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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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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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senior year of high school for the purpose of determining the |
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student's interest in attending the institution of higher |
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education, provided that: |
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(1) the district may not excuse more than two days for |
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this purpose; 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. |