Lawmakers Introduce Truancy Bill

By Martha Dalton

Atlanta – In August, state education officials reported that 10% of Georgia public school children missed at least 15 days of school last year. Thursday, some state lawmakers introduced new legislation in an effort to cut down on student absences.

Although there are state laws that address truancy, or student absences, the bill's sponsor Mary Margaret Oliver, a Democrat from Decatur, says her legislation adds firm guidelines.

"It's new legislation to continue the efforts to make the truancy statute more enforceable, more specific, and a better tool for law enforcement to make sure students are in school as the law requires," she says.

Oliver says the bill adds specific penalties for parents and school employees and gives direction about when to seek prosecution.

"A parent is obligated to enroll his or her child within 15 days of school starting," Oliver says, "The school system shall be obligated to send to law enforcement a request for prosecution for truancy if a child has missed 30 days of school."

Each violation would be considered a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine, up to 30 days in jail, or community service.