Relating to education, including by requiring school engagement meetings and attendance cooperation proceedings when children are absent from school, requiring school districts to restrict student use of cellular phones and smartphones, modifying provisions related to open enrollment of truant students, and modifying penalties

Where it is now

1. ✓
   Done: IntroducedFebruary 1, 2024
2. ✓
   Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 1, 2024
3. ✓
   Done: House committeeFebruary 13, 2024
4. ✓
   Done: Passes the HouseMarch 12, 202473–22
5. ✕
   Stopped: Senate committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
6. Next: Passes the Senate
7. Next: To the Governor
8. Next: Signed into law

Died when the session ended The 2024 session adjourned on April 19, 2024, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?

Amendments · 8

2 adopted · 3 failed. Newest first.

• H-8198 · filed March 12, 2024 by

  AI summary This amendment requires that any notices sent regarding school absences be written in the native language of the parent, guardian, or child. Its wording →
  Failed
  32–63
  March 12, 2024
• H-8197 · filed March 12, 2024 by

  AI summary This amendment adds a rule that allows a parent, guardian, or the student themselves to respond to an attendance notice within thirty days to address any issues with the child's attendance. Its wording →
  Failed
  30–65
  March 12, 2024
• H-8196 · filed March 12, 2024 by

  AI summary This amendment requires schools to include their cell phone use policies in their student handbooks. It also adds several groups of students to the list of people who are excused from attendance, such as those with specific education plans or those participating in certain extracurricular contests and trips. Its wording →
  Failed
  30–65
  March 12, 2024
• H-8195 · filed March 12, 2024 by

  AI summary This amendment adds a rule that school districts with a high number of open-enrolled students may be eligible for certain types of extra funding. It also sets limits on how much of that extra money a district can receive and requires the school board to hold a public hearing before requesting it. Its wording →
  Withdrawn
  March 12, 2024
• H-8194 · filed March 12, 2024 by

  AI summary This amendment requires schools to consult with the county attorney when creating rules for excused absences and adds students with individualized education programs to the attendance process. It changes the definition of chronic absenteeism to include missed hours, updates the threshold for absenteeism to 20 percent of the school calendar, and replaces the term "mediator" with "arbitrator." Additionally, it clarifies that the local county attorney is responsible for enforcing these attendance laws. Its wording →
  Adopted
  March 12, 2024
• H-8191Strike everything · filed March 11, 2024 by

  AI summary This amendment replaces the entire bill with new rules regarding school attendance. It defines a chronically absent child as one who misses more than 10 percent of school days and a truant as one who misses at least 18 percent of school days. It also establishes requirements for school officials to send notices to parents, hold school engagement meetings to create absenteeism prevention plans, and initiate legal proceedings if those plans are not followed. Its wording →
  Adopted
  March 12, 2024
• H-8175 · filed March 7, 2024 by

  AI summary This amendment adds a new section that limits the amount of supplemental aid or modified supplemental amounts a school district can receive if a large percentage of its students come from open enrollment. It also requires school districts to hold a public hearing and publish a notice before requesting this type of aid and states that districts are ineligible for this aid if most of their open-enrolled students receive online instruction from a private provider. Its wording →
  Ruled out of order
  March 12, 2024
• H-8172Strike everything · filed March 7, 2024 by

  AI summary This amendment replaces the entire bill with a new version that focuses only on requiring attendance cooperation meetings for chronically absent students and requiring school districts to create policies restricting cell phone use during class. It removes the parts of the original bill regarding open enrollment for truant students and modified penalties. Its wording →
  Withdrawn
  March 12, 2024