H.B. 207 Enrolled

1

SCHOOL TRUANCY AND COMPULSORY
2 EDUCATION AMENDMENTS
3 2007 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Chief Sponsor: Eric K. Hutchings
6 Senate Sponsor: Carlene M. Walker
7 Cosponsor:Keith Grover 8
9 LONG TITLE
10 General Description:
11 This bill amends provisions related to compulsory education and truancy.
12 Highlighted Provisions:
13 This bill:
14 . defines terms;
15 . directs a local school board, local charter board, or school district to preapprove an
16 extended absence of a school-age minor if it is determined that the absence will not
17 adversely impact the school-age minor's education;
18 . describes compulsory education requirements relating to school-age minors;
19 . provides for the service of a notice of compulsory education violation on a parent or
20 guardian of a school-age child who is less than 14 years old if the child has been
21 absent without a valid excuse at least five times during the school year;
22 . makes it a class B misdemeanor for a parent or guardian to intentionally or
23 recklessly:
24 . fail to enroll the parent's school-age minor in school, unless the school-age
25 minor is exempt from enrollment; or
26 . after being served with a notice of compulsory education violation, fail to meet
27 and discuss a school-age child's school attendance problems with school
28 authorities or fail to prevent a school-age child from being truant five or more
29 times during the remainder of the school year;

30 . provides for juvenile court jurisdiction of habitual truant proceedings and
31 compulsory education violations;
32 . establishes school attendance requirements for a school-age minor;
33 . provides for the issuance of a notice of truancy to a school-age minor who is at least
34 12 years old and has been truant at least five times during the school year;
35 . establishes a procedure for resolving truancy problems of a school-age minor who is
36 at least 12 years old;
37 . modifies and describes requirements for proceedings on, and the issuance of,
38 citations and notices relating to truancy;
39 . removes provisions permitting the issuance of a truancy citation, except for a
40 habitual truant citation;
41 . provides that a notice of truancy or a habitual truant citation may only be issued by a
42 school administrator or truancy specialist authorized by a local school board, local
43 charter board, or by the school administrator's designee;
44 . modifies and describes the duties of a local school board, local charter board, or
45 school district for attempting to resolve a minor's school attendance problems;
46 . clarifies civil liability limitations relating to compulsory education and truancy;
47 . changes the term "truancy officer" to "truancy specialist"; and
48 . makes technical changes.
49 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
50 None
51 Other Special Clauses:
52 None
53 Utah Code Sections Affected:
54 AMENDS:
55 35A-3-304, as last amended by Chapter 29, Laws of Utah 2004
56 53A-11-101, as last amended by Chapter 99, Laws of Utah 1999
57 53A-11-102, as last amended by Chapter 253, Laws of Utah 2005

58 53A-11-102.5, as last amended by Chapter 221, Laws of Utah 2003
59 53A-11-103, as last amended by Chapter 221, Laws of Utah 2003
60 53A-11-104, as enacted by Chapter 2, Laws of Utah 1988
61 53A-11-105, as last amended by Chapter 99, Laws of Utah 1999
62 53A-11-106, as enacted by Chapter 337, Laws of Utah 1997
63 62A-2-108.1, as last amended by Chapter 188, Laws of Utah 2005
64 62A-4a-606, as last amended by Chapter 10, Laws of Utah 1997
65 78-3a-801, as last amended by Chapter 249, Laws of Utah 1999
66 ENACTS:
67 53A-11-101.3, Utah Code Annotated 1953
68 53A-11-101.5, Utah Code Annotated 1953
69 53A-11-101.7, Utah Code Annotated 1953
70
71 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
72 Section 1. Section 35A-3-304 is amended to read:
73 35A-3-304. Assessment -- Participation requirements and limitations -- Mentors.
74 (1) (a) Within 20 business days of the date of enrollment, a parent client shall:
75 (i) be assigned an employment counselor; and
76 (ii) complete an assessment provided by the division regarding the parent client's:
77 (A) family circumstances;
78 (B) education;
79 (C) work history;
80 (D) skills; and
81 (E) ability to become self-sufficient.
82 (b) The assessment provided under Subsection (1)(a)(ii) shall include a survey to be
83 completed by the parent client with the assistance of the division.
84 (2) (a) Within 15 business days of a parent client completing an assessment, the
85 division and the parent client shall enter into an employment plan.

86 (b) The employment plan shall have a target date for entry into employment.
87 (c) The division shall provide a copy of the employment plan to the parent client.
88 (d) As to the parent client, the plan may include:
89 (i) job searching requirements;
90 (ii) if the parent client does not have a high school diploma, participation in an
91 educational program to obtain a high school diploma, or its equivalent;
92 (iii) education or training necessary to obtain employment;
93 (iv) a combination of work and education or training;
94 (v) assisting the Office of Recovery Services in good faith to:
95 (A) establish the paternity of a minor child; and
96 (B) establish or enforce a child support order; and
97 (vi) if the parent client is a drug dependent person as defined in Section 58-37-2 ,
98 participation in available treatment for drug dependency and progress toward overcoming that
99 dependency.
100 (e) As to the division, the plan may include:
101 (i) providing cash and other types of public and employment assistance, including child
102 care;
103 (ii) assisting the parent client to obtain education or training necessary for employment;
104 (iii) assisting the parent client to set up and follow a household budget; and
105 (iv) assisting the parent client to obtain employment.
106 (f) The division may amend the employment plan to reflect new information or
107 changed circumstances.
108 (g) If immediate employment is an activity contained in the employment plan the
109 parent client shall:
110 (i) promptly commence a search for a specified number of hours each week for
111 employment; and
112 (ii) regularly submit a report to the division on:
113 (A) how time was spent in search for a job;

114 (B) the number of job applications completed;
115 (C) the interviews attended;
116 (D) the offers of employment extended; and
117 (E) other related information required by the division.
118 (h) (i) If full-time education or training to secure employment is an activity contained
119 in an employment plan, the parent client shall promptly undertake a full-time education or
120 training program.
121 (ii) The employment plan may describe courses, education or training goals, and
122 classroom hours.
123 (i) (i) As a condition of receiving cash assistance under this part, a parent client shall
124 agree to make a good faith effort to comply with the employment plan.
125 (ii) If a parent client consistently fails to show good faith in complying with the
126 employment plan, the division may seek under Subsection (2)(i)(iii) to terminate all or part of
127 the cash assistance services provided under this part.
128 (iii) The division shall establish a process to reconcile disputes between a client and the
129 division as to whether:
130 (A) the parent client has made a good faith effort to comply with the employment plan;
131 or
132 (B) the division has complied with the employment plan.
133 (3) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (3)(b), a parent client's participation in
134 education or training beyond that required to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent is
135 limited to the lesser of:
136 (i) 24 months; or
137 (ii) the completion of the education and training requirements of the employment plan.
138 (b) A parent client may participate in education or training for up to six months beyond
139 the 24-month limit of Subsection (3)(a)(i) if:
140 (i) the parent client is employed for 80 or more hours a month; and
141 (ii) the extension is for good cause shown and approved by the director.

142 (c) A parent client who receives an extension under Subsection (3)(b) remains subject
143 to Subsection (4).
144 (4) (a) A parent client with a high school diploma or equivalent who has received 24
145 months of education or training shall participate in full-time work activities.
146 (b) The 24 months need not be continuous and the department may define "full-time
147 work activities" by rule.
148 (5) As a condition for receiving cash assistance on behalf of a minor child under this
149 part, the minor child must be:
150 (a) enrolled in and attending school in compliance with [Section 53A-11-101 ] Sections
151 53A-11-101.5 and 53A-11-101.7 ; or
152 (b) exempt from school attendance under Section 53A-11-102 .
153 (6) This section does not apply to a person who has received diversion assistance under
154 Section 35A-3-303 .
155 (7) (a) The division shall recruit and train volunteers to serve as mentors for parent
156 clients.
157 (b) A mentor may advocate on behalf of a parent client and help a parent client:
158 (i) develop life skills;
159 (ii) implement an employment plan; or
160 (iii) obtain services and supports from:
161 (A) the volunteer mentor;
162 (B) the division; or
163 (C) civic organizations.
164 Section 2. Section 53A-11-101 is amended to read:
165 53A-11-101. Definitions.
166 [(1)] For purposes of this part:
167 (1) (a) "Absence" or "absent" means, consistent with Subsection (1)(b), failure of a
168 school-age minor assigned to a class or class period to attend the entire class or class period.
169 (b) A school-age minor may not be considered absent under this part more than one

170 time during one day.
171 [(a)] (2) "Habitual truant" [is] means a school-age minor who [has received more than
172 two truancy citations within one school year from the school in which the minor is or should be
173 enrolled and eight absences without a legitimate or valid excuse or who, in defiance of]:
174 (a) is at least 12 years old;
175 (b) is subject to the requirements of Section 53A-11-101.5 ; and
176 (c) (i) is truant at least ten times during one school year; or
177 (ii) fails to cooperate with efforts on the part of school authorities to resolve [a
178 student's] the minor's attendance problem as required under Section 53A-11-103 [, refuses to
179 regularly attend school or any scheduled period of the school day].
180 [(b)] (3) "Minor" means a person under the age of 18 years.
181 [(c)] (4) "Parent" includes:
182 [(i)] (a) a custodial parent of the minor;
183 [(ii)] (b) a legally appointed guardian of a minor; or
184 [(iii)] (c) any other person purporting to exercise any authority over the minor which
185 could be exercised by [persons listed under Subsections (1)(c)(i) and (ii) above] a person
186 described in Subsection (4)(a) or (b).
187 [(d)] (5) "School-age minor" means a minor who [has reached the age of]:
188 (a) is at least six years old, but [has not reached the age of eighteen] younger than 18
189 years[, but does not include a minor] old; and
190 (b) is not emancipated [by marriage].
191 [(e) "Truancy citation" is an administrative notice to a truant minor requiring an
192 appearance before the school truancy control officer or body from which the minor is truant.]
193 (6) "School year" means the period of time designated by a local school board or local
194 charter board as the school year for the school where the school-age minor:
195 (a) is enrolled; or
196 (b) should be enrolled, if the school-age minor is not enrolled in school.
197 (7) "Truant" means absent without a valid excuse.

198 [(f)] (8) "Truant minor" [is any] means a school-age minor who:
199 (a) is subject to the [state's compulsory education law] requirements of Section
200 53A-11-101.5 or 53A-11-101.7 ; and [who is absent from school without a legitimate or valid
201 excuse.]
202 (b) is truant.
203 (9) "Valid excuse" means:
204 (a) an illness;
205 (b) a family death;
206 (c) an approved school activity;
207 (d) an absence permitted by a school-age minor's:
208 (i) individualized education program, developed pursuant to the Individuals with
209 Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, as amended; or
210 (ii) accommodation plan, developed pursuant to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
211 of 1973, as amended; or
212 (e) any other excuse established as valid by a local school board, local charter board, or
213 school district.
214 [(2) A parent shall enroll and send a school-age minor to a public or regularly
215 established private school during the school year of the district in which the minor resides.]
216 [(3) It is a class B misdemeanor for a parent to knowingly:]
217 [(a) fail to enroll a school-age minor in school; or]
218 [(b) refuse to respond to a written request which is delivered to the parent pursuant to
219 the provisions of Subsection 53A-11-103 (1)(b) by a local school board or school district.]
220 [(4) The provisions of this section do not apply to a parent of a school-age minor who
221 has been declared by the local school board to be exempt from school attendance in conformity
222 with Section 53A-11-102 .]
223 [(5) A local board of education or school district shall report violations of Subsection
224 (3) to the appropriate city, county, or district attorney.]
225 Section 3. Section 53A-11-101.3 is enacted to read:

226 53A-11-101.3. Preapproval of extended absence.
227 In determining whether to preapprove an extended absence of a school-age minor as a
228 valid excuse under Subsection 53A-11-101 (9)(e), a local school board, local charter board, or
229 school district shall approve the absence if the local school board, local charter board, or school
230 district determines that the extended absence will not adversely impact the school-age minor's
231 education.
232 Section 4. Section 53A-11-101.5 is enacted to read:
233 53A-11-101.5. Compulsory education.
234 (1) For purposes of this section:
235 (a) "intentionally" is as defined in Section 76-2-103 ;
236 (b) "recklessly" is as defined in Section 76-2-103 ;
237 (c) "remainder of the school year" means the portion of the school year beginning on
238 the day after the day on which the notice of compulsory education violation described in
239 Subsection (3) is served and ending on the last day of the school year; and
240 (d) "school-age child" means a school-age minor under the age of 14.
241 (2) Except as provided in Section 53A-11-102 or 53A-11-102.5 , the parent of a
242 school-age minor shall enroll and send the school-age minor to a public or regularly established
243 private school during the school year of the district in which the school-age minor resides.
244 (3) A school administrator, a designee of a school administrator, or a truancy specialist
245 may issue a notice of compulsory education violation to a parent of a school-age child if the
246 school-age child is absent without a valid excuse at least five times during the school year.
247 (4) The notice of compulsory education violation, described in Subsection (3):
248 (a) shall direct the parent of the school-age child to:
249 (i) meet with school authorities to discuss the school-age child's school attendance
250 problems; and
251 (ii) cooperate with the school board, local charter board, or school district in securing
252 regular attendance by the school-age child;
253 (b) shall designate the school authorities with whom the parent is required to meet;

254 (c) shall state that it is a class B misdemeanor for the parent of the school-age child to
255 intentionally or recklessly:
256 (i) fail to meet with the designated school authorities to discuss the school-age child's
257 school attendance problems; or
258 (ii) fail to prevent the school-age child from being absent without a valid excuse five or
259 more times during the remainder of the school year;
260 (d) shall be served on the school-age child's parent by personal service or certified
261 mail; and
262 (e) may not be issued unless the school-age child has been truant at least five times
263 during the school year.
264 (5) It is a class B misdemeanor for a parent of a school-age minor to intentionally or
265 recklessly fail to enroll the school-age minor in school, unless the school-age minor is exempt
266 from enrollment under Section 53A-11-102 or 53A-11-102.5 .
267 (6) It is a class B misdemeanor for a parent of a school-age child to, after being served
268 with a notice of compulsory education violation in accordance with Subsections (3) and (4),
269 intentionally or recklessly:
270 (a) fail to meet with the school authorities designated in the notice of compulsory
271 education violation to discuss the school-age child's school attendance problems; or
272 (b) fail to prevent the school-age child from being absent without a valid excuse five or
273 more times during the remainder of the school year.
274 (7) A local school board, local charter board, or school district shall report violations of
275 this section to the appropriate county or district attorney.
276 (8) The juvenile court has jurisdiction over an action filed under this section.
277 Section 5. Section 53A-11-101.7 is enacted to read:
278 53A-11-101.7. Truancy -- Notice of truancy -- Failure to cooperate with school
279 authorities -- Habitual truant citation.
280 (1) Except as provided in Section 53A-11-102 or 53A-11-102.5 , a school-age minor
281 who is enrolled in a public school shall attend the public school in which the school-age minor

282 is enrolled.
283 (2) A local school board, local charter board, or school district may impose
284 administrative penalties on a school-age minor who is truant.
285 (3) A local school board or local charter board:
286 (a) may authorize a school administrator, a designee of a school administrator, or a
287 truancy specialist to issue notices of truancy to school-age minors who are at least 12 years old;
288 and
289 (b) shall establish a procedure for a school-age minor, or the school-age minor's
290 parents, to contest a notice of truancy.
291 (4) The notice of truancy described in Subsection (3):
292 (a) may not be issued until the school-age minor has been truant at least five times
293 during the school year;
294 (b) may not be issued to a school-age minor who is less than 12 years old;
295 (c) shall direct the school-age minor and the parent of the school-age minor to:
296 (i) meet with school authorities to discuss the school-age minor's truancies; and
297 (ii) cooperate with the school board, local charter board, or school district in securing
298 regular attendance by the school-age minor; and
299 (d) shall be mailed to, or served on, the school-age minor's parent.
300 (5) A habitual truant citation may be issued to a habitual truant if:
301 (a) the local school board, local charter board, or school district has made reasonable
302 efforts, under Section 53A-11-103 , to resolve the school attendance problems of the habitual
303 truant; and
304 (b) the efforts to resolve the school attendance problems, described in Subsection
305 (5)(a), have not been successful.
306 (6) A habitual truant to whom a habitual truant citation is issued under Subsection (5):
307 (a) shall be referred to the juvenile court for violation of Subsection (1); and
308 (b) is subject to the jurisdiction of the juvenile court.
309 (7) A notice of truancy or a habitual truant citation may only be issued by:

310 (a) a school administrator, or a truancy specialist, who is authorized by a local school
311 board or local charter board; or
312 (b) a designee of a school administrator described in Subsection (7)(a).
313 (8) Nothing in this part prohibits a local school board, local charter board, or school
314 district from taking action to resolve a truancy problem with a school-age minor who has been
315 truant less than five times, provided that the action does not conflict with the requirements of
316 this part.
317 Section 6. Section 53A-11-102 is amended to read:
318 53A-11-102. Minors exempt from school attendance.
319 (1) (a) A school-age minor may be excused from attendance by the local board of
320 education and a parent exempted from application of Subsections [ 53A-11-101 (2) and (3)]
321 53A-11-101.5 (2), (5), and (6) for any of the following reasons:
322 (i) a minor over age 16 may receive a partial release from school to enter employment,
323 or attend a trade school, if the minor has completed the eighth grade; or
324 (ii) on an annual basis, a minor may receive a full release from attending a public,
325 regularly established private, or part-time school or class if:
326 (A) the minor has already completed the work required for graduation from high
327 school, or has demonstrated mastery of required skills and competencies in accordance with
328 Subsection 53A-15-102 (1);
329 (B) the minor is in a physical or mental condition, certified by a competent physician if
330 required by the district board, which renders attendance inexpedient and impracticable;
331 (C) proper influences and adequate opportunities for education are provided in
332 connection with the minor's employment; or
333 (D) the district superintendent has determined that a minor over the age of 16 is unable
334 to profit from attendance at school because of inability or a continuing negative attitude toward
335 school regulations and discipline.
336 (b) Minors receiving a partial release from school under Subsection (1)(a)(i) are
337 required to attend:

338 (i) school part-time as prescribed by the local school board; or
339 (ii) a home school part-time.
340 (c) In each case, evidence of reasons for granting an exemption under Subsection (1)
341 must be sufficient to satisfy the local board.
342 (2) (a) On an annual basis, a school-age minor shall be excused from attendance by a
343 local board of education and a parent exempted from application of Subsections
344 [ 53A-11-101 (2) and (3)] 53A-11-101.5 (2), (5), and (6), if the minor's parent files a signed
345 affidavit with the minor's school district of residence, as defined in Section 53A-2-201 , that the
346 minor will attend a home school and receive instruction as required by Subsection (2)(b).
347 (b) Each minor who attends a home school shall receive instruction:
348 (i) in the subjects the State Board of Education requires to be taught in public schools
349 in accordance with the law; and
350 (ii) for the same length of time as minors are required by law to receive instruction in
351 public schools, as provided by rules of the State Board of Education.
352 (c) Subject to the requirements of Subsection (2)(b), a parent of a minor who attends a
353 home school is solely responsible for:
354 (i) the selection of instructional materials and textbooks;
355 (ii) the time, place, and method of instruction, and
356 (iii) the evaluation of the home school instruction.
357 (d) A local school board may not:
358 (i) require a parent of a minor who attends a home school to maintain records of
359 instruction or attendance;
360 (ii) require credentials for individuals providing home school instruction;
361 (iii) inspect home school facilities; or
362 (iv) require standardized or other testing of home school students.
363 (3) Boards excusing minors from attendance as provided by Subsections (1) and (2)
364 shall issue a certificate stating that the minor is excused from attendance during the time
365 specified on the certificate.

366 (4) Nothing in this section may be construed to prohibit or discourage voluntary
367 cooperation, resource sharing, or testing opportunities between a school or school district and a
368 parent or guardian of a minor attending a home school.
369 Section 7. Section 53A-11-102.5 is amended to read:
370 53A-11-102.5. Dual enrollment.
371 (1) A person having control of a minor under this part who is enrolled in a regularly
372 established private school or a home school may also enroll the minor in a public school for
373 dual enrollment purposes.
374 (2) The minor may participate in any academic activity in the public school available to
375 students in the minor's grade or age group, subject to compliance with the same rules and
376 requirements that apply to a