By: Eissler, Guillen, Cohen H.B. No. 2542
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to excused absences in public schools for students
visiting institutions of higher education.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 25.087, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (b-2) to read as follows:
(b-2) A school district may excuse a student from attending
school to visit an institution of higher education accredited by a
generally recognized accrediting organization during the student's
junior and senior years of high school for the purpose of
determining the student's interest in attending the institution of
higher education, 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 will be
excused for this purpose; and
(B) a procedure to verify the student's visit at
the institution of higher education.
SECTION 2. Section 25.087(c), Education Code, as added by
Chapter 479 (H.B. 2455), Acts of the 80th Legislature, Regular
Session, 2007, is amended to read as follows:
(c) A student whose absence is excused under Subsection (b)
or (b-2) 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) or (b-2)
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 3. This Act applies beginning with the 2009-2010
school year.
SECTION 4. 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, 2009.