BILL ANALYSIS
By: Cook, Byron
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Currently, the Texas Education Agency rule holds that a student shall receive an excused absence from school for a court appearance. However it is not among the five reasons a student may be absent from class but considered present for the day for funding purposes. When a student misses school for a court appearance, his or her school district loses funding. This bill would make a required court appearance (including travel for such purpose) a reason that a student can be absent but still counted for purposes of calculating the average daily attendance of students in the school district.
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
This bill amends Section 25.087 of the Education Code by adding "attending a required court appearance" (including travel for such purpose) to the reasons a school district shall excuse a student from attending school, and further provides that such student may not be penalized for such absence and shall be counted as if the student attended school for purposes of calculating the average daily attendance of students in the school district.
The bill provides that the Act applies beginning with the 2007-2008 school year.
The bill also makes certain non-substantive amendments to Section 25.087 in conformance with Legislative Council drafting guidelines.
EFFECTIVE DATE
Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2007.