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AN ACT
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relating to excused absences in public schools for students |
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visiting institutions of higher education. |
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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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adding Subsection (b-2) to read as follows: |
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(b-2) A school district may excuse a student from attending |
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school to visit an institution of higher education accredited by a |
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generally recognized accrediting organization during the student's |
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junior and senior years of high school for the purpose of |
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determining the student's interest in attending the institution of |
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higher education, provided that: |
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(1) the district may not excuse for this purpose more |
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than two days during the student's junior year and two days during |
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the student's senior year; and |
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(2) the district adopts: |
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(A) a policy to determine when an absence will be |
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excused for this purpose; and |
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(B) a procedure to verify the student's visit at |
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the institution of higher education. |
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SECTION 2. Section 25.087(c), Education Code, as added by |
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Chapter 479 (H.B. 2455), Acts of the 80th Legislature, Regular |
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Session, 2007, is amended to read as follows: |
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(c) A student whose absence is excused under Subsection (b) |
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or (b-2) may not be penalized for that absence and shall be counted |
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as if the student attended school for purposes of calculating the |
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average daily attendance of students in the school district. A |
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student whose absence is excused under Subsection (b) or (b-2) |
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shall be allowed a reasonable time to make up school work missed on |
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those days. If the student satisfactorily completes the school |
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work, the day of absence shall be counted as a day of compulsory |
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attendance. |
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SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 2009-2010 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 4. 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, 2009. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 2542 was passed by the House on April |
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15, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 147, Nays 0, 1 present, not |
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voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 2542 was passed by the Senate on May |
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21, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: _____________________ |
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Date |
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_____________________ |
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Governor |