BILL ANALYSIS
By: Strama
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Under current law, there are five reasons listed for which a student will be considered excused from school. The school district will still receive funding for the student if the student is absent for one of the following reasons: documented medical appointments, field trips, mentorship absences, diagnostic testing for Medicaid, and to observe religious holidays.
The purpose of House Bill 1560 is to expand the reasons for which a student may receive an excused absence from school, to include the following: an appointment at a governmental office to complete paperwork for United States citizenship, attendance at a ceremony to become a United States citizen, an adoption preceding involving the student, a required court appearance, and an appointment with a student's probation officer.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
House Bill 1560 amends Section 25.087 of the Education Code by stating that a school district is to excuse a student from attending school for the following purposes, including travel, to appear at a government office to complete paperwork connected to the student's application for United States citizenship, taking part in a naturalization oath ceremony, attending an appointment with the student's probation officer, attending an adoption proceeding involving the student or attending a required court appearance.
EFFECTIVE DATE
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, 2005.