BILL REQ. #:  S-3974.1 

Read first time 01/16/08.   Referred to Committee on Human Services & Corrections.

     AN ACT Relating to analyzing school attendance and truancy; creating a new section; and making an appropriation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) The Washington state institute for public policy shall conduct an analysis of local practices regarding compulsory school attendance and truancy for children required to attend school under chapter 28A.225 RCW. The Washington state institute for public policy shall:
     (a) Survey a geographically representative sample of school districts' actual expenditures in fiscal years 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 to comply with RCW 28A.225.020, 28A.225.025, and 28A.225.030, as articulated by the school districts. Expenditures surveyed should include, but are not limited to: Expenditures related to the truancy petition process; case management; service of process and filing fees; mailing costs; truancy intervention or prevention programs and other direct services to children and parents; truancy boards; administration, staffing, and data tracking; and other costs identified by the school district associated with statutory compliance;
     (b) Conduct a comprehensive analysis and evaluation of evidence-based, research-based, promising, and consensus-based truancy intervention and prevention programs. For the purposes of the study, truancy programs include, but are not limited to, those that are specifically intended to reduce the likelihood of children being truant and increase the likelihood of children remaining in school;
     (c) Survey, by school district, the truancy prevention and intervention programs and services currently available and report gaps, if any, in the availability and accessibility of those programs and services throughout the state's school districts;
     (d) Analyze the extent to which Washington's current programs are evidence-based, research-based, promising, or consensus-based programs; and
     (e) Survey, by school district, the definitions of "absence" and "unexcused absence" used by the school district.
     (2) In conducting its analysis in subsection (1) of this section, the Washington state institute for public policy may consult with employees and data systems of the office of the superintendent of public instruction and any educational service district or school district in Washington. The office of the superintendent of public instruction, each educational service district, and each school district shall cooperate with the Washington state institute for public policy to the extent necessary, including providing access to necessary data and administrative data systems.
     (3) The Washington state institute for public policy shall also survey a geographically representative sample of the courts' actual expenditures in fiscal years 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 to comply with RCW 28A.225.020, 28A.225.025, and 28A.225.030, as articulated by the courts surveyed. The survey should include, but is not limited to, expenditures related to:
     (a) Court intake and filings, including court clerks and truancy facilitators;
     (b) Court hearings, including probation officers, judicial officers, prosecutors, and defense attorneys; and
     (c) Other costs identified by the courts associated with statutory compliance.
     (4) In conducting its analysis in subsection (3) of this section, the Washington state institute for public policy may consult with employees and data systems of the administrative office of the courts. The administrative office of the courts shall cooperate with the Washington state institute for public policy to the extent necessary, including providing access to necessary data and administrative data systems.
     (5)The Washington state institute for public policy shall report to the governor and the appropriate committees of the legislature with the results of the study by December 31, 2008.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   The sum of . . . . dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009, from the general fund to the Washington state institute for public policy for the purposes of this act.