To help improve the current process for handling truancy cases, House Bill 452 was filed by State Representative Hugh Shine to allow courts in Bell County to appoint "truancy masters."
They will serve in the same capacity as justices and share the caseload from local schools.
"As school populations increase across the State of Texas, we have seen an increase in truancy issues that not only affect school funding, but also student success," said Alex Remschel, Academy Assistant Superintendent. "This issue is also bogging down a court system that cannot devote the time needed to keep students in school."
The bill was championed by Bell County Commissioner Tim Brown who presented the concept to Representative Shine earlier this year and has the support of Bell County Judge-Elect, David Blackburn.
“HB 452 is just another way to provide additional support to our local schools and administrators,” stated Shine. “Truancy not only affects local school funding, student success and the workload in our JP Courts, it impacts local communities from a societal perspective.”
The truancy masters are expected to undergo the same training as justices of the peace and will be subject to the same regulations.
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