By Burnam H.B. No. 301 77R1168 KKA-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to a requirement that certain school districts establish 1-3 programs to reduce truancy. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 25, Education Code, is 1-6 amended by adding Section 25.0911 to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 25.0911. TRUANCY REDUCTION PROGRAM. (a) A school 1-8 district shall establish a program to reduce truancy at a district 1-9 campus if the student attendance rate at the campus is below 94 1-10 percent for at least two consecutive months. 1-11 (b) A district required to establish a program under this 1-12 section shall: 1-13 (1) operate the program at least until the monthly 1-14 student attendance rate at the campus is at or above 94 percent; 1-15 (2) designate one or more district employees as 1-16 truancy caseworkers; and 1-17 (3) require the employee or employees designated under 1-18 Subdivision (2) to: 1-19 (A) promptly notify parents of students who are 1-20 absent from school without excuse; 1-21 (B) work cooperatively with parents and students 1-22 to improve student attendance; 1-23 (C) closely monitor the school attendance of 1-24 students with a history of unexcused absences; and 2-1 (D) refer students with a history of unexcused 2-2 absences and the parents of those students to any appropriate 2-3 programs or services available to address the underlying causes of 2-4 the failure to attend school. 2-5 SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2001-2002 2-6 school year. 2-7 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 2-8 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 2-9 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this 2-10 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 2-11 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.