Pupil attendance: school attendance review boards.

(1) Existing law authorizes the establishment of county and local school attendance review boards that may promote the use of alternatives to the juvenile court system if available public and private services are insufficient or inappropriate to correct school attendance or school behavior problems, and specifies the membership of each school attendance review board. Existing law provides that any minor pupil who is a habitual truant, is irregular in attendance at school, or is habitually insubordinate or disorderly during attendance at school may be referred to a school attendance review board. This bill would authorize a county school attendance review board to accept referrals or requests for hearing services from one or more school districts within its jurisdiction. The bill would authorize a county school attendance review board to be operated through a consortium or partnership of a county with one or more school districts or between 2 or more counties. The bill would add representatives from at least one county district attorney's office and one county public defender's office to both county and local school attendance review boards, as specified. (2) Existing law requires the county superintendent of schools, if a county school attendance review board exists, to convene a meeting of the county school attendance review board at the beginning of each school year, as provided. This bill would specify that, for purposes of conducting hearings, the county school attendance review board is authorized to meet as needed, and would further authorize the chairperson of the county school attendance review board to determine the members needed at those hearings, as specified. (3) Existing law authorizes a county school attendance review board to provide consultant services to, and coordinate the activities of, local school attendance review boards, as provided. This bill would instead authorize a county school attendance review board to provide guidance to local school attendance review boards. (4) This bill would also make conforming and nonsubstantive changes.