Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Minnesota House Bill HF1604

Introduced
2/26/25  

Caption

School attendance mandated to a local welfare agency, habitual truant definition modified, and money appropriated for grants to fund child welfare response efforts.

Impact

The implementation of HF1604 is expected to have a significant impact on how local welfare agencies interact with families regarding school attendance. With the bill's provisions, local agencies are mandated to provide a welfare response for students with excessive unexcused absences. This includes offering services to both the child and their family to support better attendance, which reflects a shift toward a more proactive approach in addressing the issues of truancy and educational neglect. Additionally, the bill includes appropriations for grants aimed at funding these child welfare response efforts, emphasizing the need for resources to tackle the root causes of absenteeism.

Summary

HF1604 is a legislative act designed to enhance the oversight of school attendance in Minnesota by mandating local welfare agencies to respond to student truancy concerns. The bill stipulates that reports must be made if a child aged between 12 and 17 years has seven or more unexcused absences in a school year. It also modifies the definition of a habitual truant to include specific circumstances related to educational neglect. The goal of the legislation is to ensure that at-risk children receive appropriate support to address their attendance issues, thereby promoting better educational outcomes.

Contention

While HF1604 aims to create a supportive structure for families struggling with school attendance, there may be contention around its implementation. Critics could raise concerns about the potential for increased scrutiny of families and the adequacy of resources available for local welfare agencies to fulfill the bill’s requirements. There could also be discussions about the balance between state intervention and family privacy, especially in cases where the reasons for a child's truancy are complex and multifaceted. Ensuring that responses are culturally sensitive and appropriate is vital to the success of the measures outlined in this legislation.

Companion Bills

MN SF942

Similar To School attendance reporting requirement to a local welfare agency and appropriation

Previously Filed As

MN HF4911

Child welfare responses for educational neglect modified, and money appropriated.

MN SF4747

Child welfare responses for educational neglect modification and appropriation

MN HF5267

Governor's budget bill for early childhood programs; child welfare and child care licensing provisions modified; technical changes to early childhood law made; Department of Children, Youth, and Families recodification updated; and money appropriated.

MN HF912

Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act established, child welfare provisions modified, African American Child Well-Being Advisory Council established, reports required, and money appropriated.

MN HF5317

Governor's budget bill for health and human services; health care, child welfare, child care licensing , Department of Health, and Department of Children, Youth, and Families provisions modified; health and human services law technical changes made; appropriations for forecasted programs adjusted; penalties imposed; and money appropriated.

MN HF2910

Various child care, health, human services, and housing governing provisions modified; forecast adjustments made; technical and conforming changes made; funds allocated; grants established; reports required; and money transferred and appropriated.

MN HF1198

Child care assistance expanded, grants and rules regarding children's mental health expanded and modified, transition to community initiative modified, staff training requirements modified, covered transportation services modified, coverage of clinical care coordination modified, children's long-term stays in emergency room rules modified, rural family response and stabilization services pilot program established, and money appropriated.

MN HF2476

Child protection; economic supports; housing and homelessness; child care licensing; Department of Children, Youth, and Families provisions modified; reports required; and money appropriated.

MN HF3671

Delinquent child, juvenile petty offender, and child in need of protection or services definitions modified.

MN SF5386

Early Childhood supplemental appropriations

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.