SF942 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))
School attendance reporting requirement to a local welfare agency and appropriation
Related bill: HF1604
AI Generated Summary
Senate File No. 942 is a proposed legislative bill in Minnesota that aims to address issues related to school attendance and child welfare. Here are the key points of the bill:
Definition of Habitual Truant: The bill revises the definition of "habitual truant" to include children aged 12 to 17 who are absent from school without a valid excuse for seven full school days if they are in elementary school, or for one or more class periods on seven school days if they are in middle or high school. It also specifies that a 17-year-old who misses school similarly and has not legally left school falls under this definition.
Reporting School Attendance Concerns: The bill mandates certain individuals who are required to report under the chapter, to immediately alert the local welfare agency if a child has seven unexcused absences in a school year, indicating potential educational neglect or truancy.
Voluntary Reports: It allows for voluntary reports from individuals who notice a child with seven unexcused absences, fostering community responsibility towards preventing educational neglect.
Local Welfare Agency Responsibilities: Upon receiving a report, the local welfare agency must provide appropriate child welfare responses. This includes offering services tailored to the child’s and family’s cultural and linguistic needs, aimed at addressing and improving school attendance.
Persistent Unexcused Absences: If unexcused absences continue and there is a lack of engagement with offered services, educational neglect must be reported, triggering further action from the welfare agency.
Funding: The bill appropriates funds for the fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to support child welfare response efforts related to educational neglect and improving school attendance.
The bill emphasizes improving school attendance through early intervention, monitoring, and support services, with a view to addressing underlying issues that lead to truancy and educational neglect. It underscores a community and responsive approach to keeping children in school by providing necessary support and interventions.
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 02, 2025 | House | Floor | Action | Introduction and first reading | |
| February 02, 2025 | Senate | Floor | Action | Introduction and first reading | |
| February 02, 2025 | House | Floor | Action | Referred to | Health and Human Services |
| February 02, 2025 | Senate | Floor | Action | Referred to | Health and Human Services |
| February 02, 2025 | House | Floor | Action | Referred to | Human Services |
| February 23, 2025 | Senate | Floor | Action | Comm report: To pass as amended and re-refer to | Judiciary and Public Safety |
| February 23, 2025 | House | Floor | Action | Comm report: To pass as amended and re-refer to | Judiciary and Public Safety |
| February 26, 2025 | Senate | Floor | Action | Author added | |
| February 26, 2025 | House | Floor | Action | Author added | |
| March 23, 2025 | Senate | Floor | Action | Comm report: To pass as amended and re-refer to | Education Policy |
| March 23, 2025 | Senate | Floor | Action | Author added | |
| March 31, 2025 | Senate | Floor | Action | Comm report: To pass as amended and re-refer to | Health and Human Services |
Citations
[
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Inclusion of a definition for habitual truant related to children under 12 for educational neglect."
],
"removed": [
""
],
"summary": "This bill modifies the definition of 'habitual truant' to include specifics regarding student absence based on age and educational neglect.",
"modified": [
"Clarification of habitual truancy based on school level (elementary, middle, junior high, or high school)."
]
},
"citation": "260C.007",
"subdivision": "subdivision 19"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
""
],
"removed": [
""
],
"summary": "This bill references section 260C.163 which defines terms related to educational neglect in relation to habitual truancy.",
"modified": [
"Cross-reference to habitual truant definition adjustments."
]
},
"citation": "260C.163",
"subdivision": "subdivision 11"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
""
],
"removed": [
""
],
"summary": "This bill references compulsory school enrollment requirements and conditions under which a child can withdraw from school.",
"modified": [
"Reference to habitual truant definition adjustments based on lawful withdrawal from school."
]
},
"citation": "120A.22",
"subdivision": "subdivision 8"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
""
],
"removed": [
""
],
"summary": "This bill references the Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act in relation to child welfare services.",
"modified": [
"Ensures compliance with the Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act in child welfare responses."
]
},
"citation": "260.751 to 260.835",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
""
],
"removed": [
""
],
"summary": "This bill references the Minnesota African American Family Preservation Act to ensure racial equity in child welfare services.",
"modified": [
"Ensures compliance with the Minnesota African American Family Preservation Act in child welfare responses."
]
},
"citation": "260.61 to 260.693",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
""
],
"removed": [
""
],
"summary": "This bill involves section 260E.17 in determining response paths for child welfare cases involving educational neglect.",
"modified": [
"References procedural steps for addressing educational neglect."
]
},
"citation": "260E.17",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
""
],
"removed": [
""
],
"summary": "This bill references procedural processes in child welfare responses to continued unexcused absences in schooling.",
"modified": [
"Details steps following report of educational neglect."
]
},
"citation": "260C.141",
"subdivision": ""
}
]