| TO: | Honorable Florence Shapiro, Chair, Senate Committee on Education |
| 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 or to visit with a parent or guardian who will be or has been deployed to a combat zone.), As Engrossed |
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.
To the extent that some unexcused absences may currently occur due to students spending time with parents or guardians who are deployed, the Texas Education Agency anticipates that there could be a slight increase in state funding under the Foundation School Program for the days of excused absence that would be allowed under the bill for that purpose. However, the slight change in student attendance and associated state aid are not anticipated to be significant on a statewide basis.
| Source Agencies: | 701 Central Education Agency
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| LBB Staff: | JOB, JSp
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