This bill mandates that if a child is ordered by a juvenile court to attend a class as part of their delinquency dispositional order, the child's parent, legal guardian, or legal custodian must also attend the class. In cases where the child has been adjudicated for delinquent acts three or more times, the court will require the parent to attend a parental responsibility class. Failure to comply with these requirements constitutes a public offense, with penalties escalating from a simple misdemeanor for a first offense to a serious misdemeanor for subsequent offenses, which may include confinement, fines, or community service.

Additionally, the bill allows parents who demonstrate a good-faith effort to comply with the attendance requirement to file an affidavit, which, upon court approval, will exempt them from criminal liability for noncompliance. The provisions do not apply to parents without physical custody of the child or to legal guardians or custodians who are not individuals. The bill also includes new requirements for compliance with section 279.89 regarding reverse punitive measures in related educational contexts.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 256E.7, 279.89