May 26, 2015 6:15 PM

Decriminalizing truancy hung up on House concurrence with 70 pages of Senate amendments

Hammond: "“Far too many children enter the criminal justice system via truancy, thus harming their lives and hurting their chance to become a productive member of society."

Supporters are pushing hard for the House to concur on a bill to decriminalize truancy this session, which could be fated for conference committee tomorrow.

Gov. Rick Perry vetoed a bill to decriminalize truancy last session, Senate Bill 1234, saying the bill did not properly account for students who moved between districts. This session, the issue comes down to whether Rep. James White, R-Woodville, and the House will concur with the Senate’s version of the bill.

The Texas Association of Business underlined its support of the bill, which thrusts children whose families can’t pay fines into the criminal justice system. Texas is one of only two states that has criminalized truancy.

By Kimberly Reeves