Establishes a task force to study and make recommendations on chronic absenteeism at public schools in the state of New York

Showing the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.

• Democratic8
• Republican3

This bill has cosponsors from more than one party.

Shown in neutral colors by design; Agora is non-partisan.

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Patricia Fahy says this is needed

On May 12, 1894, the Governor of the State of New York signed Chapter 671 into law to provide for the 'compulsory education of children.' That statute provides for the parameters of lawful instruction for children under 16 years old and included New York State's first attempt to address the chronic absenteeism of its students. Section 4 of the statute outlines the duties and penalties for parents / persons in parental relation to a child. "Every person in parental relation to a child between 8 and 16 years of age in proper physical and mental condition to attend school, shall cause such child to attend upon instruction or give notice to school authorities upon their inability to do so. A violation of this section for persons in parental relation to a child was a fine of $5 for the first offense, and no amount exceeding $50 for each subsequent offense or by imprisonment not exceeding 30 days or both." (Chapter 671 of 1894, Section 4) Section 8 of the statute provides for the arrest of truants. "The attendance officer may arrest without a warrant any child between 8 and 16 years of age, found away from his home, and who then is a truant from instruction. The officer shall bring the arrested child to 1) the person in parental relation to the child or 2) in the case of habitual or incorrigible truants the child must be taken before a police magistrate to be committed to a truant school. Authorities may provide for the confinement, maintenance and instruction in truant schools for the up to the remainder of the school year or confined to any private school, orphans home or similar institution." (Chapter 671 of 1894, Section 8) In 2026, New York State Policy Makers continue to allow a path to family separation as a method to deal with parents and families whose children are chronically absent. In place of the fines and imprisonment of parents and separation of families via truant and other schools in 1894, today we statutorily require calls to the State Central Register of Abuse and Maltreatment that trigger invasive, comprehensive months long investigations that put the family at risk of being separated and too often do break up the family unit. In short, we are still allowing an unwise path to the separation of families because we have not addressed the actual causes of absenteeism. Family separation is a recognized Adverse Childhood Experience (ACEs) that includes (parental divorce, abandonment, or incarceration) and often acts as a source triggering intense feelings of abandonment, anxiety, and depression in children. It disrupts foundational attach- ment, leading to increased risks of long-term mental health issues, developmental challenges, and behavioral difficulties, including substance abuse and lower academic achievement. Family separation is not a responsible reaction to chronic absenteeism. This task force is being created to tackle the significant societal failure of the reported 27% of New York State's two and a half million students who are missing 10% of enrolled instructional days or 18 absences in New York State, the approximately 300,000 public school students were chronically absent in New York City and the highest rates of chronic absenteeism among homeless students and those in foster care.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.