This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Long stretches of unexcused school absences could result in parents being hit with an infraction under a bill that gained House approval on Wednesday.
School truancy is currently punishable as a class B misdemeanor; under the bill the maximum penalty for repeat offenses would rise to a class C status.
"It is a very good compromise," said Murray Republican Rep. Bruce Cutler. "Good parents are going to let the school know where their students are. They're going to make sure the school knows that they've taken them out for a purpose."
The bill, sponsored by Highland Republican Sen. Alvin Jackson, originally called for the outright decriminalization of school truancy.
Jackson said his intention was to recognize parents' rights and the proper role of government, but his proposal was amended in response to concerns over the potential for parental negligence.
But even with those changes, some lawmakers argued that the bill was an unnecessary dilution of the state's ability to ensure that children receive an education.
"Do you know what compulsory education is for?" Holladay Democratic Rep. Carol Moss asked her House colleagues. "It's to protect children."
Lehi Republican Rep. Jacob Anderegg, the bill's House sponsor, said the lesser penalties in the bill would still allow schools and the state to compel parents to send students to school.
"We're not removing the protection for kids here," he said.
The House approved the bill in a narrow vote of 39-35.
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