Upset Parents Tackle Truancy Law And Win

In a 44-0 vote, Nebraska lawmakers approved LB933 which changes the state's truancy law.

CREATED Apr. 3, 2012

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  • In a 44-0 vote, Nebraska lawmakers approved LB933 which changes the state's truancy law. Video by kmtv.com

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Omaha, NE-  Relief for many parents who pushed to changed Nebraska's truancy law.

In a 44-0 vote, Nebraska lawmakers approved LB933 which changes the state's truancy law.

It's a big win for parents who say the old law hurt families and students.

The old law, passed in 2010, says when kids miss 20 days of school for any reason, the county attorney must investigate.

In extreme cases, parents could be charged.

Parents, like Stephanie Morgan, fought the law and won.

"We hope that will reduce the number of innocent students who have to go through a legal process," says Morgan.

Morgan started the Nebraska Family Forum, a grassroots effort that she says gave a voice to other frustrated parents and helped change the law.

"It's not just because of one person something gets done," says Morgan.  "It takes a lot of people.  It takes a lot of parents who are concerned, who wrote letters, and went to Lincoln in snow storms and it took senators and lawmakers to listen to parents."

Now, legitimate reasons to miss school, like documented illnesses, isn't a reason to go to court.

"This law recognizes that excused absences are not the same thing as a child being truant from school," says Senator Tony Fulton from district 29 who backed changes to the truancy law.

Dr. Kevin Riley, the superintendent of the Gretna Public Schools, says the whole point of any truancy law is to help kids and the new law helps districts treat everyone equally.

"We believe it's good sense and more reflective of what we do everyday for the entire state," says Riley.

It's a relief for Morgan who's been a catalyst for so many other parents.

"Sometimes it just takes one voice and other parents realize there is a place they can go and help organize to push back," says Morgan.

Governor Heineman received the bill Tuesday.  He has five days to sign it into law or veto it.