HB665 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Thad McClammy

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

School attendance, prior notice of prosecution for nonattendance requirement deleted, distribution and verification of receipt of school and state attendance policy required, Sec. 16-28-16 am'd.

Summary

HB665 updates Alabama's school attendance rules by requiring parents to receive and sign for the attendance policy and by changing how notices and penalties work for nonattendance.

What This Bill Does

This bill requires local districts to give every parent or guardian a copy of the school attendance policy and the applicable law at the start of each school year, and the parent must sign to confirm they read it. Attendance officers would investigate all cases of nonenrollment and nonattendance; if no valid reason is found, they must issue written notice to the parent, and if the absence is intentional, criminal prosecution may be pursued. It also allows parents who voluntarily enroll their child to withdraw the child at any time before the current minimum compulsory attendance age. The act would take effect immediately after governor's approval.

Who It Affects

• Parents/guardians of students in Alabama public schools: must read and sign the attendance policy notice; may face criminal prosecution if nonattendance is intentional without a valid reason; may withdraw their child before the minimum compulsory attendance age if they voluntarily enroll.
• School districts, attendance officers, and local superintendents: must distribute the attendance policy and applicable law, verify receipt, investigate cases of nonenrollment/nonattendance, issue notices, and enforce potential prosecutions.

Key Provisions

• Requires each school year’s start to include distribution of the attendance policy and applicable sections of the Alabama Compulsory School Attendance Law to every parent/guardian, with a signed verification of reading and receipt.
• Authorizes attendance officers to investigate all cases of nonenrollment and nonattendance; if no valid reason is found, they must give written notice to the parent/guardian.
• If the investigation shows nonenrollment/nonattendance was intentional and without a valid excuse, the attendance officer is required to pursue criminal prosecution against the parent/guardian.
• Preserves the right for voluntarily enrolled parents to withdraw their child before the current minimum compulsory attendance age.
• The act becomes effective immediately following passage and approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education