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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the absence of a student from school for activities in |
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connection with obtaining United States citizenship. |
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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 (c) 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 purpose of observing religious holy days, |
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including traveling for that purpose; |
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(2) a [. A school district shall excuse a student
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for] temporary absence resulting from an appointment with a health |
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care professional [professionals] if the [that] student commences |
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classes or returns to school on the same day of the appointment; or |
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(3) the purpose of appearing at a governmental office |
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to complete paperwork required in connection with the student's |
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application for United States citizenship or to take part in a |
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naturalization oath ceremony, including traveling for that |
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purpose. |
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(c) A student whose absence is excused under Subsection (b) |
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[this subsection] may not be penalized for that absence and shall be |
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counted as if the student attended school for purposes of |
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calculating the average daily attendance of students in the school |
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district. A student whose absence is excused under Subsection (b) |
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[this subsection] shall be allowed a reasonable time to make up |
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school work missed on those days. If the student satisfactorily |
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completes the school work, the day of absence shall be counted as a |
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day of compulsory attendance. |
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SECTION 2. 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, 2007. |