Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education Truancy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
House approves truancy amendment exempting high‑GPA 16-year-olds from misdemeanor referrals
Summary
House passed HB 399 to prevent misdemeanor truancy prosecutions for 16-year-olds who maintain a 3.5 GPA, prompting extended debate on fairness, equal protection and school-administration practices; the bill passed 47–27.
Representative Gibson, sponsor of House Bill 3 99, said the measure aims to reduce punitive courtroom referrals for students who demonstrate academic success despite attendance issues. "This bill isn't saying you don't have to go to school," Gibson told the House; he said the patch of students targeted are learning and that court referral is an inappropriate penalty for pupils who are succeeding academically.
Floor debate was robust. Representative Moss opposed the bill, arguing it creates "two categories" of students and sends the wrong message about obligations and equal protection. Representative Nielsen warned against establishing a "protected class" for high-GPA students. Others — including Representative Layton and an experienced school administrator, Representative Grover — supported the change as a pragmatic fix to prevent unnecessary court involvement for students who are academically succeeding.
Sponsor Gibson said the bill does not remove school responsibilities for attendance or administrative actions (such as withholding extracurricular participation) but limits misdemeanor referrals for students meeting the GPA threshold. After debate, the House passed HB 3 99 by a recorded vote of 47–27. The bill will be transmitted to the Senate.
