Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

S.B. 177 (2024GS)

Sponsor

Sen. Kennedy, M.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/21/2024

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Spencer J. Cox

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• allows a school age child's grade to include attendance under certain circumstances; and
• makes technical changes.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

This document includes House Committee Amendments incorporated into the bill on Wed, Feb 21, 2024 at 9:52 AM by housengrossing.
ABSENTEEISM PREVENTION AMENDMENTS
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Michael S. Kennedy
House Sponsor: 
 R. Neil Walter
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill allows a school age child's grade to include attendance under certain
circumstances.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ allows a school age child's grade to include attendance under certain circumstances;
and
▸ makes technical changes.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
This bill provides a special effective date.
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
53G-6-206
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 93
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
53G-6-206
 is amended to read:
53G-6-206.
Duties of a local school board, charter school governing board, or
school district in promoting regular attendance -- Parental involvement -- Liability not
imposed -- Report to state board.
(1) (a) As used in this section, "intervention" means a series of non-punitive and
increasingly frequent and individualized activities that are designed to:
(i) create a trusting relationship between teachers, students, and parents;
(ii) improve attendance;
(iii) improve academic outcomes; and
(iv) reduce negative behavior referrals.
(b) "Intervention" includes:
(i) mentorship programs;
(ii) family connection to community resources;
(iii) academic support through small group or individualized tutoring or similar
methods; and
(iv) teaching executive function skills, including:
(A) planning;
(B) goal setting;
(C) understanding and following multi-step directions; and
(D) self-regulation.
(2) (a) Subject to Subsection (2)(b), [
a local school board, charter school governing
board, or school district
] 
an LEA
 shall make efforts to promote regular attendance and resolve
school absenteeism and truancy issues for each school-age child who is, or should be, enrolled
in the [
school district or charter school
] 
LEA
.
(b) A school-age child exempt from school attendance under Section 
53G-6-204
 or
53G-6-702
, or a school-age child who is enrolled in a regularly established private school or
part-time school, is not considered to be a school-age child who is or should be enrolled in a
school district or charter school under Subsection (2)(a).
(3) The efforts described in Subsection (2) shall include, as reasonably feasible:
(a) counseling of the school-age child by school authorities;
(b) (i) issuing a notice of truancy to the school-age child in accordance with Section
53G-6-203
; or
(ii) issuing a notice of compulsory education violation to the school-age child's parent
in accordance with Section 
53G-6-202
;
(c) making any necessary adjustment to the curriculum and schedule to meet special
needs of the school-age child;
(d) considering alternatives proposed by the school-age child's parent;
(e) incorporating attendance in the school-age child's course score or grade if:
(i) incorporation is determined appropriate
Ĥ→ [
by
] 
 through an individualized plan
 ←Ĥ
63a 
the school-age child's parent and teacher
Ĥ→ 
develops
 ←Ĥ
;
Ĥ→ [
and
] ←Ĥ
(ii) parental written consent is obtained
Ĥ→ 
for the individualized plan
 ←Ĥ
;
Ĥ→ 
and
65a 
(iii) the parent retains the ability to revoke the parent's consent described in Subsection
65b 
(3)(e)(ii) at any time.
 ←Ĥ
[
(e)
] 
(f)
 monitoring school attendance of the school-age child;
[
(f)
] 
(g)
 voluntary participation in truancy mediation, if available; and
[
(g)
] 
(h)
 providing the school-age child's parent, upon request, with a list of resources
available to assist the parent in resolving the school-age child's attendance problems.
(4) In addition to the efforts described in Subsection (3), the local school board, charter
school governing board, or school district may enlist the assistance of community and law
enforcement agencies and organizations for early intervention services as appropriate and
reasonably feasible in accordance with Section 
53G-8-211
.
(5) This section does not impose civil liability on boards of education, local school
boards, charter school governing boards, school districts, or their employees.
(6) Proceedings initiated under this part do not obligate or preclude action by the
Division of Child and Family Services under Section 
53G-6-210
.
(7) Each LEA shall annually report the following data separately to the state board:
(a) absences with a valid excuse; and
(b) absences without a valid excuse.
Section 2. 
Effective date.
This bill takes effect on July 1, 2024.