BILL NUMBER: SB 477	AMENDED
	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


   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:

   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
Part 27. 
   (d) 
    (4)  That alternative educational programs are available
in 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
truancy. 
   (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.