78R175 KKA-D

By:  Wise                                                         H.B. No. 137



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to parental notification of a child's absence from school.           
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 25, Education Code, is 
amended by adding Section 25.096 to read as follows:
	Sec. 25.096.  IMMEDIATE NOTICE OF ABSENCE. (a)  Not later 
than one hour after a school district determines a student is absent 
from school without excuse, the district shall attempt to notify 
the student's parent by telephone of the absence.
	(b)  A school district that is unable to notify a parent by 
telephone within the time period prescribed by this section shall:
		(1)  make at least one subsequent attempt to notify the 
parent by telephone during the school day; and
		(2)  if subsequent attempts during the school day are 
unsuccessful, send written notice to the parent not later than the 
next school day.
	(c)  A school district shall,  on the day of the absence, send 
written notice to the parent of a student who is absent from school 
without excuse if the district does not have a telephone number at 
which the parent may be contacted.
	(d)  In this section, "parent" includes a person standing in 
parental relation.
	SECTION 2.  Section 25.095(c), Education Code, is amended to 
read as follows:
	(c)  The fact that a parent did not receive a notice under 
Subsection (a)  or (b) or Section 25.096 does not create a defense 
to prosecution under Section 25.093 or 25.094.
	SECTION 3.  Section 25.096, Education Code, as added by this 
Act, applies beginning with the 2003-2004 school year.
	SECTION 4.   This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.