NOTE: As provided in LFC policy, this report is intended for use by the standing finance committees of the legislature. The Legislative Finance Committee does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of the information in this report when used in any other situation.
Only the most recent FIR version, excluding attachments, is available on the Intranet. Previously issued FIRs and attachments may be obtained from the LFC office in Suite 101 of the State Capitol Building North.
| SPONSOR: | Miera | DATE TYPED: | 02/11/01 | HB | 36/aHEC | ||
| SHORT TITLE: | Compulsory School Attendance Intervention | SB | |||||
| ANALYST: | Gilbert | ||||||
| Recurring
or Non-Rec |
Fund
Affected | ||||
| FY01 | FY02 | FY01 | FY02 | ||
|
NFI |
|||||
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
State Department of Education (SDE)
SUMMARY
Synopsis of HEC Amendment
House Education Committee amendment to House Bill 36 strikes the language in subsection E on page 4 as outlined below:
E. If the school district or private school intervened as provided in Subsection C of this section
and the student accumulates a total of ten unauthorized absences during the semester, the
authorized representative shall submit a request for family services to the children, youth and
families department as provided in the Family in Need of Services Act.
The succeeding subsection is re-lettered accordingly and the remainder of the bill remains unchanged.
Synopsis of Original Bill
House Bill 36 relates to compulsory school attendance; conforms the Compulsory School Attendance Law with provisions of the Children's Code; and provides for student intervention to address student absenteeism.
Significant Issues
The Children's Code currently conflicts with provisions of the Compulsory School Attendance Law. This bill amends Section 22-12-7, NMSA 1978 to conform with the requirements of the Children's Code, Section 32A-3A-3, NMSA 1978, applicable to families in need of services.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
No apparent impact to the general fund. Schools are currently required to comply with relevant provisions of the Children's Code.
Subsection E. of HB36 provides that a request for family services shall be submitted by the school district or private school if a student accumulates "a total of ten unauthorized absences" during the semester. According to the SDE, the Children's Code, Section 32A-3A-3, supra, provides for the referral only if the child is absent from school without an authorized excuse "for more than ten days" during a school semester.
The SDE also recommends that Section 22-12-8, NMSA 1978 should be repealed in view of this bill's amendment to Section 22-12-7B. supra, which provides a similar requirement for parental notification of a student's three unauthorized absences during the semester.
LG/ar