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Bill to study chronic absenteeism wins broad testimony; funds split for research and implementation
Summary
House Bill 1129 would direct the Department of Public Instruction to contract research on chronic absenteeism and fund statewide interventions; supporters and human‑services witnesses urged a coordinated, evidence‑based response and clarified that the CHINS system handles truancy referrals differently than past juvenile‑court practice.
BISMARCK, N.D. — The House Education Committee heard House Bill 1129 on Oct. 12, a bill that would appropriate funds for the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to study student attendance and absenteeism and to support statewide responses.
Representative David Richter, R‑District 1, told the committee HB1129 directs DPI to contract with North Dakota’s research institutions (UND, NDSU or similar) to identify the causes of chronic absenteeism in the state. Richter said the bill proposes $250,000 for the study and $1,000,000 for program support and implementation after the research identifies effective solutions.
Lynn Fleet, director of the RSR Human Service Zone and the employing entity for the statewide CHINS (Children in Need of Services) units, warned the committee that changes to juvenile code have shifted truancy referrals away from juvenile court and into…
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