Sen. Al Jackson (R)

SB 45 (Compulsory Education Revisions)

Libertas Institute supports this bill.

Under current law, parents can be criminally prosecuted for the truancy of their children. In the past decade, 20 parents were jailed and 171 fined for violations of Utah compulsory education laws. This bill would decriminalize truancy for parents, removing the potential of fines and jail time for parents whose children are absent from school more than the school may allow.

Libertas Institute supports this bill. Government is, and should remain, supportive and secondary to parents who have the primary responsibility for the education of their children. It is improper to punish them for not having their children in school every day that may be required.