MRSA §5001-A, sub-§8 is enacted to read:

8.__Accommodation for conflict with sincerely held religious beliefs or practices.__A student must be provided with an accommodation under rules established by the commissioner for a course required by a public day school when the course content conflicts with the sincerely held religious beliefs and practices of the student or the student's parent or guardian.__The following conditions apply for persons seeking an accommodation under this section.

A.__The student or the student's parent or guardian who wishes to obtain an accommodation under this subsection shall submit a completed application for an accommodation simultaneously to the local board and to the commissioner.__ The application must indicate:

(1)__That a conflict exists with course content and the sincerely held religious beliefs and practices of the student or the student's parent or guardian; and

(2)__That the parent or guardian provides permission for the student to leave school for the purpose of