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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