[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Mendota
by Ord. No. 09-03-02A; amended in its entirety by Ord.
No. 10-16-06. Subsequent amendments noted where
applicable.]
It shall be unlawful for any person under 18 years of age, enrolled
in a public, private, parochial school or who is home schooled, to
absent himself/herself from attendance at school during such period
when school is in session, without permission or valid cause.
It shall be unlawful for a parent, legal guardian or other person
standing in loco parentis to allow a person under 18 years of age,
enrolled in a public, private, parochial school or who is home schooled,
to absent himself/herself from attendance at school during such period
when school is in session, without permission or valid cause.
A.
A valid
cause for absence from school shall include illness, death of immediate
family member or other family emergency, or other cause beyond the
control of the person so absenting himself/herself from school, provided
that parental permission for absence due to such cause is obtained,
in writing, from the parent and is submitted to the proper school
authorities, according to their regulations, within 24 hours after
such absence, excluding weekends or days on which school is not in
session.
B.
Parental
permission, as required by this section, shall refer to and include
permission obtained from a parent, legal guardian, or other adult
person standing in loco parentis and having custody and control over
such person under the age of 18 years.
A.
Each day
or portion of each day that such person under 18 years of age absents
himself/herself from school attendance shall constitute a separate
offense, and shall be punishable as such.
Persons violating this chapter who are 13 years of age or older
shall be fined not less than $25 nor more than $100 for each offense,
and may be required to perform community service. Repeat offenders
shall be fined $100 and may also be ordered to perform community service.
If the violator is under 13 years of age, the parent or custodian
of the violator is subject to the fine or community service, or both.