1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to children; including possible availability
1.3 	of mental health screening in notice to parents of
1.4 	truant children; amending Minnesota Statutes 2004,
1.5 	sections 260A.03; 260A.04, subdivisions 2, 3.
1.6 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 260A.03, is
1.8 	amended to read:
1.9 	260A.03 NOTICE TO PARENT OR GUARDIAN WHEN CHILD IS A
1.10 	CONTINUING TRUANT.
1.11 	Upon a child's initial classification as a continuing
1.12 	truant, the school attendance officer or other designated school
1.13 	official shall notify the child's parent or legal guardian, by
1.14 	first-class mail or other reasonable means, of the following:
1.15 	(1) that the child is truant;
1.16 	(2) that the parent or guardian should notify the school if
1.17 	there is a valid excuse for the child's absences;
1.18 	(3) that the parent or guardian is obligated to compel the
1.19 	attendance of the child at school pursuant to section 120A.22
1.20 	and parents or guardians who fail to meet this obligation may be
1.21 	subject to prosecution under section 120A.34;
1.22 	(4) that this notification serves as the notification
1.23 	required by section 120A.34;
1.24 	(5) that alternative educational programs and services may
1.25 	be available in the district;
2.1 	(6) that an assessment for underlying issues that are
2.2 	contributing to the child's truant behavior, including a mental
2.3 	health screening, may be available;
2.4 	~~(6)~~ (7) that the parent or guardian has the right to meet
2.5 	with appropriate school personnel to discuss solutions to the
2.6 	child's truancy;
2.7 	~~(7)~~ (8) that if the child continues to be truant, the
2.8 	parent and child may be subject to juvenile court proceedings
2.9 	under chapter 260C;
2.10 	~~(8)~~ (9) that if the child is subject to juvenile court
2.11 	proceedings, the child may be subject to suspension,
2.12 	restriction, or delay of the child's driving privilege pursuant
2.13 	to section 260C.201; and
2.14 	~~(9)~~ (10) that it is recommended that the parent or guardian
2.15 	accompany the child to school and attend classes with the child
2.16 	for one day.

2.17 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 260A.04,
2.18 	subdivision 2, is amended to read:
2.19 		Subd. 2.Community-based action projects.  Schools,
2.20 	community agencies, law enforcement, parent associations, and
2.21 	other interested groups may cooperate to provide coordinated
2.22 	intervention, prevention, and educational services for truant
2.23 	students and their families.  Services may include:
2.24 	(1) assessment for underlying issues that are contributing
2.25 	to the child's truant behavior including a mental health
2.26 	screening;
2.27 	(2) referral to other community-based services for the
2.28 	child and family, such as individual or family counseling,
2.29 	educational testing, psychological evaluations, tutoring,
2.30 	mentoring, and mediation;
2.31 	(3) transition services to integrate the child back into
2.32 	school and to help the child succeed once there;
2.33 	(4) culturally sensitive programming and staffing; and
2.34 	(5) increased school response, including in-school
2.35 	suspension, better attendance monitoring and enforcement,
2.36 	after-school study programs, classroom modifications and
3.1 	accommodations,and in-service training for teachers and staff.

3.2 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 260A.04,
3.3 	subdivision 3, is amended to read:
3.4 		Subd. 3.Truancy service centers.  (a) Truancy service
3.5 	centers may be established as facilities to receive truant
3.6 	students from peace officers and probation officers and provide
3.7 	other appropriate services.  A truancy service center may:
3.8 	(1) assess a truant student's attendance situation,
3.9 	including enrollment status, verification of truancy, and school
3.10 	attendance history;
3.11 	(2) assist in coordinating intervention efforts where
3.12 	appropriate, including checking with juvenile probation and
3.13 	children and family services to determine whether an active case
3.14 	is pending and facilitating transfer to an appropriate facility,
3.15 	if indicated; and evaluating the need for and making referral to
3.16 	a health clinic, mental health provider,chemical dependency
3.17 	treatment, protective services, social or recreational programs,
3.18 	or other school or community-based services and programs
3.19 	described in subdivision 2;
3.20 	(3) contact the parents or legal guardian of the truant
3.21 	student and release the truant student to the custody of the
3.22 	parents, guardian, or other suitable person; and
3.23 	(4) facilitate the student's earliest possible return to
3.24 	school.
3.25 	(b) Truancy service centers may not accept:
3.26 	(1) juveniles taken into custody for violations of law that
3.27 	would be crimes if committed by adults;
3.28 	(2) intoxicated juveniles;
3.29 	(3) ill or injured juveniles; or
3.30 	(4) juveniles older than mandatory school attendance age.
3.31 	(c) Truancy service centers may expand their service
3.32 	capability in order to receive curfew violators and take
3.33 	appropriate action, such as coordination of intervention
3.34 	efforts, contacting parents, and developing strategies to ensure
3.35 	that parents assume responsibility for their children's curfew
3.36 	violations.