HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinances - MC-16-1140 - 12/05/2016 - AMEND MC CHP 14 TRUANCY ORDINANCEORDINANCE NO. MC-16-1140
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 14, OFFENSES — MISCELLANEOUS
OF THE CITY OF MCHENR Y MUNICIPAL CODE
WHEREAS, the City of McHenry, McHenry County, Illinois, is a home rule municipality
as contemplated under Article VII, Section 6, of the Constitution of the State of Illinois, and the
passage of this Ordinance constitutes an exercise of the City's home rule powers and functions as
granted in the Constitution of the State of Illinois.
WHEREAS, Section 11-5-9 of the Illinois Municipal Code (65 ILCS 5/11-5-9) authorizes
the corporate authorities of a municipality to adopt an ordinance regulating truants within its
jurisdiction provided they are not inconsistent with the provisions of that section; and
WHEREAS, the City of McHenry finds that it is necessary and desirable to regulate
truants in order to further the public interest and serve the public purposes of education.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the CITY COUNCIL of the CITY OF
McHENRY, McHenry County, Illinois, as follows:
SECTION l: Chapter 14, Offenses — Miscellaneous, of the McHenry Municipal Code is
amended to create Article V, Minors, as follows with the formatting to be coordinated by the
City Administrator:
ARTICLE V. MINORS
Sec. 14-78. Definitions
(1) Legal Guardian means any foster parent, or any person appointed guardian, or
otherwise awarded custody of a minor by a court of law in this state, or any person
appointed guardian or given custody of a minor under the Juvenile Court Act (705
ILCS 405/1-1 et seq.), but shall not include any person appointed guardian only to the
estate of a minor.
(2) Parent means the father or mother of a minor child, whether by birth or adoption. In
the event that the minors' parents are divorced or separated within the meaning of the
Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (750 ILCS 51101 et seq.), the
parent having lawful physical custody of the minor shall be deemed to be the parent
authorized to give consent as required by this section.
(3) Valid Cause, for absence shall be illness, observance of a religious holiday, death in
the immediate family, family emergency, and shall include such other situations
beyond the control of the student as determined by the board of education in each
district, or such other circumstances which cause reasonable concern to the parent for
the safety or health of the student.
Sec. 14-79. Truancy Prohibited
It shall be unlawful for any person who is required by law to attend school and who is
subject to the compulsory attendance requirements of the Illinois School Code and
enrolled in grades 1 through 12 in a public, private (including a home school), or
parochial school to absent himself or herself from attendance at school during the hours
in which he or she is enrolled without valid cause or the permission of a parent, legal
guardian, or the school in which they are enrolled. Any person who shall so absent
himself or herself shall be guilty of the offense of truancy and shall be subject to the
penalties set for in this section.
Sec. 14-80. Exemptions
In addition to being absent for valid cause as defined herein, a minor shall not be
considered truant where he or she is:
(1) Accompanied by a parent, legal guardian or school official;
(2) Engaged in approved school related activities;
(3) Engaged in lawful employment, provided that the school board of the public
school district in which that child resides has recommended the employment and
has certified the facts concerning such employment;
(4) Physically or mentally unable to attend school due to a disability and such
disability has been certified in accordance with Section 26-1(2) of the Illinois
School Code (105 ILCS 5/26-1(2)); or
(5) Subject to any other defense and/or exception set forth in the Illinois School Code
(105 ILCS 511-1 et seq.) for compulsory attendance or enrollment in school.
Sec. 14-81. Parental Responsibility.
It shall be unlawful for any parent, legal guardian or other person to permit a person in
his or her custody or control to commit the offense of truancy.
Sec. 14-82. Contributing to the Delinquency.
It shall be unlawful for any person eighteen (18) years of age or older to perform any act
of commission or omission which encourages or contributes to the truancy of any person.
Sec. 14-83. Penalty.
A truant who is thirteen (13) years of age or older, or his or her parent(s), guardian(s) or
legal custodian(s), but not both, who violate the provisions of this Article is subject to a
fine of up to one hundred dollars ($100.00). The parent(s), guardian(s) or legal
custodian(s) of a truant who is under thirteen (13) years of age is subject to a fine of up to
one hundred dollars ($100.00) if the minor, or his or her parent(s), guardian(s) or legal
custodian(s), violate the provisions of this Section.
SECTION 2: If any section, paragraph, subdivision, clause, sentence or provision of this
Ordinance shall be adjudged by any Court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment
shall not affect, impair, invalidate or nullify the remainder thereof, which remainder shall remain
and continue in full force and effect.
SECTION 3: All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby
repealed to the extent of such conflict.
SECTION 4: This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect upon its passage, approval
and publication in pamphlet form (which publication is hereby authorized) as provided by law.
PASSED AND APPROVED THIS Sth DAY OF DECEMBER 2016.
Voting Aye: CONDON, PETERSON, CURRY, GLAB, SANTI
Voting Nay: NONE
Not Voting: NONE
Absent: SCHAEFER, WIMMER
Abstain: NONE
Mayor
ATTEST: