The bill, introduced by McLaughlin as H.B. No. 2947, aims to enhance truancy laws in Texas by increasing penalties for truancy offenses and streamlining the referral process for students who repeatedly engage in truancy. It introduces a new provision allowing school districts to refer students to truancy court without imposing additional truancy prevention measures if the student has previously been subjected to such measures and continues to exhibit truancy behavior. Additionally, the bill modifies the penalties for truancy offenses, raising the maximum fines for first through fifth offenses, and establishes a new requirement for school districts to submit annual attendance reports detailing truancy incidents and interventions.

Furthermore, the bill includes provisions for parents convicted of contributing to their child's nonattendance, allowing them to petition for an order of nondisclosure of their criminal history under certain conditions, such as the child reaching the age of 21 or graduating from high school. The changes to the truancy laws will take effect starting with the 2023-2024 school year, while the new attendance reporting requirements will be implemented by December 1, 2026. The bill is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 25.0915, Education Code 25.093, Government Code 411.074 (Government Code 411, Education Code 25)