Bill Would Penalize Welfare Recipients For Truant Children

The state House has passed legislation that would cut off welfare to families with a repeatedly truant child.

The bill would codify a policy already used by the Department of Human Services that allows families removed from assistance to reapply after a child attends school for 21 days.

Bill sponsor, Republican Representative Al Pscholka says the bill would promote responsible parenting and help break the cycle of generational poverty.

But bill opponent House Democrat Marcia Hovey-Wright says cutting off benefits to an entire family gives a rebellious child a lot of power. She also says there is no consistent definition of truancy throughout the state.

The bill now goes to the Senate.