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Committee approves resolution to study chronic absenteeism, rejects partisan-makeup amendment
Summary
The committee approved House Resolution 711 to create a study on chronic absenteeism. Members debated an amendment to change the study committee's membership from six to seven with a 4-3 majority/minority split; after a show-of-hands count the amendment did not pass and the resolution moved forward.
The House Education Committee approved House Resolution 711 (LC492370) directing a House study committee to examine chronic absenteeism. The sponsor framed the resolution as aligning the House with a Senate effort (Senate Bill 123) to study absences and identify remedies.
During debate members proposed amending the committee composition to increase membership from six to seven and to specify that four members be appointed from the majority caucus and three from the minority caucus. The committee considered the amendment; members discussed precedent and Legislative Counsel said the common practice is to defer appointments to the Speaker but that language specifying membership can be included if the committee chooses.
A motion to amend the membership was put to a vote and members raised hands; the amendment did not carry. After disposing of the amendment the committee voted to approve HR 711 and instructed staff to proceed with the study. The committee did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript; the chair called for the ayes and then the nays during the proceedings and announced the resolution carried.
The study is intended to inform future legislative action on attendance and chronic absenteeism; committee members requested further information and data from school districts and state agencies as the panel convenes.
