HB388 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Thad McClammy

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2012

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

HB388 changes how Alabama handles student nonattendance by removing mandatory notices in intentional cases and adding a yearly requirement to distribute and verify receipt of the attendance policy with parents.

What This Bill Does

It would remove the requirement to give written notice to a parent when nonenrollment or nonattendance is intentional and without a valid reason. It would require school systems to distribute the school attendance policy and the Alabama Compulsory School Attendance Law to every parent or guardian and have them sign or verify they have read it, each school year. It would keep criminal prosecution as an option for parents when nonenrollment or nonattendance is intentional and without a valid excuse.

Who It Affects

• Parents, guardians, or other persons having control of a child enrolled in Alabama schools: must receive the attendance policy and applicable law and verify receipt; potential criminal prosecution remains for intentional, unexcused nonattendance.
• School systems, including local superintendents and attendance officers: must annually distribute the attendance policy and verify receipt, and carry out investigations of nonenrollment/nonattendance.

Key Provisions

• Delete the requirement to provide written notice to parents when nonenrollment or nonattendance is intentional and without a valid reason.
• Require distribution and verification of receipt of the school attendance policy and applicable sections of the Alabama Compulsory School Attendance Law to each parent/guardian or other person having control of a child at the start of each school year, with a signed verification.
• Retain criminal prosecution for cases where nonenrollment or nonattendance is intentional and without a valid excuse.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education