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Senate Engrossed
ESA students; interscholastic activities; requirements |
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(now: excessive absences; exemptions)
State of Arizona Senate Fifty-seventh Legislature Second Regular Session 2026
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SENATE BILL 1004 |
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AN ACT
amending section 15-803, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to school attendance.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Arizona:
Section 1.1. Section
15-803, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
15-803. School attendance; exemptions; definitions
A. It is unlawful for any child who is between six and sixteen years of age to fail to attend school during the hours school is in session, unless either:
1. The child is excused pursuant to section 15-802, subsection D or section 15-901, subsection A, paragraph 5, subdivision (c).
2. The child is accompanied by a parent or a person authorized by a parent.
3. The child is provided with instruction in a homeschool.
B. A child who is habitually truant or who has excessive absences may be adjudicated an incorrigible child as defined in section 8-201. Absences may be considered excessive when the number of absent days exceeds ten per cent percent of the number of required attendance days prescribed in section 15-802, subsection B, paragraph 1, unless the child meets any of the following:
1. Is enrolled in a career technical education district.
2. Is enrolled in an alternative school pursuant to section 15-796, including enrollment in a dropout recovery program that is provided by an alternative school or alternative charter school pursuant to section 15-901.06.
3. Is participating in Arizona online instruction pursuant to section 15-808.
4. Is a preschool child as defined in section 15-771.
5. Is a homeless child or youth as defined in 42 United States Code section 11434a.
5. Is homebound as defined in section 15-901.
6. Is a pupil WITH a chronic health problem as defined in section 15-346.
7. Is in foster care.
8. Is a migratory child as defined in 20 United States Code section 6399.
9. meets the income eligibility requirements for free and reduced-price lunches under the national school lunch and child nutrition acts (42 United States Code sections 1751 through 1793).
C. For the purposes of this section:
1. "Habitually truant" means a truant child who is truant for at least five school days within a school year.
2. "Truant" means an unexcused absence for at least one class period during the day.
3. "Truant child" means a child who is between six and sixteen years of age and who is not in attendance at a public or private school during the hours that school is in session, unless excused as provided by this section.