53A-11-101.    Definitions.      For purposes of this part:
      (1) (a)  "Absence" or "absent" means, consistent with Subsection (1)(b), failure of aschool-age minor assigned to a class or class period to attend the entire class or class period.
      (b)  A school-age minor may not be considered absent under this part more than one timeduring one day.
      (2)  "Habitual truant" means a school-age minor who:
      (a)  is at least 12 years old;
      (b)  is subject to the requirements of Section 
53A-11-101.5; and
      (c) (i)  is truant at least 10 times during one school year; or
      (ii)  fails to cooperate with efforts on the part of school authorities to resolve the minor'sattendance problem as required under Section 
53A-11-103.
      (3)  "Minor" means a person under the age of 18 years.
      (4)  "Parent" includes:
      (a)  a custodial parent of the minor;
      (b)  a legally appointed guardian of a minor; or
      (c)  any other person purporting to exercise any authority over the minor which could beexercised by a person described in Subsection (4)(a) or (b).
      (5)  "School-age minor" means a minor who:
      (a)  is at least six years old, but younger than 18 years old; and
      (b)  is not emancipated.
      (6)  "School year" means the period of time designated by a local school board or localcharter board as the school year for the school where the school-age minor:
      (a)  is enrolled; or
      (b)  should be enrolled, if the school-age minor is not enrolled in school.
      (7)  "Truant" means absent without a valid excuse.
      (8)  "Truant minor" means a school-age minor who:
      (a)  is subject to the requirements of Section 
53A-11-101.5 or 
53A-11-101.7; and
      (b)  is truant.
      (9)  "Valid excuse" means:
      (a)  an illness;
      (b)  a family death;
      (c)  an approved school activity;
      (d)  an absence permitted by a school-age minor's:
      (i)  individualized education program, developed pursuant to the Individuals withDisabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, as amended; or
      (ii)  accommodation plan, developed pursuant to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of1973, as amended; or
      (e)  any other excuse established as valid by a local school board, local charter board, orschool district.
Amended by Chapter 81, 2007 General Session