The bill, S.B. No. 52, amends Section 25.087 of the Education Code to allow for excused absences from public school for a student's mental or behavioral health. It introduces a new subsection, (b-9), which mandates that school districts excuse a student for up to five days in a school year to seek or receive mental or behavioral health treatment, support, or diagnosis, provided that the student presents documentation from a healthcare professional. Additionally, the bill permits school districts to adopt policies that allow for absences related to mental or behavioral health without such documentation, under certain conditions, such as requiring prior documentation from a healthcare visit or a meeting with a school counselor. The bill also clarifies that students whose absences are excused under the new subsection, along with other specified subsections, cannot be penalized for those absences and will be counted as present for attendance calculations. They will also be granted reasonable time to make up missed schoolwork, ensuring that satisfactory completion of the work counts as a day of compulsory attendance. The provisions of this act will take effect starting with the 2025-2026 school year, and it may be enacted immediately if it receives a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of the legislature.

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