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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah lawmakers are advancing a bill that reduces the consequences for students who skip school, as long as they keep their grades up.
A House committee on Wednesday voted 11-2 to approve the measure.
Mapleton Republican Rep. Francis Gibson brings the bill geared toward students who are at least 16 and have a minimum grade point average of 3.5.
The Salt Lake Tribune reports (http://bit.ly/1hNMRCC ) the measure would keep those students from going to juvenile court for the absences. The court is usually a school's last resort after first sending letters home to parents.
Gibson says schools could still enforce their own penalties, such as barring students with poor attendance from graduating.
The measure goes to the full House for approval.
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Online: HB399 http://le.utah.gov/~2014/bills/static/HB0399.html
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Information from: The Salt Lake Tribune, http://www.sltrib.com
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