CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
House Bill 0333




    Florida House of Representatives - 1997                 HB 333

        By Representative Ogles






  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to truancy in the public

  3         schools; requiring the Commissioner of

  4         Education to establish demonstration projects

  5         to reduce truancy; providing project

  6         components; requiring recommendations for

  7         legislation; providing an effective date.

  8

  9  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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11         Section 1.  (1)  The Commissioner of Education shall

12  establish demonstration projects in selected school districts

13  during the 1997-1998 school year to reduce truancy in the

14  schools.  In selecting school districts to participate in the

15  1-year projects, the commissioner shall ensure participation

16  by school districts of different sizes and characteristics.

17  The demonstration projects shall include, but not be limited

18  to, the following components:

19         (a)  Maintenance of a ratio of one truancy officer for

20  each 5,000 students.

21         (b)  Creation of a community grant fund to assist

22  schools in their efforts to reduce truancy, substance abuse,

23  and crime in the schools.

24         (c)  Establishment of uniform reporting of absentees

25  and suspensions for purposes of tracking truancy.

26         (2)  Based on the results of the demonstration

27  projects, the Commissioner of Education shall make

28  recommendations by December 1, 1998, to the President of the

29  Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives for

30  legislation to:

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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida House of Representatives - 1997                 HB 333

    520-166-97






  1         (a)  Implement the components of the demonstration

  2  projects which are successful in furthering the goal of

  3  reducing truancy in the public schools.

  4         (b)  Provide for revocation or suspension of the

  5  driver's license of a chronic truant.

  6         (c)  Provide for imposition of penalties, with

  7  consideration given to the following:

  8         1.  A fine for any business that employs a student

  9  during school hours.

10         2.  A fine for any adult who harbors a truant during

11  school hours.

12         3.  A $25 fine per incident for a parent or guardian

13  who interferes with a student's school attendance.

14         4.  A fine or required performance of community service

15  for a parent or guardian whose elementary school child has

16  more than five unexcused absences per year.

17         Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 1997.

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20                          HOUSE SUMMARY

21
      Requires the Commissioner of Education to establish
22    demonstration projects to reduce truancy in the public
      schools and to recommend legislation relating thereto.
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