This bill amends the Code of West Virginia to enhance truancy laws by introducing a Truancy Pretrial Diversion Program aimed at providing support to parents, guardians, and custodians of truant children before any criminal convictions occur. The program allows these individuals to avoid conviction by addressing the underlying causes of truancy, and it removes criminal penalties for students who have reached the age of majority. Additionally, the bill delays sentencing for parents or guardians, giving them more time to rectify attendance issues. It also mandates that judges may require the Department of Human Services to provide home-based family preservation services for families involved in truancy cases.

Key provisions of the bill include the establishment of eligibility criteria for the truancy pretrial diversion program, which allows individuals charged with a first offense to enter into a written agreement with the prosecuting attorney to improve school attendance. The legislation introduces a 90-day compliance period before sentencing, emphasizing the importance of addressing the root causes of truancy. Furthermore, the bill clarifies definitions related to truancy, such as "County truancy officer" and "excused absences," allowing for greater judicial discretion in assessing school attendance and enhancing the enforcement of attendance laws.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18-8-2, 49-2-202a, 61-11-22b