S0359B1692A07063 DMS:JSL 05/06/16 #90 A07063
AMENDMENTS TO SENATE BILL NO. 359
Sponsor: SENATOR RESCHENTHALER
Printer's No. 1692
Amend Bill, page 1, line 12, by striking out "and" and
inserting a comma
Amend Bill, page 1, line 13, by inserting after
"requirements"
and for study of truancy procedure
Amend Bill, page 1, lines 22 through 24, by striking out all
of said lines and inserting
Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
section after Article XIII, subdivision (b) heading to read:
Section 1325. Purpose.--The purpose of this subdivision is
to improve school attendance and deter truancy through a
comprehensive approach to consistently and effectively identify
and address attendance issues as early as possible with credible
intervention techniques, including a school attendance
improvement conference, and with confinement of a person in
parental relation to a habitually truant child only as a last
resort and for a minimum amount of time, in order to:
(1) Preserve the unity of the family whenever possible as
the underlying issues of truancy are addressed.
(2) Avoid the loss of housing, the possible entry of a child
to foster care and other unintended consequences of disruption
of an intact family unit.
Section 2. Section 1326 of the act is amended to read:
Amend Bill, page 4, line 23, by striking out "2" and
inserting
3
Amend Bill, page 5, line 12, by striking out "3" and
inserting
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Amend Bill, page 6, line 14, by striking out "4" and
inserting
5
Amend Bill, page 11, line 23, by striking out "5" and
inserting
6
Amend Bill, page 12, lines 15 and 16, by striking out
"Jurisdiction shall be based on the" in line 15 and all of line
16
Amend Bill, page 14, line 18, by striking out "for each
citation"
Amend Bill, page 14, line 19, by striking out the semicolon
after "costs" and inserting
except that, in the case of a second offense, the maximum
fine for a person in parental relation may be a higher amount
within their ability to pay not exceeding five hundred dollars
($500) together with court costs and, in the case of a third or
subsequent offense, the maximum fine for a person in parental
relation may be a higher amount within their ability to pay not
exceeding seven hundred and fifty dollars ($750) together with
court costs;
Amend Bill, page 16, by inserting between lines 13 and 14
(g) Upon the willful failure of a person in parental
relation to comply with community service ordered under
subsection (f), the person in parental relation may be found in
contempt of court and, upon conviction, may be sentenced to the
county jail for a period not to exceed two (2) days.
Amend Bill, page 16, line 14, by striking out "(g)" and
inserting
(h)
Amend Bill, page 17, line 27, by striking out "(H)" and
inserting
(i)
Amend Bill, page 17, by inserting between lines 29 and 30
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Section 1333.4. Study of Truancy Procedure.--(a) Thirty-six
(36) months after commencement of the first school year to which
section 1333 applies, the Joint State Government Commission
shall undertake a study of the procedures for how a school
handles children who are truant and habitually truant and
evaluate the effectiveness of the procedures in improving school
attendance and whether the procedures should be revised,
including to require court involvement sooner in certain truancy
cases.
(b) The Joint State Government Commission may establish an
advisory committee that may include representatives of the
Department of Education, educational entities and organizations,
members of the General Assembly, the judiciary, district
attorneys, law enforcement, public organizations involved in
truancy issues, representatives of county children and youth
agencies and juvenile justice agencies and other organizations
selected by the Joint State Government Commission to consult
with the Joint State Government Commission in conducting the
study.
(c) The Joint State Government Commission may hold
informational meetings to receive testimony from professionals
or organizations with expertise in truancy and truancy
prevention.
(d) The Joint State Government Commission shall issue a
report of its findings and recommendations to the Education
Committee of the Senate and the Education Committee of the House
of Representatives not later than six (6) months after
undertaking the study.
Amend Bill, page 17, line 30, by striking out "6" and
inserting
7
Amend Bill, page 18, line 24, by striking out "7" and
inserting
8
Amend Bill, page 20, line 9, by striking out "8" and
inserting
9
Amend Bill, page 21, line 12, by striking out "9" and
inserting
10
Amend Bill, page 21, line 22, by striking out "10" and
inserting
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