02/02/2012 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE

SENATE BILL NO. 9                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to compulsory school attendance; and                                                                      
     relating to the crime of contributing to the                                                                               
     delinquency of a minor."                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
9:08:23 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  BETTY DAVIS,  introduced SB  9 and  stated that  the                                                                   
bill would  change  the compulsory  age from  16 to 18  years                                                                   
old. Currently,  anyone who  was 16 years  of age  could drop                                                                   
out  of  school.  The legislation  would  raise  the  age  to                                                                   
insure  that students  either  stayed  in school  until  they                                                                   
were 18 or graduated early.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Senator Olson  asked if  there was a  change to the  required                                                                   
entry age.  Senator Davis  responded in  the affirmative  and                                                                   
added that at the  present time, a child was  not required to                                                                   
be in  school until they  were seven  years of age;  the bill                                                                   
would change the mandatory entry age to six years old.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman  discussed a fiscal note from  Department of                                                                   
Education  and Early Development  in the  amount of  $14.8586                                                                   
million in  general funds for  the estimated increase  in the                                                                   
foundation formula.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
9:10:14 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Hoffman MOVED  to report SB 9 out  of committee with                                                                   
individual  recommendations  and  the attached  fiscal  note.                                                                   
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SB  9  was  REPORTED  out  of  committee  with  a  "do  pass"                                                                   
recommendation  and  a  new  fiscal   impact  note  from  the                                                                   
Department of Education and Early Development.