An Act providing for alternatives to fines for failure to send

This bill modifies Massachusetts law to offer counseling or other appropriate services as an alternative to monetary fines for parents who fail to send their children to school. Instead of immediately imposing a financial penalty, a court can order the parent and child to complete a program deemed suitable by the judge. If the court determines that both the parent and child have successfully finished these required programs, the charges will be dismissed. Additionally, the bill mandates that cases involving school attendance violations be handled on an expedited docket to ensure quicker resolution.