Article 6. Violations of California Education Code >> Division 4. >> Title 2. >> Part 27. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 6.

The governing board of any school district, shall, on the complaint of any person, make full and impartial investigation of all charges against any parent, guardian, or other person having control or charge of any child, for violation of any of the provisions of this chapter.

If it appears upon investigation that any parent, guardian, or other person having control or charge of any child has violated any of the provisions of this chapter, the secretary of the board of education, except as provided in Section 48292, or the clerk of the board of trustees, shall refer such person to a school attendance review board. In the event that any such parent, guardian, or other person continually and willfully fails to respond to directives of the school attendance review board or services provided, the school attendance review board shall direct the school district to make and file in the proper court a criminal complaint against the parent, guardian, or other person, charging the violation, and shall see that the charge is prosecuted by the proper authority. In the event that a criminal complaint is not prosecuted by the proper authority as recommended, the official making the determination not to prosecute shall provide the school attendance review board with a written explanation for the decision not to prosecute.

In counties, cities, and cities and counties, and in school districts having an attendance supervisor, the attendance supervisor shall make and file the complaint provided for by this article and shall see that the charge is prosecuted by the proper authorities.

(a) Any parent, guardian, or other person having control or charge of any pupil who fails to comply with this chapter, unless excused or exempted therefrom, is guilty of an infraction and shall be punished as follows:
  (1) Upon a first conviction, by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100).
  (2) Upon a second conviction, by a fine of not more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250).
  (3) Upon a third or subsequent conviction, if the person has willfully refused to comply with this section, by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500). In lieu of imposing the fines prescribed in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3), the court may order the person to be placed in a parent education and counseling program.
  (b) A judgment that a person convicted of an infraction be punished as prescribed in subdivision (a) may also provide for the payment of the fine within a specified time or in specified installments, or for participation in the program. A judgment granting a defendant time to pay the fine or prescribing the days of attendance in a program shall order that if the defendant fails to pay the fine, or any installment thereof, on the date that it is due, or fails to attend a program on a prescribed date, he or she shall appear in court on that date for further proceedings. Willful violation of the order is punishable as contempt.
  (c) The court may also order that the person convicted of the violation of subdivision (a) immediately enroll or reenroll the pupil in the appropriate school or educational program and provide proof of enrollment to the court. Willful violation of an order under this subdivision is punishable as civil contempt with a fine of up to one thousand dollars ($1,000). An order of contempt under this subdivision shall not include imprisonment.

All fines paid as penalties for the violation of any of the provisions of this chapter shall, when collected or received, be paid over by the court or officer receiving them to the treasurer of the city, county, or city and county, in which the offense was committed, to be placed to the credit of the school fund of the school district in which the offense was committed. Such moneys shall be used to support the activities of the school attendance review board prescribed by Section 48291 and the parent education and counseling program prescribed by Section 48293.

Any judge of the superior court, in the county in which the school district is located, or in which the offense is committed, has jurisdiction of offenses committed under this article. A juvenile court has jurisdiction of a violation of Section 48293 as provided by Section 601.4 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

No fees shall be charged or received by any court or officer in any proceeding under this chapter.

(a) (1) A state or local agency conducting a truancy-related mediation or prosecuting a pupil or a pupil's parent or legal guardian pursuant to Article 5 (commencing with Section 48260), this article, Section 48454, Section 270.1 or 272 of the Penal Code, or Section 601 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, as applicable, shall provide, using the most cost-effective method possible, including, but not limited to, by email or telephone, the school district, school attendance review board, county superintendent of schools, probation department, or any other agency that referred a truancy-related mediation, criminal complaint, or petition with the outcome of each referral. For purposes of this section, "outcome" means the imposed conditions or terms placed on a pupil or a pupil's parent or legal guardian and the acts or actions taken by a state or local agency with respect to a truancy-related mediation, prosecution, criminal complaint, or petition.
  (2) This subdivision applies to, but is not limited to, the referrals referenced in Article 5 (commencing with Section 48260), this article, Section 48454, Sections 270.1 and 272 of the Penal Code, and Sections 601, 601.2, and 601.3 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
  (b) It is the intent of the Legislature to determine the best evidence-based practices to reduce truancy. This section is not intended to encourage additional referrals, complaints, petitions, or prosecutions, or to encourage more serious sanctions for pupils.