89R2577 PRL-F
By: Rosenthal H.B. No. 367
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to verification of excused absences from public school for
students with severe or life-threatening illnesses.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 25.087, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (g) to read as
follows:
(b) A school district shall excuse a student from attending
school for:
(1) the following purposes, including travel for those
purposes:
(A) observing religious holy days;
(B) attending a required court appearance;
(C) appearing at a governmental office to
complete paperwork required in connection with the student's
application for United States citizenship;
(D) taking part in a United States naturalization
oath ceremony;
(E) serving as an election clerk; or
(F) if the student is in the conservatorship of
the Department of Family and Protective Services, participating, as
determined and documented by the department, in an activity:
(i) ordered by a court under Chapter 262 or
263, Family Code, provided that it is not practicable to schedule
the participation outside of school hours; or
(ii) required under a service plan under
Subchapter B, Chapter 263, Family Code;
(2) a temporary absence resulting from an appointment
with health care professionals for the student or the student's
child if the student commences classes or returns to school on the
same day of the appointment; or
(3) an absence resulting from a serious or
life-threatening illness or related treatment that makes the
student's attendance infeasible, if the student or the student's
parent or guardian provides on a form adopted by the district under
Subsection (g) a certification from a physician licensed to
practice medicine in this state specifying the following
information, as determined by the physician:
(A) the student's illness;
(B) a statement that the illness is serious or
life-threatening;
(C) [and] the anticipated period of the student's
absence relating to the illness or related treatment; and
(D) a statement that the illness makes the
student's attendance infeasible during the anticipated period of
absence described by Paragraph (C).
(g) For purposes of excusing a student with a serious or
life-threatening illness from attending school under Subsection
(b)(3), a school district:
(1) shall adopt a form to provide the certification
described by that subsection; and
(2) may not require the student or the student's parent
or guardian to provide more documentation or information than is
required by the form adopted under Subdivision (1).
SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, each school district shall adopt the form required by
Section 25.087(g), Education Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026
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, 2025.