FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear signed into law a bill Wednesday allowing students to receive excused absences from school for mental health reasons.

Another measure signed by the Democratic governor aims to attract more health care workers, especially in underserved areas. He also signed a motion barring anyone convicted of various sex crimes from being certified as a peace officer.

They were among 14 measures recently passed by lawmakers that Beshear signed into law. The governor said the bills “help us build a better Kentucky.”

One measure, House Bill 44, allows school district attendance policies to include provisions for excused absences for mental or behavioral health reasons. Proponents said the legislation signals the importance of mental health in a bid to eliminate the stigma of discussing the issue.

Among the other signed invoices:

— House Bill 206: Prevents anyone convicted of various sex crimes from being certified as a peace officer in Kentucky, and conviction of an existing peace office for any of these crimes will result in automatic decertification.

—House Bill 222: seeks to deter individuals from bringing frivolous lawsuits or threatening to sue in an attempt to stifle public debate.

—Bill 573: Establishes a recruitment and retention tool to address the shortage of health care workers, especially in rural and underserved areas. The bill provides financial incentives to attract and retain health care providers. The program will supplement federal funding, which requires state matching for grants and loan forgiveness, and will expand the list of healthcare workers eligible to participate and require recipients to work in underserved areas of Kentucky. .