California bill would allow jail time and fine for parents whose kids regularly skip school

Calif. bill could jail parents if kids miss school

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The state of California would hold parents responsible if their children regularly skip school, under a bill passed Thursday by the state Senate.

The measure would let prosecutors charge parents with misdemeanors punishable by up to a year in jail and a $2,000 fine if their kids are chronically truant.

Sen. Mark Leno, a Democrat from San Francisco, says SB1317 is a public safety measure because children who do poorly in school or drop out are more likely to commit crimes.

Judges could delay the punishment to parents as an incentive to get their children in class.

The measure passed the Senate on a 21-9 vote and now goes to the Assembly.