Texas Senate Bill SB285

Texas 2015 - 84th Regular

Caption

Relating to court jurisdiction and procedures for truancy.

Impact

The changes introduced by SB285 directly affect how school districts and courts handle truancy cases. Schools are required to implement truancy prevention measures, and before any referrals to juvenile court, schools must certify that the measures were applied and failed to resolve the attendance issue. Courts are given flexibility to determine an appropriate response for students who fail to comply, including the option for parents to be mandated to attend educational programs for those whose children exhibit truancy behavior.

Summary

SB285 amends various provisions in the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure and Education Code related to truancy and school attendance laws. The bill aims to clarify court jurisdiction over truancy cases and outlines specific procedures that must be followed when students are found to be habitually absent without a valid excuse. SB285 allows for concurrent jurisdiction between municipal and justice courts and establishes new protocols for addressing truancy at the school level before it escalates to legal action.

Contention

A notable point of discussion surrounding SB285 is the responsibility placed on parents for their children's attendance. The bill includes provisions that subject parents to legal penalties if their child is found to be truant, which raises concerns about the implications for low-income families who may face barriers to consistent school attendance. Additionally, there are discussions about the lack of legal representation for children during truancy proceedings, which some believe infringes on their rights.