LANSING, MI (AP)-- A House panel has approved legislation that would strip some welfare benefits for families whose children don't meet school attendance requirements.
Under the bill approved Wednesday, parents in the Family Independence Program would not be eligible for benefits if a child under 16 years old is repeatedly absent from school.
The Department of Human Services put such a policy in place in October. This bill would write the policy into law to ensure it continues in future governors' administrations.
Republican Representative Al Pscholka is the bill's sponsor. He says in a statement that parents would be allowed to re-enroll in the program if their child meets three straight weeks of school attendance.
The measure will now be taken up by the full House.
