School attendance officers; revise salary scale for.
The amendment significantly impacts the hiring process for school attendance officers, altering the maximum number of student referrals that one officer can handle before additional personnel must be employed. Specifically, officers will be limited to addressing no more than 3,000 referrals annually. This threshold aims to reduce the burden on individual officers and improve the quality of attention and support given to students and families, fostering a more manageable caseload.
House Bill 387 is an amendment to Section 37-13-89 of the Mississippi Code of 1972 that seeks to adjust the existing regulations related to school attendance officers. The bill introduces a revised pay scale based on years of experience and educational qualifications for new school attendance officers, ensuring a competitive salary structure that recognizes professional development in the field. This change is aimed at attracting and retaining qualified individuals who enforce compulsory school attendance laws in Mississippi.
Notably, the bill mandates criminal background checks and child abuse registry checks for applicants applying to become school attendance officers. This provision raises concerns regarding civil liberties and potential hiring biases. Additionally, the inclusion of a probationary period for new hires raises discussions about the adequacy of staff training and assessment of capability under real-world conditions before full employment status is granted. These contentious details impact how the legislation may be received among educational districts and local governments, highlighting the balance between ensuring safety and providing fair employment opportunities.