HCS HB 678 -- SCHOOL ATTENDANCE IN INCLEMENT WEATHER

SPONSOR:  Marsh

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass by consent" by the Special
Committee on Tourism by a vote of 12 to 0.

This substitute allows school districts in the counties declared
a federal disaster area after the January 2007 ice storms to not
make up time lost from school from January 15 to January 22.
This provision does not apply to the Nixa R-II and the Joplin
school districts.  School districts in counties not included in
the federal disaster area that have missed eight or more days due
to inclement weather during the 2006-2007 school year are not
required to make up six of those days, and the requirement for
scheduling two-thirds of the missed days into next year's school
calendar is waived for the 2007-2008 school year.

The substitute contains an emergency clause.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2008, FY 2009, and
FY 2010.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill is necessary to help
rural school districts which were hit hardest by the ice storm in
January 2007.  These schools lost power for several days and had
no choice but to close because they could not conduct classes in
the dark and without heat.  They have some snow days built into
the schools' calendars, but the ice storm was overwhelming. If
they make up all the days missed, the regular school year will
continue into the summer school session.

Testifying for the bill were Representatives Marsh and Wilson
(130).

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated July 25, 2007 at 11:20 am