Senate OKs bill with leniency for truant students

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Utah lawmakers have approved a bill that would cut a break for students that skip school, as long as they keep their grades up.

The Senate voted 20-6 on Thursday to send the measure to Gov. Gary Herbert.

The bill which exempts parents from truancy court if their student is 16 or older and has a 3.5 GPA or higher.

Mapleton Republican Rep. Francis Gibson sponsors the bill and says court is a school’s last resort after first sending letters home.

He says it’s unnecessary for those who miss school but are otherwise good students.

Gibson says schools can still enforce their own penalties, such as preventing students with poor attendance from graduating.

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Online:

HB 399: https://1.usa.gov/MvibKO