(a) Any parent, guardian or other person who has control of a child, or children, and who violates this part commits educational neglect, which shall be a Class C misdemeanor.
(b) Each day's unlawful absence constitutes a separate offense.
(c) As an alternative to prosecution for educational neglect, at the prosecutor's discretion, parents, guardians or any other person who has control of a child or children against whom a petition of truancy has been brought for being absent more than five (5) days during the school year, may participate in parent education training and parent-teacher conferences. The prosecutor may provide the parent, guardian or other person with the option to participate in such alternative program prior to filing the criminal charge. Failure of the parent, guardian or other person to timely respond to such option shall result in the revocation of the option and immediate filing of the criminal charge.
Acts 1947, ch. 87, § 16; C. Supp. 1950, § 2442.16; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 49-1723; Acts 1989, ch. 591, § 113; 2010, ch. 929, § 1; 2011, ch. 220, §§ 1, 2.