By: Zaffirini, LaMantia S.B. No. 68
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to excused absences from public school for certain
  students to visit a professional's workplace for a career
  investigation day.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 25.087, Education Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (b-8) and amending Subsection (d) to read as
  follows:
         (b-8)  A school district may excuse a student from attending
  school for a career investigation day to visit a professional at the
  professional's workplace during the student's junior and senior
  years of high school for the purpose of determining the student's
  interest in pursuing a career in the professional's field, provided
  that:
               (1)  the district may not excuse for this purpose more
  than two days during the student's junior year and two days during
  the student's senior year; and
               (2)  the district adopts:
                     (A)  a policy to determine when an absence may be
  excused for this purpose; and
                     (B)  a procedure to verify the student's visit at
  the professional's workplace.
         (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 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.