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Bill To Strip Family Of Welfare Cash If Kid Misses School Quickly Makes Way Through Michigan Legislature

LANSING (WWJ/AP) - A policy of stripping welfare benefits from families if kids under age 16 miss too much school would become law under legislation nearing approval in the Michigan Legislature.

The Republican-led Senate voted 26-12 Tuesday for the bill codifying existing practice. It earlier won approval in the House, which is expected to quickly OK a few Senate changes and send the legislation to Gov. Rick Snyder for his signature.

House Republican Al Pscholka, the bill's original sponsor, said the the goal is to keep children in school.

He said the best way to "break the cycle of generational poverty" is to make sure kids get a great education.

"Something that I hear from my teachers and my judges back home is children just really need the opportunity, they need a chance, and if they're not in school, they're not in class, they don't have that opportunity," Pscholka told WWJ Newsradio 950.

"...You can't have a great education if you're not in class."

Meantime, Democrats say it's unfair to punish an entire family for one child's chronic absence from school.

"This gives a rebellious child a lot of power," said Rep. Marcia Hovey-Wright, a Democrat from Muskegon, adding that there is no consistent definition of truancy from one school district to another, so the legislation could create inconsistencies.

Under the legislation, a family would lose eligibility for the Family Independence Program if a child ages 6 through 15 doesn't meet certain attendance requirements. Children ages 16-19 — who are still dependents and haven't graduated from high school —  would be removed from their "program group" and lose cash assistance for themselves if they don't meet attendance requirements.

Sanctions have already been imposed in more than 250 cases since October 2013.

Gov. Snyder is expected to sign the bill into law.

TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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