DENVER – The Colorado House passed a bill this week to ease up on kids who skip schools, mainly by keeping truants out of incarceration, if at all possible.

House Bill 1156 would allow detention in only in “very, very limited circumstances,” said Rep. Pete Lee, D-Colorado Springs, a juvenile justice advocate who sponsored the legislation.

In those circumstances, incarceration would be reduced from fives day to two, while also providing a means of getting help to children who have underlying issues that contribute to their truancy.

The bill passed the House, 57-4.

“All the research, all the information about truancy is that the worst thing they can do to truants is put them in jail,” Lee said. What they probably need is treatment.”

Rep. Jeni Arndt, D-Fort Collins, made a case for compassion.

“Truancy often occurs when there’s a problem in the home, and it’s not the fault of the student,” she said. “A lot of times they’re taking care of parents or other kids. And sometimes they’re taking care of themselves. They don’t need more punishment. They need more help.”

Some House members tapped the brakes on throwing out the punishment without consideration of some concerns.

Rep. Lori Saine, R-Dacono. said the bill is well-intentioned, but the harshest punishment has a role for some students who might receive it.

“They needed that extra outside discipline to return to school activity,” she said. “I’m conflicted on this bill.”

Rep. Yeulin Willett, R-Grand Junction, reflected on the committee testimony of a judge who was neutral on the bill but spoke with regret about not being able to lock up a truant headed for obvious trouble, who soon after was involved in a double homicide.

“The more hurdles you put in front of a judge on this kind of very difficult issue, the more risk there is to public safety,” Willett said.

Ultimately Saine voted for the bill, and Willett voted against it.