Tribe: Mashantucket Pequot Indian Tribe
§ 6. Notice of Truancy and Fines
a. Whenever a child is truant, the Tribal Police shall personally serve a
written notice to the parent or legal guardian of the child of such truancy
and that such truancy violates tribal law. The first notice to the parent or
legal guardian of the child shall serve as a warning of this violation and
shall require the parent legal guardian of the child to attend a meeting
pursuant to Section 5(a) of this Law. The notice shall also inform the
parent or legal guardian of the child that a subsequent notice of an
unexcused absence will result in the parent or legal guardian of the child
being penalized a mandatory fine of $5 per child per day of unexcused absence
from school, and in addition, those children 12 years or older will be
directed to the MPTN Education Department to make up the missed hours through
private tutoring to correct the educational deficit that occurred due to
extensive unexcused absences. b. A subsequent notice of an unexcused absence within a school year shall
result in the fines and penalties described above.
c. The first six absences within a school year shall result in the imposition
of a fine of not less than $5 per child per day of unexcused absence from
school. Pursuant to Section 5(b) of this Law, the MPTN Education Department
shall file a written complaint in accordance with applicable tribal child
welfare and juvenile laws alleging the belief that the acts or omissions of
the child are such that his/her family is a family with services needs or the
child is a youth in crisis.
d. After the first six unexcused absences, the fine will be not less than $10
per child per day of unexcused absence from school. In addition the MPTN
Education Department will report to the Education Committee to meet with the
parent and child.
e. After two additional unexcused absences, the fine will be not less than
$20 per child per day of unexcused absence from school. In addition the
Education Committee will report to Child Protective Services for mediation
with the parent and child.
f. The MPTN Education Department shall send a copy of all notices of truancy
fines to the Finance Department to ensure payment of fines, the proceeds from
which fines shall be used to cover expenses relating to any parenting
classes, tutoring, counseling or truancy prevention programs required by this
Law.
g. Any truant child may not participate in the Tribe’s Summer Youth Work
Program for the summer following the school year in which the child was
truant.
h. The Department of Finance shall be authorized to deduct the amount of said
fine from any income that may be due and payable to the parent or legal
guardian of the child including, but not limited to, salary, incentive
payments and any other periodic payment. No deduction authorized under this
Law shall exceed 25% of the parent’s or legal guardian’s disposable weekly
income.
i. Any truant child 16 years of age or older shall be personally responsible
to pay all truancy fines. This requirement shall not excuse the parent or
legal guardian of the child from the obligation to pay any such fines in the
first instance unless the fines are paid first by the truant child. In the
event the parent or legal guardian of the child pays any such fines, the
truant child shall be obligated to reimburse the parent or legal guardian of
the child for any such payment. Any future tribal income due and payable to
the truant child shall be subject to the obligation to pay outstanding fines
or reimbursement at a rate not to exceed 25% of the child’s disposable weekly
income and the Department of Finance shall ensure that such reimbursement is
made accordingly.