88R3598 DIO-F
 
  By: Lozano H.B. No. 1157
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to excused absences from public school for certain
  students to attend mental health care appointments.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  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;
               (2)  a temporary absence resulting from an appointment
  with health care professionals, including mental health
  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 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024
  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, 2023.