| TO: | Honorable Joe Straus, Speaker of the House, House of Representatives |
| FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB192 by Alonzo (relating to the absence of a student from school for activities in connection with obtaining United States citizenship. ), As Passed 2nd House |
The bill would expand the definition of excused absences to include absence for the purpose of appearing at a governmental office to complete papework related to applying for U.S. citizenship or taking part in a U.S. naturalization oath ceremony, including travel for that purpose. Students whose absences for these purposes are excused would be counted as if in attendance for the purpose of calculating average daily attendance (ADA).
Student absence data is not reported by reason for absence, so the actual actual number of additional days that would be counted as attendance for ADA purposes under the bill is not readily available. However, the absences addressed under the bill are assumed currently to represent a relatively small proportion of total absences; as a result, the effect of the additional days counted as attendance would not be anticipated to significantly affect state cost under the Foundation School Program.
The bill would also add Section 25.087(b-3), Education Code to clarify that an excused absence includes a temporary absence during the school day of a student diagnosed with austim spectrum disorder to attend an appointment with a health care practitioner to receive a generally recognized service for persons diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Current law provides in general for an excused absence of a student's temporary absence to attend an appointment with a health care professional if the student begins classes or returns to school on the same day of the appointment.
| Source Agencies: | 701 Central Education Agency
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| LBB Staff: | JOB, JSp
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