SALEM, Ore. (KATU) — A bill to implement truancy fines is under discussion in Salem. Truancy fines are penalties levied against parents or guardians for a child’s unexcused absences from school.
“The goal isn’t to fine. The goal is to get the kids in school so that they can have the most successful life that they can have,” said Representative Emily McIntire (R-56), the chief sponsor of the bill.
House Bill 2052 proposes penalties for parents or guardians of students who accumulate eight or more unexcused absences within a four-week period during the school year.
The proposed citation would be classified as a Class-C violation, carrying a maximum fine of $500. A proposed amendment to the bill would change the citation to a Class-E violation, which could decrease the financial penalty.
The bill states that school district superintendents may issue fines, meaning that it is not a requirement if a child is chronically absent, but an option.
Rep. McIntire said that fines are meant to be a last resort.
“It is starting that conversation to be preventative before we step into something where there’s fines or something else,” said Rep. McIntire.
READ MORE: Oregon lawmakers unite to tackle alarming rates of chronic absenteeism in schools
Before issuing a citation, school districts would send a written notice to the student’s parent or guardian in their native language. The letter must explain the reasoning behind the citation, state that school attendance is mandatory, and warn that a citation may be issued for non-compliance.
Additionally, the school must arrange a conference with the parents and a school official, as well as a meeting with school and community representatives to support the student.
“[This bill] allows for those schools that are really struggling with a family or a student, even to be able to make that connection, to be able to connect and say, what do you need? How can we help you? And it creates this kind of community support around this family, ’cause that’s the goal,” said Rep. McIntire.
Truancy fines were previously eliminated by Senate Bill 817 in 2021. An attempt to reinstate them was made in 2023 with Senate Bill 48, which initially proposed fines up to $2,000 for compulsory school attendance violations. However, the bill was amended to create a Task Force on School Attendance to study chronic absenteeism and truancy, removing the proposed fines. The amended bill did not pass.
Representative Courtney Neron (D-26), chair of the House Committee on Education, said Oregonians need to listen to the arguments from the past while also considering what is needed to get kids back into schools.
“I really wanna make sure that I reference that we’ve had this on the books in the past, but there was a reason why it was repealed. Those conversations are worth revisiting, and those values of understanding the challenges that families face are important,” said Rep. Neron.
Some school districts in Oregon already have truancy fine plans in place. Umatilla School District’s policy allows families to participate in support groups instead of being fined. The support groups are meant to improve student attendance.
Superintendent Heidi Sipe said the district had a marked increase in families participating in intervention supports and partnership opportunities, with the added incentive the fine provides as an alternative.
“When families and schools partner, students win, and we’ve seen positive improvement in attendance,” said Sipe.
Funds collected from these citations would be divided equally between the school district and the court responsible for processing the citation, covering administrative costs.
The bill outlines acceptable reasons for excused absences, such as personal or family illness and family emergencies. Children of military members would have additional grounds for excused absences.
A public hearing on the bill was held Wednesday afternoon. If enacted, House Bill 2052 would apply to absences occurring on or after July 1, 2025.