The purpose of this chapter relating to the daytime presence of truant minors outside of school on school days is to reduce the incidence of truancy that plagues our schools and creates a burden upon the health, safety, and welfare of the community. Students absent from school are denied an education; unexcused absences result in a loss of state and federal funding to the detriment of all students; unsupervised students may involve themselves in unsafe activities in residential neighborhoods, business districts, or industrial centers; some unsupervised students may engage in criminal activity to the detriment of the community; and further, some unsupervised students may become a burden on police who must return them to school, wait for parents to pick them up, and investigate any and all criminal activity related to the student’s truancy. As a result, therefore, the City Council of the City of Chula Vista finds and determines that a special need exists for the adoption of a City ordinance to prohibit truancy by any minor under the age of 18, who is subject to compulsory education or to compulsory continuation education, with certain specific exceptions set forth herein. In addition, the City Council desires to discourage parents from permitting or, by insufficient control, allowing such truancy. It is further the intent of the City Council to provide appropriate criminal sanctions against any minor or parent who violates the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 3259 § 1, 2013; Ord. 2750 § 1, 1998. Formerly 9.09.030).