85R9956 GCB-F
By: Neave H.B. No. 2972
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the exemption of the absence from school of a student
with a chronic or debilitating illness or condition from the
calculation of student attendance for purposes of school
accountability.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 39, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 39.0532 to read as follows:
Sec. 39.0532. CALCULATION OF STUDENT ATTENDANCE IN
EVALUATING SCHOOL PERFORMANCE. (a) The commissioner by rule shall
develop and adopt a process for a school district to apply to the
agency for an exemption from having an absence of a student with a
chronic or debilitating illness or condition that is attributable
to the student's illness or condition be included in the
calculation of student attendance for purposes of the achievement
indicator under Section 39.053(c)(4)(B)(i).
(b) To apply for the exemption a school district must obtain
documentation from a physician indicating that:
(1) the student is a patient of the physician;
(2) the student has a chronic or debilitating illness
or condition; and
(3) the absence for which the exemption is sought is
attributable to the student's illness or condition.
SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2017-2018
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, 2017.