LEGISLATIVE SERVICES AGENCY
OFFICE OF FISCAL AND MANAGEMENT ANALYSIS
FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
LS 7449 NOTE PREPARED: Jan 29, 2025
BILL NUMBER: HB 1201 BILL AMENDED: Jan 27, 2025
SUBJECT: Education Matters.
FIRST AUTHOR: Rep. Behning BILL STATUS: 2
nd
Reading - 1
st
House
FIRST SPONSOR:
FUNDS AFFECTED:XGENERAL IMPACT: State & Local
XDEDICATED
FEDERAL
Summary of Legislation: This bill defines "chronically absent". The bill also requires the Department of
Education (DOE) to do the following:
(1) Create a list of best practices to reduce student discipline and chronic absenteeism.
(2) Study and prepare a report regarding the basis for the categorization of certain suspensions and
expulsions.
(3) Establish a categorization framework to distinguish between excused and unexcused absences
based on the reason for the absence.
(4) Collect certain information regarding absences from school corporations and charter schools.
(5) Prepare and post a report regarding the information on the DOE’s website.
The bill provides that the absence policy adopted by the governing body of a school corporation must provide
for the categorization of excused and unexcused absences in accordance with the categorization framework
established by DOE. It allows a prosecuting attorney to conduct a meeting, collaborate, and make reasonable
efforts to secure appropriate support services for a child and the child's family before filing an affidavit with
regard to a violation of compulsory school attendance requirements. It also requires a public school to hold
an attendance conference not later than 10 instructional days (instead of five instructional days) after the
student's fifth absence. This bill prohibits a public school from expelling or suspending a student solely
because the student is chronically absent or a habitual truant.
Effective Date: July 1, 2025.
Explanation of State Expenditures: The Department of Education will experience a workload increase to
adhere to the bill’s requirements regarding student discipline and attendance. The bill’s requirements are
within the agency’s routine administrative functions and should be able to be implemented with no additional
appropriations, assuming near customary agency staffing and resource levels.
Explanation of State Revenues:
Explanation of Local Expenditures: The bill will decrease the administrative workload for school
HB 1201 1 corporations by providing schools additional time to organize an attendance conference. Prosecuting
attorneys may have a minor workload increase if they hold attendance intervention meetings for certain
students.
Explanation of Local Revenues:
State Agencies Affected: Department of Education.
Local Agencies Affected: Public schools.
Information Sources:
Fiscal Analyst: Kelan Fong, 317-232-9592.
HB 1201 2