California Senate Bill SB477 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: SB 477AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 26, 2011 AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 13, 2011 INTRODUCED BY Senator Wright FEBRUARY 17, 2011  An act to add Section 48260.1 to, and to repeal Section 48260.5 of, the Education Code, relating to pupils.   An act to amend Section 48260.5 of the Education Code, relating to pupils.  LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST F SB 477, as amended, Wright. Pupils: truancy. (1) Existing law provides that a pupil subject to compulsory full-time education or to compulsory continuation education who is absent from school without valid excuse 3 full days in one school year  ,  or tardy or absent for more than any 30-minute period during the schoolday without a valid excuse on 3 occasions in one school year, or any combination thereof, is a truant. Existing law requires, upon a pupil's initial classification as a truant, a school district to notify the pupil's parent or guardian using the most cost-effective method possible, which may include electronic mail or a telephone call, that the pupil is truant, and to communicate additional information relating to truancy, as prescribed. This  bill would repeal that provision regarding notification of truancy. The bill instead would require a school district to establish a policy for notifying a pupil's parent or guardian upon a pupil's initial classification as a truant.   bill would require each school district to establish a policy specifying the time period for notifying the parent or guardian of a pupil upon the pupil's initial classification as a truant.  By requiring school districts to perform a new duty, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: F  SECTION 1.   Section 48260.5 of the   Education Code   is amended to read:  48260.5.  (a)    Upon a pupil's initial classification as a truant, the school district shall notify the pupil's parent or guardian using the most cost-effective method possible, which may include electronic mail or a telephone call:  (a)   (1)  That the pupil is truant.  (b)   (2)  That the parent or guardian is obligated to compel the attendance of the pupil at school.  (c)   (3)  That parents or guardians who fail to meet this obligation may be guilty of an infraction and subject to prosecution pursuant to Article 6 (commencing with Section 48290) of Chapter 2 of FPart 27.  (d)   (4)  That alternative educational programs are available Fin the district.  (e)   (5)  That the parent or guardian has the right to meet with appropriate school personnel to discuss solutions to the pupil's Ftruancy.  (f)   (6)  That the pupil may be subject to prosecution under Section 48264.  (g)   (7)  That the pupil may be subject to suspension, restriction, or delay of the pupil's driving privilege pursuant to Section 13202.7 of the Vehicle Code.  (h)   (8)  That it is recommended that the parent or guardian accompany the pupil to school and attend classes with the pupil for one day.  (b) A school district shall establish a policy specifying the time period for notifying the parent or guardian of a pupil upon the pupil's initial classification as a truant pursuant to subdivision (a).   SECTION 1.   Section 48260.1 is added to the Education Code, to read: 48260.1. (a) A school district shall establish a policy for notifying a pupil's parent or guardian upon a pupil's initial classification as a truant. (b) The policy shall specify the time period for notifying the parent or guardian and the means by which notification shall occur.   SEC. 2.   Section 48260.5 of the Education Code is repealed.   SEC. 3.   SEC. 2.  If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.