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Bill OK'd to strip families of welfare if child misses school

LANSING, MI (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 Senate changes and send the legislation to Governor Rick Snyder for his signature.

Republicans say the goal is to keep children in school, while Democrats say it's unfair to punish an entire family for one child's chronic absence from school.

Under the legislation, a teen 16 or older who doesn't meet school attendance requirements would be removed from their "program group" and denied cash assistance.

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