By: Rosenthal H.B. No. 699
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to public school attendance and promotion requirements for
  students diagnosed with or undergoing related treatment for severe
  or life-threatening illnesses.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  This Act may be cited as Riley's Rule.
         SECTION 2.  Section 25.087(b), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (b)  A school district shall excuse a student from attending
  school for:
               (1)  the following purposes, including travel for those
  purposes:
                     (A)  observing religious holy days;
                     (B)  attending a required court appearance;
                     (C)  appearing at a governmental office to
  complete paperwork required in connection with the student's
  application for United States citizenship;
                     (D)  taking part in a United States naturalization
  oath ceremony;
                     (E)  serving as an election clerk; or
                     (F)  if the student is in the conservatorship of
  the Department of Family and Protective Services, participating, as
  determined and documented by the department, in an activity:
                           (i)  ordered by a court under Chapter 262 or
  263, Family Code, provided that it is not practicable to schedule
  the participation outside of school hours; or
                           (ii)  required under a service plan under
  Subchapter B, Chapter 263, Family Code; [or]
               (2)  a temporary absence resulting from an appointment
  with health care professionals for the student or the student's
  child if the student commences classes or returns to school on the
  same day of the appointment; or
               (3)  an absence resulting from a serious or
  life-threatening illness or related treatment that makes the
  student's attendance infeasible, if the student or the student's
  parent or guardian provides a certification from a physician
  licensed to practice medicine in this state specifying the
  student's illness and the anticipated period of the student's
  absence relating to the illness or related treatment.
         SECTION 3.  Section 25.0915(a-3), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a-3)  A school district shall offer additional counseling
  to a student and may not refer the student to truancy court under
  this section, Section 25.0951, or any other provision if the school
  determines that the student's truancy is the result of:
               (1)  pregnancy;
               (2)  being in the state foster program;
               (3)  homelessness; [or]
               (4)  severe or life-threatening illness or related
  treatment; or
               (5)  being the principal income earner for the
  student's family.
         SECTION 4.  Section 25.092, Education Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (a-3) to read as follows:
         (a-3)  A student's excused absence under Section
  25.087(b)(3) may not be considered in determining whether the
  student has satisfied the attendance requirement under Subsection
  (a) or (a-1).
         SECTION 5.  Section 28.0211, Education Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (q) to read as follows:
         (q)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a
  student may not be denied promotion if the school district
  determines that the student failed to perform satisfactorily on an
  assessment instrument specified under Subsection (a) due primarily
  to circumstances that resulted from a serious or life-threatening
  illness or related treatment that qualifies the student for an
  excused absence under Section 25.087(b)(3).
         SECTION 6.  This Act applies beginning with the 2021-2022
  school year.
         SECTION 7.  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, 2021.