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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to verification of excused absences from public school for |
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students with severe or life-threatening illnesses. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 25.087, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (g) to read as |
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follows: |
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(b) A school district shall excuse a student from attending |
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school for: |
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(1) the following purposes, including travel for those |
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purposes: |
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(A) observing religious holy days; |
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(B) attending a required court appearance; |
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(C) appearing at a governmental office to |
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complete paperwork required in connection with the student's |
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application for United States citizenship; |
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(D) taking part in a United States naturalization |
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oath ceremony; |
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(E) serving as an election clerk; or |
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(F) if the student is in the conservatorship of |
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the Department of Family and Protective Services, participating, as |
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determined and documented by the department, in an activity: |
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(i) ordered by a court under Chapter 262 or |
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263, Family Code, provided that it is not practicable to schedule |
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the participation outside of school hours; or |
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(ii) required under a service plan under |
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Subchapter B, Chapter 263, Family Code; |
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(2) a temporary absence resulting from an appointment |
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with health care professionals for the student or the student's |
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child if the student commences classes or returns to school on the |
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same day of the appointment; or |
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(3) an absence resulting from a serious or |
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life-threatening illness or related treatment that makes the |
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student's attendance infeasible, if the student or the student's |
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parent or guardian provides on a form adopted by the district under |
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Subsection (g) a certification from a physician licensed to |
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practice medicine in this state specifying the following |
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information, as determined by the physician: |
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(A) the student's illness; |
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(B) a statement that the illness is serious or |
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life-threatening; |
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(C) [and] the anticipated period of the student's |
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absence relating to the illness or related treatment; and |
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(D) a statement that the illness makes the |
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student's attendance infeasible during the anticipated period of |
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absence described by Paragraph (C). |
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(g) For purposes of excusing a student with a serious or |
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life-threatening illness from attending school under Subsection |
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(b)(3), a school district: |
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(1) shall adopt a form to provide the certification |
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described by that subsection; and |
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(2) may not require the student or the student's parent |
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or guardian to provide more documentation or information than is |
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required by the form adopted under Subdivision (1). |
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SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, each school district shall adopt the form required by |
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Section 25.087(g), Education Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |