BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 455

By: Dukes

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Current law requires a school district to excuse a student from attending school for a personal health-related appointment if the student comes to school the day of the appointment. The law does not specifically address excused absences for students with children taking a child to a health-related appointment. Interested parties suggest that, as a result, many students with children receive numerous unexcused absences, putting them at increased risk of falling short of class attendance requirements, failing, and dropping out of school. H.B. 455 seeks to mitigate this risk by clarifying the law with regard to excused absences.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 455 amends the Education Code to clarify that the requirement of a school district to excuse a student for a temporary absence from school resulting from a health care-related appointment applies to such an absence resulting from an appointment with health care professionals for the student or the student's child. The bill's provisions apply beginning with the 2013-2014 school year.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2013.