IL HB5795

Redefines "truant" as a student absent without valid cause for more than 1% but less than 5% of the past 180 school days, replacing the previous definition of "a school day or portion thereof"

Maintains "valid cause" for absence to include illness, religious holiday observance, death in immediate family, family emergency, and other situations determined by the board of education or circumstances causing reasonable concern for student safety or health

Defines "chronic or habitual truant" as a student absent without valid cause for 5% or more of the previous 180 regular attendance days

Defines "truant minor" as a chronic truant who has been offered supportive services (prevention, diagnostic, intervention, remedial services, and alternative programs) that have failed or been refused

Takes effect July 1, 2018