H.B. 392 Enrolled

TRUANCY PREVENTION APPROPRIATION
1997 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Sponsor: Jeff Alexander
AN ACT RELATING TO THE STATE SYSTEM OF PUBLIC EDUCATION; DESCRIBING
TRUANCY SUPPORT CENTERS; APPROPRIATING $100,000 TO THE STATE
BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR GRANTS TO DISTRICTS THAT MAY WANT TO
ESTABLISH A TRUANCY SUPPORT CENTER; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
ENACTS:
53A-11-106, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 53A-11-106 is enacted to read:
53A-11-106. Truancy support centers.
(1) A school district may establish one or more truancy support centers for:
(a) truant students taken into custody under Section 53A-11-105; or
(b) students suspended or expelled from school.
(2) A truancy support center shall provide a wide spectrum of services to the truant student
and the student's family, including:
(a) assessments of the student's needs and abilities;
(b) support for the parents and student through counseling and community programs; and
(c) tutoring for the student during the time spent at the center.
(3) For the suspended or expelled student, the truancy support center shall provide an
educational setting, staffed with certified teachers and aides, to provide the student with ongoing
educational programming appropriate to their grade level.
(4) In a district with a truancy support center, all students suspended or expelled from
school shall be referred to the center. A parent or guardian shall appear with the student at the
center within 48 hours of the suspension or expulsion, not including weekends or holidays. The

student shall register and attend classes at the truancy support center for the duration of the
suspension or expulsion unless the parent or guardian demonstrates that alternative arrangements
have been made for the education or supervision of the student during the time of suspension or
expulsion.
(5) The truancy support center may provide counseling and other support programming for
students suspended or expelled from school and their parents or guardian.
Section 2. Appropriation.
There is appropriated $100,000 from the General Fund for fiscal year 1997-98 to the State
Board of Education to provide grants to school districts to provide and staff truancy support centers.
Section 3. Effective date.
This act takes effect on July 1, 1997.

- 2 -