SPONSOR: Hurlbert
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass with HCS" by the Standing Committee on General Laws by a vote of 13 to 1. Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Rules- Legislative Oversight by a vote of 11 to 0.
The following is a summary of the House Committee Substitute for HB 2369.
This bill specifies that a school district shall not be a member of, or remit any funds to, any statewide activities association that prohibits a home school student from have the ability to try out or audition for team or club membership in any event or activity offered by the school district, and a school district shall not prohibit a student from trying out or auditioning for team or club membership in any event or activity. A home school student may be required to participate in one class per day for sixth through eight grade and one-half unit of credit for ninth through twelfth grade per semester.
This bill further provides school discipline policies will apply to home school students and records created pertaining to a home school student will be made confidential.
This bill is similar to HCS HB 494 (2021).
The following is a summary of the public testimony from the committee hearing. The testimony was based on the introduced version of the bill.
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that this bill will create opportunities for home school students within communities. This bill will allow home school students to reasonably participate in school activities subject to requirements of the school district while preserving the reason that families elect to home school in the first place.
Testifying for the bill were Representative Hurlbert; Amanda Kroeger; Amanda Webster; Ashley Gunnels; Carly Anderson; Carol Sadler; Catherine Burns; Charles Ray Batchelor; Curtis R Spieker; Dee Mcvey; Donald Lowther; Elisabeth Tyler; Emily Burgoon; Haley Williams; Hayleigh F Martin; Holly Kay Spieker; Jami Karst; Jenna Weaver; Jennifer Edie; Jennifer Taylor; Jessica Johnson; Jessika Kroeger; Julie Hall; Katherine Lefebvre; Kaylan Dockins; Keith Shepherd; Kris Miliner; Kristina Chavies; Laura Keown; Leanna Fairlight Schlessman; Leslee Diamond; Maddy Karst; Melisha Meredith; Melissa D Ashley; Patrick Miller; Rachel Bach; Renee Jones; Timothy Lehman; Timothy Ray Nolan; Valerie Hildebrand; Miranda Fuchs; Heather Eufinger; Carl Brooks; Jacob Allen Schelp; John Paul Webster; Rachel Leavitt; Ryan Reed; Timothy D. Richards; Jonah Spieker; Lydia Meredith; Kelly Corwin; Ezekiel Spieker; Amanda R Strobel.
OPPONENTS: Those who oppose the bill say that this bill treats two groups of students differently. Under this bill, home school students would not be required to adhere to the same basic requirements that public school students and private school students adhere to. Educators through their member schools should continue to establish the policies and procedures that govern the activities of all Missouri students who participate in school activities.
Testifying against the bill were Missouri NEA; Missouri Association of School Administrators; Arnie C. Ac Dienoff; Phyllis Pasley, Missouri Alliance for Arts Education.
OTHERS: Others testifying on the bill have submitted written testimony, which can be found online.
Testifying on the bill was Family Covenant Ministries.
Written testimony has been submitted for this bill. The full written testimony can be found under Testimony on the bill page on the House website.
Statutes affected: