| 1 | 1 | | H.B. No. 192 |
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| 2 | 2 | | |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | AN ACT |
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| 5 | 5 | | relating to the purposes for which a student's absence from school |
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| 6 | 6 | | must be excused. |
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| 7 | 7 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 8 | 8 | | SECTION 1. Section 25.087, Education Code, is amended by |
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| 9 | 9 | | amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (b-3) to read as |
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| 10 | 10 | | follows: |
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| 11 | 11 | | (b) A school district shall excuse a student from attending |
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| 12 | 12 | | school for: |
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| 13 | 13 | | (1) the following purposes, including travel for those |
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| 14 | 14 | | purposes: |
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| 15 | 15 | | (A) observing religious holy days; [or] |
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| 16 | 16 | | (B) attending a required court appearance; |
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| 17 | 17 | | (C) appearing at a governmental office to |
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| 18 | 18 | | complete paperwork required in connection with the student's |
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| 19 | 19 | | application for United States citizenship; or |
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| 20 | 20 | | (D) taking part in a United States naturalization |
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| 21 | 21 | | oath ceremony; or |
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| 22 | 22 | | (2) a temporary absence resulting from health care |
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| 23 | 23 | | professionals if that student commences classes or returns to |
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| 24 | 24 | | school on the same day of the appointment. |
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| 25 | 25 | | (b-3) A temporary absence for purposes of Subsection (b)(2) |
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| 26 | 26 | | includes the temporary absence of a student diagnosed with autism |
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| 27 | 27 | | spectrum disorder on the day of the student's appointment with a |
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| 28 | 28 | | health care practitioner, as described by Section 1355.015(b), |
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| 29 | 29 | | Insurance Code, to receive a generally recognized service for |
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| 30 | 30 | | persons with autism spectrum disorder, including applied |
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| 31 | 31 | | behavioral analysis, speech therapy, and occupational therapy. |
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| 32 | 32 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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| 33 | 33 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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| 34 | 34 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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| 35 | 35 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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| 36 | 36 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |
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| 37 | 37 | | ______________________________ ______________________________ |
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| 38 | 38 | | President of the Senate Speaker of the House |
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| 39 | 39 | | I certify that H.B. No. 192 was passed by the House on May 7, |
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| 40 | 40 | | 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 142, Nays 3, 1 present, not |
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| 41 | 41 | | voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. |
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| 42 | 42 | | No. 192 on May 29, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 139, Nays 0, 1 |
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| 43 | 43 | | present, not voting. |
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| 44 | 44 | | ______________________________ |
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| 45 | 45 | | Chief Clerk of the House |
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| 46 | 46 | | I certify that H.B. No. 192 was passed by the Senate, with |
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| 47 | 47 | | amendments, on May 25, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays |
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| 48 | 48 | | 0. |
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| 49 | 49 | | ______________________________ |
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| 50 | 50 | | Secretary of the Senate |
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| 51 | 51 | | APPROVED: __________________ |
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| 52 | 52 | | Date |
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| 53 | 53 | | __________________ |
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| 54 | 54 | | Governor |
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