SB273: Bill Text

LRB-3734/2

PG:mfd:km

1997 - 1998 LEGISLATURE

1997 Senate BILL 273

August 14, 1997 - Introduced by Senators C. Potter, Roessler, Grobschmidt and Rosenzweig, cosponsored by Representatives Krusick, Ladwig and Murat. Referred to Committee on Education.

SB273,1,5 An Act to repeal 118.162 (2) (intro.) and (a), 118.162 (3) (c) and 118.162 (5); to renumber and amend 118.162 (2) (b); to consolidate, renumber and amend 118.162 (3) (intro.), (a) and (b); to amend 118.162 (1) (intro.); and to create 118.162 (4m) of the statutes; relating to: truancy planning committees and school district truancy plans.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Current law required the appointment, by July 1, 1988, of truancy planning committees in each county. The committees were required to make recommendations, by February 1, 1989, to school boards of school districts in the county on items to be included in the school districts' truancy plans. Each school board was required to adopt a truancy plan by September 1, 1989.

This bill requires each school board to review and, if appropriate, revise its truancy plan at least once every 2 years. The bill also requires the appointment of county truancy planning committees at least once every 2 years to make recommendations to the school districts in the county on the revisions to their truancy plans. County truancy planning committees must consist of representatives of:

1. School districts in the county.

2. The district attorney.

3. The sheriff's department.

4. Another local law enforcement agency.

5. The circuit court.

6. The county social services or human services agency.

7. The juvenile court intake unit.

8. A representative of the county community programs or developmental disabilities department (if the county has not established a human services agency).

9. Any other members, as determined by the committee.

The district attorney representative on the county truancy planning committee must participate in reviewing and developing any recommendations regarding revisions to the portions of the school districts' truancy plans relating to the types of cases to be referred to the district attorney for the filing of information or prosecution and the time periods within which the district attorney will respond to and take actions on the referrals.

Each county truancy planning committee must write a report to accompany its recommendations to school districts that describes the factors that contribute to truancy in the county and any state statutes, municipal ordinances or school, social services, law enforcement, district attorney, court or other policies that contribute to or inhibit the response to truancy in the county. The committee must submit copies of the report to all of the entities designating representatives to the committee.

School districts' truancy plans must include all of the following:

1. Procedures to be followed for notifying the parents or guardians of the unexcused absences of habitual truants and for meeting and conferring with such parents or guardians.

2. Plans and procedures for identifying truant children and returning them to school, including the identity of school personnel to whom a truant child must be returned.

3. Methods to increase and maintain public awareness of and involvement in responding to truancy within the school district.

4. The immediate response to be made by school personnel when a truant child is returned to school.

5. The types of truancy cases to be referred to the district attorney for the filing of information or prosecution and the time periods within which the district attorney will respond to and take action on the referrals.

6. Plans and procedures to coordinate the responses to the problems of habitual truants with public and private social services agencies.

7. Methods to involve the truant child's parent or guardian in dealing with and solving the child's truancy problem.

For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB273, s. 1 Section 1. 118.162 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB273,3,6 118.162 (1) (intro.)  On July 1, 1988 At least once every 2 years, in each county, the superintendent school district administrator of the school district which contains the county seat designated under s. 59.05, or his or her designee, shall convene a committee under this section. At its first meeting, the committee shall elect a chairperson, vice chairperson and secretary. Not later than February 1, 1989, the committee shall to review and make recommendations to the school boards of all of the school districts in the county on the items to be included in revisions to the school districts' truancy plans under sub. (4) (4m). The committee shall consist of the following members:

SB273, s. 2 Section 2. 118.162 (2) (intro.) and (a) of the statutes are repealed.

SB273, s. 3 Section 3. 118.162 (2) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 118.162 (2) and amended to read:

SB273,3,12 118.162 (2) The district attorney representative on the committee shall participate in reviewing and developing any recommendations regarding revisions to the portions of the plan school districts' plans under sub. (4) (e).

SB273, s. 4 Section 4. 118.162 (3) (intro.), (a) and (b) of the statutes are consolidated, renumbered 118.162 (3) and amended to read:

SB273,3,22 118.162 (3)  The committee shall write a report to accompany the recommendations under sub. (1). The report shall include all of the following: (a) A a description of the factors that contribute to truancy in the county. (b) Identification and a description of any state statutes, municipal ordinances or school or, social services, law enforcement, district attorney, court or other policies that contribute to or inhibit the response to truancy in the county. A copy of the report shall be submitted to each of the entities identified in sub. (1) (b) to (h) and any other entity designating members on the committee under sub. (1) (i).

SB273, s. 5 Section 5. 118.162 (3) (c) of the statutes is repealed.

SB273, s. 6 Section 6. 118.162 (4m) of the statutes is created to read:

SB273,4,2 118.162 (4m) At least once every 2 years, each school board shall review and, if appropriate, revise the truancy plan adopted by the school board under sub. (4).

SB273, s. 7 Section 7. 118.162 (5) of the statutes is repealed.

SB273,4,4 (End)