Image Credit: TN General Assembly
The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
After passing in the Senate last month, a truancy bill that has been opposed both within the homeschool community in Tennessee and at the national level has passed on the House floor.
While the 66 to 24 vote was mostly along party lines, four Republicans voted against the legislation: Representatives Clay Doggett (R-Pulaski-District 70), Monty Fritts (R-Kingston-District 32), Kelly Keisling (R-Byrdstown-District 36), and Lowell Russell (R-Vonore-District 21). Five more Republicans abstained from voting: Representatives Jody Barrett (R-Dickson-District 69), Bud Hulsey (R-Kingsport-District 2), Chris Hurt (R-Halls-District 82), Michele Reneau (R-Signal Mountain-District 27), and Todd Warner (R-Chapel Hill-District 92).
The companion Senate Bill (SB1968) as amended was substituted for House Bill 1823 which was sponsored by Representative Kevin Raper (R-Cleveland-District 24) with Representatives Scott Cepicky (R-Culleoka-District 64), Kirk Haston (R-Lobelville-District 72), and Mark White (R-Memphis-District 83) signed on as co-sponsors.
In a previous committee, due to opposition by national homeschool advocacy group Home School Legal Defense Association and Tennessee homeschool families, Raper stated that the legislation had been amended to kick in only after a student was at Tier 3 for truancy, and that it would not apply to a student pulled from public school to enroll in a private school or to homeschool.
Despite the sponsor’s reassurances that parents can pull a child at Tier 3 to homeschool, juvenile judges in Tennessee have denied a parent’s constitutional right to homeschool in the past.
When this issue was brought to the attention of the Senate sponsor, Senator Adam Lowe (R-Calhoun-District 1) earlier in the legislative session, he stated that such judges could be voted out but this is easier said than done as most incumbent judges tend to retain their positions.
Now that it has passed in both chambers of the Tennessee General Assembly, the legislation will soon make its way to Governor Bill Lee’s desk.
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
