Eliminating certain requirements that must be met before a proceeding may be brought against a child under 12 years of age for habitual truancy and requiring the court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under the Children's Code to order certain dispositions if the habitual truancy of a child under 12 years of age is the result of the neglect, refusal, or inability of the parent or guardian of the child to cause the child to attend school regularly

2. Provided an opportunity for educational counseling to determine whether a change in the child's curriculum would resolve the child's truancy.

3. Evaluated the child to determine whether learning problems may be a cause of the child's truancy and, if so, have taken steps to overcome the learning problems.

4. Conducted an evaluation to determine whether social problems may be a cause of the child's truancy and, if so, have taken appropriate action or made appropriate referrals.

This bill eliminates, for a child under 12 years of age, the requirements that appropriate school personnel provide an opportunity for educational counseling, evaluate the child for learning problems, and evaluate the child for social problems before a proceeding may be brought against the child for habitual truancy, either in juvenile court or under a municipal ordinance prohibiting habitual truancy.

Accordingly, under the bill, the only requirement that must be met before bringing a habitual truancy proceeding against a child under 12 years of age is that appropriate school personnel have met or attempted to meet with the child's parent or guardian. The bill, however, does require that appropriate school personnel provide an opportunity for educational counseling, evaluate the child for learning problems, and evaluate the child for social problems before a dispositional order may be granted in such a proceeding.

The bill also requires the juvenile court to order one or more of the following dispositions if the juvenile court finds that a child under 12 years of age is in need of protection or services for habitual truancy and that the habitual truancy is the result of the neglect, refusal, or inability of the parent or guardian of the child to cause the child to attend school regularly:

1. Counsel the child and the parent or guardian of the child.

2. Order the parent or guardian of the child to cause the child to attend school regularly and to comply with any conditions determined by the juvenile court to be necessary to ensure that the child attends school regularly.

3. Order the parent or guardian of the child to attend scheduled meetings or conferences relating to the child's education with personnel of the child's school.

4. Place the child under the supervision of an agency; the Department of Children and Families (DCF), if DCF approves; or a suitable adult, including a friend of the child; under conditions prescribed by the juvenile court, including reasonable rules for the child's conduct designed to ensure that the child attends school regularly.

5. Place the child under the supervision of an agency; DCF, if DCF approves;

or a suitable adult, including a friend of the child; and order the agency or DCF to provide specified services to the child and the child's family, which may include individual, family, or group counseling, homemaker or parent aide services, parent skills training, and transportation to attend meetings, conferences, and activities at the child's school.