By: Menéndez, et al. S.B. No. 1152
(In the Senate - Filed February 28, 2017; March 9, 2017,
read first time and referred to Committee on Veteran Affairs &
Border Security; April 18, 2017, reported favorably by the
following vote: Yeas 6, Nays 0; April 18, 2017, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to excused absences from public school for the purpose of
pursuing enlistment in a branch of the armed services of the United
States or the Texas National Guard.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 25.087, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsections (b-5) and (b-6) and amending Subsection (d) to
read as follows:
(b-5) A school district shall excuse a student who is 17
years of age or older from attending school to pursue enlistment in
a branch of the armed services of the United States or the Texas
National Guard, provided that:
(1) the district may not excuse for this purpose more
than four days of school during the period the student is enrolled
in high school; and
(2) the district verifies the student's activities
related to pursuing enlistment in a branch of the armed services or
the Texas National Guard.
(b-6) Each school district shall adopt procedures to verify
a student's activities as described by Subsection (b-5).
(d) A student whose absence is excused under Subsection (b),
(b-1), (b-2), (b-4), (b-5), 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), 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 2017-2018
school year.
SECTION 3. Not later than October 1, 2017, each school
district shall adopt a policy for verification of student
activities relating to pursuing military enlistment as required by
Section 25.087(b-6), Education Code, as added by this Act.
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, 2017.
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