BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 68
	By: Zaffirini
	Education
	5/26/2023
	Enrolled

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Under current law school districts may excuse a maximum of two days of students' absences during junior or senior year of high school to visit colleges or universities they are interested in attending. As education evolves to meet the needs of the future, the acknowledgment of student paths that do not include attending college should be addressed as well. S.B. 68 would provide access to a broader range of career opportunities for students to explore by authorizing a district to adopt a similar attendance policy for students visiting a professional's workplace.

S.B. 68 amends current law relating to excused absences from public school for certain students to visit a professional's workplace for a career investigation day.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 25.087, Education Code, by adding Subsection (b-8) and amending Subsection (d), as follows:

(b-8) Authorizes a school district to excuse a student from attending a school for a career investigation day to visit a professional at the professional's workplace during the student's junior and senior years of high school for the purpose of determining the student's interest in pursuing a career in the professional's field, provided that:

(1) the district is prohibited from excusing for this purpose more than two days during the student's junior year and two days during the student's senior year; and

(2) the district adopts:

(A) a policy to determine when an absence is authorized to be excused for this purpose; and

(B) a procedure to verify the student's visit at the professional's workplace.

(d) Provides that a student whose absence is excused under certain subsections, including Subsection (b-8), is prohibited from being penalized for that absence and is required to be counted as if the student attended school for the purposes of calculating the average daily attendance of students in the school district. Makes a conforming change.

SECTION 2. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 2023�2024 school year.

SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2023.