The bill, S.B. No. 52, amends Section 25.087 of the Education Code to establish provisions for excused absences from public school for students seeking mental or behavioral health treatment. It introduces a new subsection, (b-9), which allows school districts to excuse a student for up to five days per school year for mental or behavioral health reasons, provided the student presents documentation from a healthcare professional. Additionally, the bill permits school districts to adopt policies that may allow absences without such documentation, under certain conditions, such as requiring prior documentation from a health care visit or a meeting with a school counselor.

Furthermore, the bill ensures that students whose absences are excused under the new subsection, as well as other specified subsections, will not be penalized for their absence and will be counted as present for attendance calculations. They will also be granted reasonable time to make up missed schoolwork, which, if satisfactorily completed, will count as a day of compulsory attendance. The provisions of this act will take effect starting with the 2025-2026 school year.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 25.087 (Education Code 25)