87S20476 GCB-D
 
  By: Dominguez H.B. No. 184
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to excused absences from public school caused by
  circumstances arising out of a statewide or local disaster.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 25.087, Education Code, as amended by
  S.B. No. 289, Acts of the 87th Legislature, Regular Session, 2021,
  is amended by adding Subsection (b-8) and amending Subsection (d)
  to read as follows:
         (b-8)  If a state of disaster or local disaster is declared
  under Chapter 418, Government Code, for an area in which a school
  district is wholly or partly located, the district shall excuse a
  student whose parent, legal guardian, or person standing in
  parental relation to the student notifies the district that the
  student's absence is caused by circumstances arising out of that
  disaster.
         (d)  A student whose absence is excused under Subsection (b),
  (b-1), (b-2), (b-4), (b-5), (b-7), (b-8), 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-1), (b-2), (b-4),
  (b-5), (b-7), (b-8), 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 applies beginning with the 2021-2022
  school year.
         SECTION 3.  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 on the 91st day after the last day of the
  legislative session.