By: Stickland H.B. No. 202
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the absence of a student from school to visit with a
  parent or guardian who will be or has been deployed on military
  duty.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 25.087, Education Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (b-4) and amending Subsection (d) to read as
  follows:
         (b-4)  A school district shall excuse for a maximum of 10
  days a student whose parent or legal guardian is an active duty
  member of the uniformed services as defined by Section 162.002 and
  has been called to duty for, is on leave from, or immediately
  returned from continuous deployment of at least six months outside
  the locality where the parent or guardian regularly resides, to
  visit with the student's parent or guardian.  An excused absence
  under this subsection must be taken:
               (1)  not earlier than the 60th day before the date of
  deployment; or
               (2)  not later than the 30th day after the date of
  return from deployment.
         (d)  A student whose absence is excused under Subsection (b),
  (b-2), (b-4), or (c) may not be penalized for that absence and shall
  be counted as if the student attended school for purposes of
  calculating the average daily attendance of students in the school
  district. A student whose absence is excused under Subsection (b),
  (b-2), (b-4), or (c) shall be allowed a reasonable time to make up
  school work missed on those days. If the student satisfactorily
  completes the school work, the day of absence shall be counted as a
  day of compulsory attendance.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2013
  .