One lawmaker in Utah is proposing to add mental or behavioral health to the list of excused absences for students. Rep. Mike Winder, R-West Valley City, proposed HB81 adding the new language to better combat the high rate of suicides for children between ages 10-17 in Utah. Winder hopes that this will also be a way for counselors and the like to take notice at which kids really need help and take action early on. This legislation is modeled after a similar program in Oregon.