705 ILCS 405/3-33.5 — Illinois Code / Chapter 705 / Act 405 / Section 3-33.5
Section 3-33.5
Status: in_force

(705 ILCS 405/3-33.5) Sec. 3-33.5. Truant minors in need of supervision. (a) Definition. A minor who is reported by the office of the regional superintendent of schools as a chronic truant may be subject to a petition for adjudication and adjudged a truant minor in need of supervision, provided that prior to the filing of the petition, the office of the regional superintendent of schools or a community truancy review board certifies that the local school has provided appropriate truancy intervention services to the truant minor and the minor's family. For purposes of this Section, "truancy intervention services" means services designed to assist the minor's return to an educational program, and includes, but is not limited to: assessments, counseling, mental health services, shelter, optional and alternative education programs, tutoring, and educational advocacy. If, after review by the regional office of education or community truancy review board, it is determined the local school did not provide the appropriate interventions, then the minor shall be referred to a comprehensive community based youth service agency for truancy intervention services. If the comprehensive community based youth service agency is incapable to provide intervention services, then this requirement for services is not applicable. The comprehensive community based youth service agency shall submit reports to the office of the regional superintendent of schools or truancy review board within 20, 40, and 80 school days of the initial referral or at any other time requested by the office of the regional superintendent of schools or truancy review board, which reports each shall certify the date of the minor's referral and the extent of the minor's progress and participation in truancy intervention services provided by the comprehensive community based youth service agency. In addition, if, after referral by the office of the regional superintendent of schools or community truancy review board, the minor declines or refuses to fully participate in truancy intervention services provided by the comprehensive community based youth service agency, then the agency shall immediately certify such facts to the office of the regional superintendent of schools or community truancy review board. (a-1) There is a rebuttable presumption that a chronic truant is a truant minor in need of supervision. (a-2) There is a rebuttable presumption that school records of a minor's attendance at school are authentic. (a-3) For purposes of this Section, "chronic truant" has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 26-2a of the School Code. (a-4) For purposes of this Section, a "community truancy review board" is a local community based board comprised of, but not limited to: representatives from local comprehensive community based youth service agencies, representatives from court service agencies, representatives from local schools, representatives from health service agencies, and representatives from local professional and community organizations as deemed appropriate by the office of the regional superintendent of schools. The regional superintendent of schools must approve the establishment and organization of a community truancy review board, and the regional superintendent of schools or the regional superintendent's designee shall chair the board. (a-5) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to create a private cause of action or right of recovery against a regional office of education, its superintendent, or its staff with respect to truancy intervention services where the determination to provide the services is made in good faith. (b) Kinds of dispositional orders. A minor found to be a truant minor in need of supervision may be: (1) committed to the appropriate regional superintendent of schools for a student