68th Legislature SB 129.1
1 SENATE BILL NO. 129
2 INTRODUCED BY R. TEMPEL, T. WELCH, C. KEOGH, S. O'BRIEN, E. MCCLAFFERTY, M. LANG, J.
3 KASSMIER
4
5 A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT REVISING SCHOOL LAWS RELATED TO COMPULSORY
6 ATTENDANCE; ALIGNING COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE WITH ENROLLMENT IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL
7 RATHER THAN AGE; AMENDING SECTION 20-5-103, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.”
8
9 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
10
11 Section 1. Section 20-5-103, MCA, is amended to read:
12 "20-5-103. Compulsory attendance upon enrollment in public schools and excuses. (1) Except
13 as provided in subsection (2), any parent, guardian, or other person who is responsible for the care of any child
14 who is 7 years of age or older prior to the first day of school in any school fiscal year enrolled in a public school
15 shall cause the child to attend the school in which the child is enrolled for the school term and each school day
16 in the term prescribed by the trustees of the district until the later of the following dates:
17 (a) the child's 16th birthday; or
18 (b) the date of completion of the work of the 8th grade.
19 (2) The provisions of subsection (1) do not apply in the following cases:
20 (a) The child has been excused from compulsory enrollment under one of the conditions specified
21 in 20-5-102.
22 (b) The child is absent because of illness, bereavement, or other reason prescribed by the policies
23 of the trustees.
24 (c) The child has been suspended or expelled under the provisions of 20-5-202.
25 (d) The child is excused pursuant to 20-7-120."
26
27 NEW SECTION. Section 2. Effective date. [This act] is effective July 1, 2023.
28 - END -
-1- Authorized Print Version – SB 129


Statutes affected:
Introduced: 20-5-103