The House Education & Employment Committee unanimously advanced a measure that seeks to provide services to Florida’s youth to address underlying issues concerning school truancy.

Clearwater Republican Rep. Berny Jacques and Orlando Democratic Rep. LaVon Bracy Davis presented the bill (HB 1405) to the committee before the 19-0 vote. They detailed how changes in the bill, if passed, would help more children and their families to have access to resources they need before a situation gets out of control.

Jacques noted that the bill is geared toward preventing “youth from getting into either delinquency, or dependency,” and noted that the change is “long overdue.”

Jacques said the bill would clean up language, consolidate legislative intent into one section at the front of the chapter, remove unnecessary definitions, simplify definitions, add necessary definitions, and remove references to delinquency.

“Regarding truancy, the bill provides that a child cannot be found truant a second time. If not compliant with the first truancy finding, the case is handled by the case staff and committee to determine if a Children in Need of Services petition needs to be filed,” Jacques said.

“It also bolsters the reporting on truancy by requiring the quarterly reports sent by schools to districts show the number of students past the 15-day threshold on a rolling basis. And it bolsters the current reporting by requiring the schools to confirm that truancy remediation is being done for each student in the report. If not, the school must submit a remedial action plan to the district and follow up within 90 days showing truancy remediation is under way for illicit students.”

Gainesville Democratic Rep. Yvonne Hinson asked how schools would enforce the measures.

“We do have many attendance issues in schools today, and how to solve them, I guess this might be one of them,” Hinson said. “I wonder how you expect schools to ensure compliance with the stricter truancy enforcement measures.”

In response, Jacques said the bill introduces mechanisms to put remedial plans in place by Child Study Teams (CST) that would identify students with truancy issues before courts get involved.

“If it does not get addressed at that point, it can get escalated to a Children in Need of Services petition. And then there can be more intervention, which might include a shelter to make sure they’re getting these kids on the right path,” Jacques said.

“Then of course, the requirement provisions that we’re bolstering will help identify the kids who are being listed, and we will know as a state who needs a remedial action so we don’t get into a situation where it’s getting out of control.”

Jacques said the measure is not punitive and is rather prevention-focused to help the child and their parents avoid getting to that point.

Bracy Davis added that the CSTs determine the best route for the child and would involve parents in the discussion.

“The school puts together a CST … and this is before any petition is filed. And the Child Studies Team, they determine what are the best, what’s the best route for the child after five absences, or five exhibitions of truancy,” Bracy Davis said. “They talk with the families, they talk with the parent if they can, they bring the parent into the conversation, and they determine what are the root causes.”

The teams would then offer voluntary services from the Department of Juvenile Justice if it would help the child to get to school. This would all happen before a petition to a court was filed.

Jacques said the pivotal part of the bill that makes it different from what is already in law is the parent’s involvement in the process.

“Currently there’s not an avenue where we’re adding parental involvement during that CST process, and that’s a very pivotal portion of it because you know, parental accountability’s a big part in the system,” Jacques said. “And in fact, the bill adds accountability mechanisms for parents who are not doing the right thing and are basically setting their kids up for failure. And so, this adds them early on in that process before it levels up to that period where they’re in circuit court.”

“The current system lacks some of that, this makes sure that we fill those gaps,” Jacques added.

In closing, Bracy Davis said the legislation is reinforcing the commitment to intervention and prevention and is geared towards family support.

“This bill is not just about statute alignment, it is about ensuring that our most vulnerable population, our youth, have every opportunity to succeed,” Bracy Davis said. “The system we refine today will determine the pathways available for our children tomorrow. We are not simply adjusting language in the law, we are reinforcing a commitment to intervention, prevention and holistic family support. As a former Department of Children and Families attorney, I have seen firsthand the impact of systemic failures on the lives of children and their families.”

“When we invest in prevention, when we strengthen intervention processes, when we ensure that children are not criminalized for status offences, but instead connected to the resources they need, we are not just improving the law, we are changing lives,” Bracy Davis added.

The bill has three more committee stops to go. It will now move to the House Health & Human Services Committee.

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Surrounded by members of the late Sen. Geraldine Thompson’s family, Rep. LaVon Bracy Davis announced she will seek the Windermere Democrat’s seat.

“Today’s announcement was about continuing the legacy and mission Sen. Thompson started,” Bracy Davis told Florida Politics.

That sets up a showdown in a Democratic Primary in Senate District 15 between Bracy Davis and her brother, former Sen. Randolph Bracy, who filed for the seat earlier this week. But Bracy Davis said she doesn’t want the race to become personal.

“I love my brother and I wish him well,” Bracy Davis said. “I’m not running against anyone. I am running eventually for the people of Senate District 15.”

Legislative allies of Thompson expect to rally around the sitting lawmaker. Sen. Tracie Davis, a Jacksonville Democrat, told Florida Politics earlier this month that Thompson before her death said she saw Bracy Davis as the heir apparent to the seat.

That seemed clear by the presence of Thompson’s daughter, Elizabeth Grace, and niece, Charlean Gatlin, during Friday’s announcement. Both gave remarks strongly supporting Thompson’s candidacy.

Bracy Davis backed Thompson in her last re-election effort, when Randolph Bracy challenged the incumbent lawmaker in a Democratic Primary. Thompson ultimately won the contest with nearly 61% of the vote in an open Primary that decided the election last August.

But Thompson died on Feb. 13 following complications with knee replacement surgery. The unexpected death left her SD 15 seat vacant during the Legislative Session.

Notably, Gov. Ron DeSantis has yet to call a Special Election to fill Thompson’s seat more than a month after her death. Bracy Davis said she hopes the Governor takes action on that quickly.

“I would hope he would do it very soon,” Bracy Davis said. “The people of Senate District 15 need representation and I hope this happens soon. It is needed. The people have needs and desires and mandates. The Senate district has nobody to represent them now.”

At the same time, Bracy Davis as a sitting lawmaker cannot raise money during the Legislative Session, and isn’t even filing paperwork for the seat immediately. Bracy, in contrast, has filed for the seat in 2028 and already can immediately raise money that will eventually transfer to a Special Election account.

Bracy Davis said she plans to continue Thompson’s legacy as an advocate for education and Black history. She announced her intention to run in front of the Wells’Built Museum of African American History and Culture in Orlando, an institution Thompson championed.

And Bracy Davis noted that she is carrying legislation she once helped craft with Thompson. Thompson sponsored the Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore Voting Rights Act this year with Bracy Davis. Thompson originally filed the bill, which would reverse many voting restrictions implemented by Republicans while allowing same-day registration and voting and making Election Day a paid work holiday.

“My experience as a state Representative has shown me the importance of fighting for the needs of our community,” Bracy Davis said at the event. “I am ready to serve the people of District 15 and committed to bringing the same passion and dedication I’ve had throughout my career to the Florida state Senate to address critical issues like affordable housing, education and economic development.”

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