Bill inspired by mass shooting gets new timeline

Legislation that was inspired by a mass killing two years ago is getting tweaked on its second appearance before the full D.C. Council. If passed, the implementation of the massive youth mental health reform bill would be pushed back to the 2013-14 school year, a move that gives mental health and youth agencies and schools more time that just a few months to prepare for the changes.

In addition to some mostly clerical changes, the number of days a student can have an unexcused absence from school each academic year was bumped up in the bill from 15 to 20. Currently a student can have up to 25 unexcused absences until he or she gets a referral to social services.