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 9  AN ACT establishing a task force addressing truancy; prescribing the
10    membership and duties of the task force.
11
12  Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:
13    Section 1.  (a) There is hereby established a task force addressing
14  truancy. The task force shall be composed of 12 members as follows:
15    (1)  Three persons who shall be from the general public, appointed
16  by the governor;
17    (2)  four legislators, one each of whom shall be appointed by the
18  speaker of the house of representatives, the minority leader of the house
19  of representatives, the president of the senate, and the minority leader
20  of the senate;
21    (3)  the commissioner of education, or a designee of the commissioner
22  appointed by the commissioner;
23    (4)  the secretary of social and rehabilitation services, or a designee of
24  the secretary appointed by the secretary;
25    (5)  three persons appointed by the commissioner of education.
26    (b)  The governor shall make appointments to the task force in such
27  manner that at least one of the persons appointed is a county or district
28  attorney or an assistant county or district attorney. The commissioner of
29  education shall make appointments to the task force in such a manner
30  that one of the persons appointed is a classroom teacher employed by a
31  school district, one of the persons is a superintendent, administrator or
32  principal employed by a school district, and one of the persons is an active
33  member of a parent-teacher association.
34    (c)  Within 30 days after the effective date of this act, the commis-
35  sioner of education shall call an organizational meeting of the task force
36  in Topeka. At such meeting the task force shall organize and elect a
37  chairperson and vice-chairperson from the membership of the task force.
38    (d)  The task force may meet at any time on the call of the chairperson.
39    (e)  In accordance with K.S.A. 46-1204, and amendments thereto, the
40  legislative coordinating council may provide for such professional services
41  as may be requested by the task force for assistance in performing its
42  duties.
HB 2449
                                     

 1    (f)  Members of the task force attending meetings of the task force or
 2  subcommittee meetings authorized by the task force shall receive com-
 3  pensation, subsistence allowances and mileage provided for in K.S.A. 75-
 4  3223, and amendments thereto. Amounts paid under this subsection to
 5  each member of the task force shall be paid by the authority that ap-
 6  pointed the member.
 7    (g)  The staff of the legislative research department, the office of the
 8  revisor of statutes and the division of legislative administrative services
 9  shall provide such assistance as may be requested by the task force and
10  authorized by the legislative coordinating council.
11    Sec. 2.  (a) The task force shall make a comprehensive study on the
12  problem of truancy and absenteeism, and related issues, in Kansas. The
13  study shall include, but not be limited to:
14    (1)  An evaluation of the degree and prevalence of truancy and ab-
15  senteeism, and other related issues;
16    (2)  a review and evaluation of initiatives undertaken in other states
17  to address and improve truancy problems.
18    (b)  Upon completion of the study required by subsection (a), the task
19  force shall make a determination of effective approaches to address tru-
20  ancy and absenteeism, and related issues, explore the cost of such efforts,
21  and prepare a report of the findings of the task force, together with any
22  recommendations for legislation deemed necessary to address the issues
23  of truancy. The task force shall submit its report and recommendations
24  to the governor and the legislature at the commencement of the 1998
25  legislative session.
26    Sec. 3.  The provisions of this act shall expire on January 31, 1998.
27    Sec. 4.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its
28  publication in the statute book.