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  By: Seliger  S.B. No. 289
         (In the Senate - Filed January 6, 2021; March 3, 2021, read
  first time and referred to Committee on Education; April 1, 2021,
  reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 9, Nays 0;
  April 1, 2021, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to excused absences from public school for certain
  students to obtain a driver's license or learner license.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 25.087, Education Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (b-7) and amending Subsection (d) to read as
  follows:
         (b-7)  A school district may excuse a student who is 15 years
  of age or older from attending school to visit a driver's license
  office to obtain a driver's license or learner license, provided
  that:
               (1)  the district may not excuse more than one day of
  school during the period the student is enrolled in high school for
  each of the following purposes:
                     (A)  obtaining a driver's license; or
                     (B)  obtaining a learner license; and
               (2)  the district verifies the student's visit to the
  driver's license office in accordance with procedures adopted by
  the district.
         (d)  A student whose absence is excused under Subsection (b),
  (b-1), (b-2), (b-4), (b-5), (b-7), 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), 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 September 1, 2021.
 
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