HCS HB 274 -- INCLEMENT WEATHER EXCEPTIONS FOR MANDATORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE SPONSOR: Franklin (Shields) COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Education-Elementary and Secondary by a vote of 23 to 0. This substitute amends an exception to the mandatory days of school attendance that currently refers to exceptions allowed because of flooding in specific past years to apply to inclement weather in the 2000-2001 school year. The section currently permits districts to reduce the year by 11 days; the substitute changes this to up to 5 days when a district has missed more than 7 days overall after November 20, 2000. The reduction of days will be on a one-for-one basis, from one day for 8 days missed up to 5 days for 12 or more days missed. The requirement for scheduling two-thirds of the missed days into the next year's calendar will be waived for the 2001-2002 school year. The substitute contains an emergency clause. FISCAL NOTE: No impact on state funds. PROPONENTS: Supporters say that some districts have missed so much school this year that the end of school will run into the beginning of summer school and continuing professional education for teachers. If the days required to be scheduled into the next year's calendar are not reduced or forgiven, summer school will then run into the opening of the next school year. Overall, safety is a major factor; districts shouldn't have to risk running buses on questionable days in order to avoid having to make up days. Testifying for the bill were Representatives Shields and Lawson; Missouri State Teachers Association; Missouri School Board Association; Missouri Council of School Administrators; Missouri National Education Association; and Missouri Federation of Teachers. OPPONENTS: There was no opposition voiced to the committee. Becky DeNeve, Senior Legislative AnalystCopyright (c) Missouri House of Representatives