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House approves bill tightening attendance record rules and addressing transfer loopholes
Summary
The House passed a substituted bill (Senate Bill 1968, substituted for HB 18 23) aimed at closing a truancy loophole that allowed students to evade consequences by transferring schools; members debated impacts on foster children and students affected by ICE detentions and rejected a proposed amendment to extend parity to private schools receiving public funds.
The House passed the measure carried as Senate Bill 1968 (substituted for House Bill 18 23), which the sponsor, Representative Raper, described as closing a loophole in truancy law that allowed students to avoid consequences by withdrawing and enrolling in a different LEA.
"We have noticed a loophole in the truancy laws," Representative Raper said, explaining that the bill would make sure records follow students who return to public school within the same school year and would apply when transfers occur between LEAs in the state. Raper said the bill applies to Tier 3 (the most serious tier) truancy interventions and stressed it should not apply to homeschool settings.
Representative Johnson offered Amendment 2 to require that private schools receiving public tax dollars be subject to the same attendance rules as public schools. Johnson said private schools that accept public funds should not be exempt from the record and accountability provisions; he warned that the change would be inconsistent otherwise. The motion to adopt Amendment 2 failed on a recorded vote.
Members raised concerns about students who are removed from school by immigration enforcement. Representative Salinas asked whether students taken into ICE custody would be considered truant and whether administrators would be forced to “turn people in.” Representative Roper answered that if a student had already reached Tier 3 and had judicial declarations of truancy before being taken into custody, the Truancy classification would remain; otherwise, the bill would not apply.
After debate the House voted and the clerk reported the result; the presiding officer declared the substituted bill passed on third and final consideration.
