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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to authorizing school districts to suspend classes on |
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primary and general election days and requiring the commissioner of |
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education to adjust funding for certain related absences. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 25, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 25.0813 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 25.0813. SUSPENSION OF CLASSES ON PRIMARY AND GENERAL |
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ELECTION DAY. (a) This section applies to elections held on the |
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primary election date described by Section 41.007, Election Code, |
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or the date for the general election for state and county officers |
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under Section 41.002, Election Code. |
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(b) A school district may suspend classes on the day of a |
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primary or general election. A district that intends to suspend |
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classes as provided by this section must notify the commissioner |
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not later than the first day of instruction for the school year in |
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which the election will be held. |
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(c) The authorization granted by this section does not |
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exempt a school district from the requirement under Section |
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25.081(a) for a minimum amount of instruction. A district may |
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extend its school calendar to compensate for days on which classes |
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are suspended as provided by this section. |
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SECTION 2. Section 42.005, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (c-1) to read as follows: |
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(c-1) The commissioner shall adjust the average daily |
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attendance of a school district that suspends classes on the day of |
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the primary or general election as provided by Section 25.0813 and |
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that, on the day preceding election day, has more than the |
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district's average number of daily absences, so that the district |
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is not penalized under this section for that increase in the number |
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of absences. |
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SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 2017-2018 |
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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, 2017. |