ATTENDANCE FOR SUCCESS ACT ENFORCEMENT

HB 218 strengthens New Mexico's Attendance for Success Act by making it a crime for parents to allow continued school absences after a student is reported to juvenile probation services for excessive absenteeism. It directly affects parents of students identified as excessively absent who fail to address the issue following school interventions. Key provisions require schools to report cases to juvenile probation, which then investigates potential neglect; if parents continue allowing absences after reporting, they face penalties including fines ($50-$100 for first offense, up to $500 or 6 months jail for repeat offenses). The bill focuses on enforcement, not new support services, shifting responsibility to parents for maintaining school attendance after formal reporting.