Chapter 0065 - 551R - S Ver of SB1097

Senate Engrossed

pupils; excused absences; mental health

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-fifth Legislature

First Regular Session

2021

CHAPTER 65

SENATE BILL 1097

AN ACT

amending section 15-807, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to school attendance.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Section 15-807, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE15-807. Absence from school; notification of parent or person having custody of pupil; immunity; excused absence

A. If a pupil in a kindergarten program or in any of grades one through eight is absent from school without excuse as provided in this article or without notice to the school in which the pupil is enrolled of authorization of the absence by the parent or other person who has custody of the pupil, the school in which the pupil is enrolled shall make a reasonable effort to promptly telephone and notify the parent or other person who has custody of the pupil of the pupil's absence from school:

1. Within two hours after the first class in which the pupil is absent for a pupil in a kindergarten program or in any of grades one through six.

2. Within two hours after the first class in which the pupil is absent for a pupil in grade seven or eight if the first class in which the pupil is absent is the pupil's first class of the school day.

3. Within five hours after the first class in which the pupil is absent for a pupil in grade seven or eight if the first class in which the pupil is absent is after the pupil's first class of the school day.

B. On or before the enrollment of a pupil in a kindergarten program or in any of grades one through eight, the school district shall notify parents the parent or other persons person who have has custody of a the pupil:

1. Of their the parent's or other person's responsibility to authorize any absence of the pupil from school and to notify the school in which the pupil is enrolled in advance or at the time of any absence. and

2. That the school district requires that the parent or other person who has custody to provide at least one telephone number, if available, be given for purposes of this section. The school district shall require that the telephone number, if available, be given at the time of enrollment of the pupil in school and that the school of enrollment be promptly notified of any change in the telephone number.

C. A school district, governing board members of a school district and employees or agents of a school district are not liable for failure to notify the parent or other person who has custody of a pupil of the pupil's absence from school as provided in this section.

D. In identifying excused absences pursuant to section 15-901, subsection A, paragraph 1, the department of education shall identify an absence due to the mental or behavioral health of a pupil as an excused absence. The department may adopt guidelines and rules for the purposes of this subsection, including determining what constitutes an absence due to the mental or behavioral health of a pupil. END_STATUTE