What You Need to Know
About the Becca Bill
Some Background Information: The Juvenile Justice
Act of 1977 decriminalized running away from home and established
residential centers to care for young runaways. There hasn't been room in all
the facilities to care for the children, leaving many outofcontrol
youths living on the streets, at risk of victimization and criminal
involvement.
To address this problem, the Becca Bill was created by Governor Mike Lowry and Attorney General
Christine Gregoire. The Becca Bill is named for a young Tacoma
girl who was murdered while living on the streets.
According to Governor Lowry's office, the purpose of the bill is to ``empower
parents to help their children when they have run away or when their child's substance abuse or mental
health problems placethem in serious danger of harming themselves or others.'' One aspect of the
bill requires that all school districts track the number of student absences and notify parents when their
children have violated attendance procedures.
Basic Guidelines for Paterson School District No. 50:
- After one unexcused absence, the parent or guardian must be notified.
An unexcused absence means that a student has failed to attend
the majority of classes in an average school day and that the parent
has not excused the absence by providing a note or informing the
school by phone within 48 hours.
- After two unexcused absences, the school must make personal contact with the parent or guardian.
- By the fifth unexcused absence in a month, the school shall enter
into an agreement with the student and parent/guardian that establishes school attendance
requirements; or file a petition with the juvenile court alleging a violation.
- By the seventh unexcused absence in a month or tenth unexcused absence in a school year, if
actions taken by the school are not successful, the school district is required to file a petition with
the juvenile court alleging a violation.
- Parents who fail to get their children to school may be fined $25 a day or sentenced to volunteer
in the child's school.
- Fines shall be used exclusively to enforce this law.
- Children who refuse to return to school can be found in
contempt of court and sentenced to community service or a week in juvenile hall.
- Documentation of attendance violations shall be reported annually to the Office of the
Superintendent of Public Instruction.
What can parents/guardians do? If you are concerned about your child's attitude toward school
and about his/her attendance record, contact your child's teacher, counselor and/or school principal.
With the combined insights in your child's needs and interests, we can work together to design an
individualized plan to help your child stay in school.
Rev. 01/01 TransACT 2003 v 9.8
Download Becca Bill in
PDF format (English)
Download Becca Bill in PDF format (Spanish)
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