This bill proposes updates to Arizona Revised Statutes, specifically amending section 15-803 regarding school attendance. The current law states that a child may be considered habitually truant or have excessive absences if the number of absent days exceeds ten percent of the required attendance days. The bill modifies this by clarifying that absences may still be deemed excessive unless the child meets specific criteria, which include being enrolled in a career technical education district, an alternative school, participating in Arizona online instruction, being a preschool child, a homeless child or youth, homebound, a pupil with a chronic health problem, in foster care, a migratory child, or meeting income eligibility for free and reduced-price lunches.

Additionally, the bill makes technical changes to ensure clarity and consistency in the language used throughout the statute. The term "per cent" is replaced with "percent," and the list of exemptions for excessive absences is expanded to include various categories of students who may not be penalized for absences under certain circumstances. These changes aim to provide a more comprehensive understanding of attendance requirements and exemptions for students facing unique challenges.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 15-802.02
Senate Engrossed Version: 15-803