Bill Text: TX HB1157 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Engrossed
Bill Title: Relating to excused absences from public school for certain students to attend mental health care appointments.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-2)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2023-05-18 - Left pending in committee [HB1157 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HB1157-Engrossed.html
88R3598 DIO-F | ||
By: Lozano, et al. | H.B. No. 1157 |
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relating to excused absences from public school for certain | ||
students to attend mental health care appointments. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Section 25.087(b), Education Code, is amended 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, including mental health | ||
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 a certification from a physician | ||
licensed to practice medicine in this state specifying the | ||
student's illness and the anticipated period of the student's | ||
absence relating to the illness or related treatment. | ||
SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024 | ||
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, 2023. |