AN ACT Relating to truant, expelled, and suspended students; amending RCW 28A.225.010, 28A.225.030, 28A.225.035, 28A.225.090, 46.20.291, 48.22.140, and 13.32A.140; adding new sections to chapter 28A.225 RCW; creating new sections; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 28A.225.010 and 1996 c 134 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) All parents in this state of any child eight years of age and under eighteen years of age shall cause such child to attend the public school of the district in which the child resides and such child shall have the responsibility to and therefore shall attend for the full time when such school may be in session unless:

(a) The child is attending an approved private school for the same time or is enrolled in an extension program as provided in RCW 28A.195.010(4);

(b) The child is receiving home-based instruction as provided in subsection ((~~(4)~~)) (5) of this section;

(d) The school district superintendent of the district in which the child resides shall have excused such child from attendance because the child is physically or mentally unable to attend school, is attending a residential school operated by the department of social and health services, or has been temporarily excused upon the request of his or her parents for purposes agreed upon by the school authorities and the parent: PROVIDED, That such excused absences shall not be permitted if deemed to cause a serious adverse effect upon the student's educational progress: PROVIDED FURTHER, That students excused for such temporary absences may be claimed as full time equivalent students to the extent they would otherwise have been so claimed for the purposes of RCW 28A.150.250 and 28A.150.260 and shall not affect school district compliance with the provisions of RCW 28A.150.220; or

(e) The child is sixteen years of age or older and:

(i) The child is regularly and lawfully employed and either the parent agrees that the child should not be required to attend school or the child is emancipated in accordance with chapter 13.64 RCW;

(ii) The child has already met graduation requirements in accordance with state board of education rules and regulations; or

(iii) The child has received a certificate of educational competence under rules and regulations established by the state board of education under RCW 28A.305.190.

(2) Should a parent enroll a child six years of age and under eight years of age in the public school of the district in which the child resides, such child shall have the responsibility to and therefore shall attend for the full time when such school may be in session. This subsection shall not apply to a child enrolled in the public school part time for the purpose of receiving ancillary services.

(3) A parent for the purpose of this chapter means a parent, guardian, or person having legal custody of a child.

((~~(3)~~)) (4) An approved private school for the purposes of this chapter and chapter 28A.200 RCW shall be one approved under regulations established by the state board of education pursuant to RCW 28A.305.130.

((~~(4)~~)) (5) For the purposes of this chapter and chapter 28A.200 RCW, instruction shall be home-based if it consists of planned and supervised instructional and related educational activities, including a curriculum and instruction in the basic skills of occupational education, science, mathematics, language, social studies, history, health, reading, writing, spelling, and the development of an appreciation of art and music, provided for a number of hours equivalent to the total annual program hours per grade level established for approved private schools under RCW 28A.195.010 and 28A.195.040 and if such activities are:

(a) Provided by a parent who is instructing his or her child only and are supervised by a certificated person. A certificated person for purposes of this chapter and chapter 28A.200 RCW shall be a person certified under chapter 28A.410 RCW. For purposes of this section, "supervised by a certificated person" means: The planning by the certificated person and the parent of objectives consistent with this subsection; a minimum each month of an average of one contact hour per week with the child being supervised by the certificated person; and evaluation of such child's progress by the certificated person. The number of children supervised by the certificated person shall not exceed thirty for purposes of this subsection; or

(b) Provided by a parent who is instructing his or her child only and who has either earned forty-five college level quarter credit hours or its equivalent in semester hours or has completed a course in home-based instruction at a postsecondary institution or a vocational-technical institute; or

(c) Provided by a parent who is deemed sufficiently qualified to provide home-based instruction by the superintendent of the local school district in which the child resides.

((~~(5)~~)) (6) The legislature recognizes that home-based instruction is less structured and more experiential than the instruction normally provided in a classroom setting. Therefore, the provisions of subsection ((~~(4)~~)) (5) of this section relating to the nature and quantity of instructional and related educational activities shall be liberally construed.

Sec. 2. RCW 28A.225.030 and 1996 c 134 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) If a child is required to attend school under RCW 28A.225.010 and if the actions taken by a school district under RCW 28A.225.020 are not successful in substantially reducing an enrolled student's absences from public school, not later than the seventh unexcused absence by a child within any month during the current school year or not later than the tenth unexcused absence during the current school year the school district shall file a petition and supporting affidavit for a civil action with the juvenile court alleging a violation of RCW 28A.225.010: (a) By the parent; (b) by the child; or (c) by the parent and the child. Except as provided in this subsection, no additional documents need be filed with the petition. The petition may be served on the parent in any manner reasonably likely to provide adequate notice of the filing. If service is unsuccessful, service shall be by personal service.

(2) The district shall not later than the fifth unexcused absence in a month:

(a) Enter into an agreement with a student and parent that establishes school attendance requirements;

(b) Refer a student to a community truancy board as defined in RCW 28A.225.025. The community truancy board shall enter into an agreement with the student and parent that establishes school attendance requirements and take other appropriate actions to reduce the child's absences; or

(3) The petition may be filed by a school district employee who is not an attorney.

(4) If the school district fails to file a petition under this section, the parent of a child with five or more unexcused absences in any month during the current school year or upon the tenth unexcused absence during the current school year may file a petition with the juvenile court alleging a violation of RCW 28A.225.010.

Sec. 3. RCW 28A.225.035 and 1997 c 68 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) A petition for a civil action under RCW 28A.225.030 shall consist of a written notification to the court alleging that:

(a) The child has unexcused absences during the current school year;

(b) Actions taken by the school district have not been successful in substantially reducing the child's absences from school; and

(c) Court intervention and supervision are necessary to assist the school district or parent to reduce the child's absences from school.

(2) The petition shall set forth the name, age, school, and residence of the child and the names and residence of the child's parents.

(3) The petition shall set forth facts that support the allegations in this section and shall generally request relief available under this chapter and provide information about what the court might order under RCW 28A.225.090.

(4) When a petition is filed under RCW 28A.225.030, the juvenile court shall schedule a hearing at which the court shall consider the petition. However, a hearing shall not be required if other actions by the court would substantially reduce the child's unexcused absences. When a hearing is held, the court shall:

(a) Separately notify the child, the parent of the child, and the school district of the hearing;

(b) Notify the parent and the child of their rights to present evidence at the hearing; and

(5) The court may require the attendance of both the child and the parents at any hearing on a petition filed under RCW 28A.225.030.

(6) The court shall not require the attendance of school officials who have filed supporting affidavits under RCW 28A.225.030 at any hearing on a petition filed under RCW 28A.225.030.

(7) The court may permit the first hearing to be held without requiring that either party be represented by legal counsel, and to be held without a guardian ad litem for the child under RCW 4.08.050. At the request of the school district, the court may permit a school district representative who is not an attorney to represent the school district at any future hearings.

((~~(7)~~)) (8) If the allegations in the petition are established by a preponderance of the evidence, the court shall grant the petition and enter an order assuming jurisdiction to intervene for the period of time determined by the court, after considering the facts alleged in the petition and the circumstances of the juvenile, to most likely cause the juvenile to return to and remain in school while the juvenile is subject to this chapter. In no case may the order expire before the end of the school year in which it is entered.

((~~(8)~~)) (9) If the court assumes jurisdiction, the school district shall regularly report to the court any additional unexcused absences by the child.

((~~(9)~~)) (10) Community truancy boards and the courts shall coordinate, to the extent possible, proceedings and actions pertaining to children who are subject to truancy petitions and at-risk youth petitions in RCW 13.32A.191 or child in need of services petitions in RCW 13.32A.140.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 28A.225 RCW to read as follows:

The office of the administrator for the courts shall develop a uniform petition to be used on a state-wide basis for the purposes of RCW 28A.225.010 through 28A.225.140. The office of the administrator for the courts shall complete the uniform petition by June 1, 1998. The uniform petition shall be used by all parties filing petitions under RCW 28A.225.010 through 28A.225.140 by July 1, 1998.

Sec. 5. RCW 28A.225.090 and 1997 c 68 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) A court may order a child subject to a petition under RCW 28A.225.035 to:

(a) Attend the child's current school;

(b) If there is space available and the program can provide educational services appropriate for the child, order the child to attend another public school, an alternative education program, education center, a skill center, dropout prevention program, a replacement school program provided by a school district for suspended or expelled students, an alternative educational service program authorized by chapter 28A.150 RCW, or another public educational program;

(c) Attend a private nonsectarian school or program including an education center. Before ordering a child to attend an approved or certified private nonsectarian school or program, the court shall: (i) Consider the public and private programs available; (ii) find that placement is in the best interest of the child; and (iii) find that the private school or program is willing to accept the child and will not charge any fees in addition to those established by contract with the student's school district. If the court orders the child to enroll in a private school or program, the child's school district shall contract with the school or program to provide educational services for the child. The school district shall not be required to contract for a weekly rate that exceeds the state general apportionment dollars calculated on a weekly basis generated by the child and received by the district. A school district shall not be required to enter into a contract that is longer than the remainder of the school year. A school district shall not be required to enter into or continue a contract if the child is no longer enrolled in the district;

(d) Be referred to a community truancy board, if available; ((or))

(e) Submit to testing or evaluation for the use of controlled substances or alcohol based on a determination that such testing or evaluation is appropriate to the circumstances and behavior of the child and will facilitate the child's compliance with the mandatory attendance law. After considering the results of the testing or evaluation, and if the child's parents agree to pay for treatment, the court may require the student to participate in any recommended services or outpatient substance abuse treatment program;

(f) Refrain from actions which may result in suspension or expulsion from school; or

(g) Submit to an assessment by the court administrator, school district, or other public entity, if available, for the purpose of identifying the cause of the child's truancy.

(2) If the child fails to comply with ((~~the~~)) a court order, the court may:

(a) Find the child in contempt of court and order the child to be punished by detention, including electronic monitoring, or ((~~may~~)) impose alternatives to detention such as community service. When ordering electronic monitoring under this section, the court shall specify the agency which will provide the electronic monitoring services, the terms the child must obey while on electronic monitoring, and the duration of the electronic monitoring. Under this section, the court is not authorized, based upon any single contempt petition, or at any single disposition hearing addressing multiple contempt petitions, to place a child on electronic monitoring for a term exceeding five days. However, failure by a child to comply with an order issued under this subsection shall not be punishable by detention for a period greater than that permitted pursuant to a civil contempt proceeding against a child under chapter 13.32A RCW.

(b) Order the department of licensing, under RCW 46.20.291, to suspend the child's driver's license for ninety days. Whenever such an order is entered, the court shall secure the immediate forfeiture of the driver's license of the child and immediately forward the license to the department of licensing. If the child fails to deliver the license to the judge, the judge may find the child in contempt of court pursuant to (a) of this subsection; and

(c) If the court has reasonable cause to believe that the child is a child in need of services as defined in RCW 13.32A.030(4), order the department of social and health services to file a child in need of services petition pursuant to RCW 13.32A.140.

(3) Any parent violating any of the provisions of either RCW 28A.225.010 or 28A.225.080 shall be fined not more than twenty-five dollars for each day of unexcused absence from school. It shall be a defense for a parent charged with violating RCW 28A.225.010 to show that he or she exercised reasonable diligence in attempting to cause a child in his or her custody to attend school or that the child's school did not perform its duties as required in RCW 28A.225.020. The court may order the parent to provide community service instead of imposing a fine. Any fine imposed pursuant to this section may be suspended upon the condition that a parent charged with violating RCW 28A.225.010 shall participate with the school and the child in a supervised plan for the child's attendance at school or upon condition that the parent attend a conference or conferences scheduled by a school for the purpose of analyzing the causes of a child's absence.

Sec. 6. RCW 46.20.291 and 1997 c 58 s 806 are each amended to read as follows:

The department is authorized to suspend the license of a driver upon a showing by its records or other sufficient evidence that the licensee:

(1) Has committed an offense for which mandatory revocation or suspension of license is provided by law;

(2) Has, by reckless or unlawful operation of a motor vehicle, caused or contributed to an accident resulting in death or injury to any person or serious property damage;

(3) Has been convicted of offenses against traffic regulations governing the movement of vehicles, or found to have committed traffic infractions, with such frequency as to indicate a disrespect for traffic laws or a disregard for the safety of other persons on the highways;

(4) Is incompetent to drive a motor vehicle under RCW 46.20.031(3);

(5) Has failed to respond to a notice of traffic infraction, failed to appear at a requested hearing, violated a written promise to appear in court, or has failed to comply with the terms of a notice of traffic infraction or citation, as provided in RCW 46.20.289;

(6) Has committed one of the prohibited practices relating to drivers' licenses defined in RCW 46.20.336; ((or))

(7) Has been certified by the department of social and health services as a person who is not in compliance with a child support order or a residential or visitation order as provided in RCW 74.20A.320; or

(8) Has been found in contempt of court as provided in RCW 28A.225.090(2) and is the subject of a court order directing the department to suspend the license of the licensee.

Sec. 7. RCW 48.22.140 and 1997 c 58 s 808 are each amended to read as follows:

In the event that the department of licensing suspends a driver's license solely for the nonpayment of child support as provided in chapter 74.20A RCW or for ((~~noncompliance with a residential or visitation order as provided in chapter 26.09 RCW~~)) failing to comply with a court order as provided in RCW 28A.225.090(2), any provision in the driver's motor vehicle liability insurance policy excluding insurance coverage for an unlicensed driver shall not apply to the driver for ninety days from the date of suspension. When a driver's license is suspended under chapter 74.20A or 28A.225 RCW, the driving record for the suspended driver shall include a notation that ((~~explains~~)) indicates the reason for the suspension.

Sec. 8. RCW 13.32A.140 and 1997 c 146 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:

Unless the department files a dependency petition, the department shall file a child in need of services petition to approve an out-of-home placement on behalf of a child under any of the following sets of circumstances:

(1) The child has been admitted to a crisis residential center or has been placed by the department in an out-of-home placement, and:

(a) The parent has been notified that the child was so admitted or placed;

(b) The child cannot return home, and legal authorization is needed for out-of-home placement beyond seventy-two hours;

(d) No child in need of services petition has been filed by either the child or parent;

(e) The parent has not filed an at-risk youth petition; and

(f) The child has no suitable place to live other than the home of his or her parent.

(2) The child has been admitted to a crisis residential center and:

(a) Seventy-two hours, including Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, have passed since such placement;

(b) The staff, after searching with due diligence, have been unable to contact the parent of such child; and

(3) An agreement between parent and child made pursuant to RCW 13.32A.090(2)(e) or pursuant to RCW 13.32A.120(1) is no longer acceptable to parent or child, and:

(a) The party to whom the arrangement is no longer acceptable has so notified the department;

(b) Seventy-two hours, including Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, have passed since such notification;

(d) No child in need of services petition has been filed by either the child or the parent;

(e) The parent has not filed an at-risk youth petition; and

(f) The child has no suitable place to live other than the home of his or her parent.

(4) A court in a contempt action under RCW 28A.225.090(2) orders the department to file a petition.

Under the circumstances of subsections (1), (2), or (3) of this section, the child shall remain in an out-of-home placement until a child in need of services petition filed by the department on behalf of the child is reviewed by the juvenile court and is resolved by the court. The department may authorize emergency medical or dental care for a child admitted to a crisis residential center or placed in an out-of-home placement by the department. The state, when the department files a child in need of services petition under this section, shall be represented as provided for in RCW 13.04.093.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. A new section is added to chapter 28A.225 RCW to read as follows:

The juvenile rehabilitation administration within the department of social and health services may contract with counties to operate a pilot project to conduct electronic monitoring of truant minors ordered detained under RCW 28A.225.010. The pilot project shall be operated in three counties. One of the counties selected shall be Yakima and another shall be located west of the Cascade crest. If a pilot county is not currently offering electronic monitoring, that county may contract with another county, the state juvenile rehabilitation administration, or any other entity for the provision of monitoring equipment and services. Funds provided to counties under this act may be used to purchase, lease, or set up electronic monitoring equipment, or to fund agency supervision of children placed on, and children who violate the terms of, electronic monitoring.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. A new section is added to chapter 28A.225 RCW to read as follows:

The juvenile rehabilitation administration shall contract with the institute for public policy or a similar agency to obtain an evaluation of any pilot program instituted under section 9 of this act, ensuring that each commissioned evaluation includes: A comparison of school attendance outcomes for children subject to electronic monitoring with those of similarly situated children in similar nonpilot counties; identification of any issues or factors that limit effective implementation of electronic monitoring in the pilot county; and any other issue the evaluating agency considers relevant.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. If specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is not provided by June 30, 1998, in the omnibus appropriations act, this act is null and void.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 12. Sections 2 through 7 of this act are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and take effect immediately.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 13. Sections 2 through 7 of this act apply to all causes of action commenced on or after the effective date of sections 2 through 7 of this act, regardless of when the cause of action arose. To this extent, these sections apply retrospectively, but in all other respects they apply prospectively.