HB 1946 -- REPORTING OF STUDENT ABSENCES

SPONSOR:  El-Amin

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Elementary
and Secondary Education by a vote of 14 to 0.

This bill requires the City of St. Louis School District to
report to the Children's Division within the Department of Social
Services when any student younger than 17 years of age incurs 15
or more absences.  The division will contact the parents or
guardians regarding the absences and the possibility that they
are subject to the educational neglect provisions under
Section 210.145, RSMo.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2007, FY 2008, and
FY 2009.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the system needs to reach out
sooner to truants and their parents.  By the time the police get
involved, it's too late to help many of the children who have
made bad decisions.  Getting parents involved sooner and
increasing school attendance may help St. Louis schools solve a
couple of their fundamental problems.

Testifying for the bill were Representatives El-Amin and Hubbard;
Metropolitan Police Department, City of St. Louis; and Missouri
Federation of Teachers and School-Related Personnel.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Becky DeNeve, Senior Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated November 29, 2006 at 9:45 am