This bill amends and enacts statutes regarding juveniles who are habitual truants.
This bill:
- defines terms;
- requires the State Board of Education (state board) to establish a testing-out assessment option for core courses;
- requires a local education agency to implement the testing-out assessments created by the state board;
- allows a school administrator, a school administrator's designee, or a school resource officer to refer a child that is habitually truant to the Division of Juvenile Justice and Youth Services for prevention and early intervention youth services;
- allows a school administrator, a local education agency, or the Division of Juvenile Justice and Youth Services, to bring a petition alleging habitual truancy against a child and the child's parent or guardian;
- modifies the jurisdiction of the juvenile court in regard to habitual truancy;
- addresses venue for a petition alleging habitual truancy;
- creates a new chapter, Title 80, Chapter 5a, Children in Need of Services;
- moves statutes related to runaways and homeless youth to the new chapter;
- allows a school administrator, local education agency, or the Division of Juvenile Justice and Youth Services, to bring a petition alleging that a child is a habitual truant;
- allows a court to make orders regarding a child that is a habitual truant; and
- makes technical and conforming changes.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 53G-6-201, 53G-6-202, 53G-6-203, 53G-6-206, 53G-6-208, 53G-8-211, 78A-6-103, 80-1-102