87(R) HB 699 - Enrolled version - Bill Text
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AN ACT
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relating to public school attendance requirements for students |
 
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diagnosed with or undergoing related treatment for severe or |
 
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life-threatening illnesses. |
 
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             BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
 
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             SECTION  1.    This Act may be cited as Riley's Rule. |
 
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             SECTION  2.    Section 25.087(b), Education Code, is amended to |
 
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read as follows: |
 
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             (b)    A school district shall excuse a student from attending |
 
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school for: |
 
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                         (1)    the following purposes, including travel for those |
 
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purposes: |
 
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                                     (A)    observing religious holy days; |
 
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                                     (B)    attending a required court appearance; |
 
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                                     (C)    appearing at a governmental office to |
 
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complete paperwork required in connection with the student's |
 
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application for United States citizenship; |
 
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                                     (D)    taking part in a United States naturalization |
 
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oath ceremony; |
 
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                                     (E)    serving as an election clerk; or |
 
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                                     (F)    if the student is in the conservatorship of |
 
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the Department of Family and Protective Services, participating, as |
 
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determined and documented by the department, in an activity: |
 
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                                                 (i)    ordered by a court under Chapter 262 or |
 
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263, Family Code, provided that it is not practicable to schedule |
 
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the participation outside of school hours; or |
 
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                                                 (ii)    required under a service plan under |
 
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Subchapter B, Chapter 263, Family Code; [or] |
 
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                         (2)    a temporary absence resulting from an appointment |
 
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with health care professionals for the student or the student's |
 
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child if the student commences classes or returns to school on the |
 
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same day of the appointment; or |
 
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                         (3)    an absence resulting from a serious or |
 
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life-threatening illness or related treatment that makes the |
 
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student's attendance infeasible, if the student or the student's |
 
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parent or guardian provides a certification from a physician |
 
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licensed to practice medicine in this state specifying the |
 
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student's illness and the anticipated period of the student's |
 
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absence relating to the illness or related treatment. |
 
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             SECTION  3.    Section 25.0915(a-3), Education Code, is amended |
 
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to read as follows: |
 
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             (a-3)    A school district shall offer additional counseling |
 
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to a student and may not refer the student to truancy court under |
 
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this section, Section 25.0951, or any other provision if the school |
 
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determines that the student's truancy is the result of: |
 
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                         (1)    pregnancy; |
 
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                         (2)    being in the state foster program; |
 
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                         (3)    homelessness; [or] |
 
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                         (4)    severe or life-threatening illness or related |
 
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treatment; or |
 
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                         (5)    being the principal income earner for the |
 
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student's family. |
 
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             SECTION  4.    Section 25.092, Education Code, is amended by |
 
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adding Subsection (a-3) to read as follows: |
 
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             (a-3)    A student's excused absence under Section |
 
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25.087(b)(3) may not be considered in determining whether the |
 
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student has satisfied the attendance requirement under Subsection |
 
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(a) or (a-1). |
 
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             SECTION  5.    This Act applies beginning with the 2021-2022 |
 
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school year. |
 
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             SECTION  6.    This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
 
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
 
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.    If this |
 
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
 
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Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |
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______________________________ |
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     President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House           |
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             I certify that H.B. No. 699 was passed by the House on April |
 
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7, 2021, by the following vote:    Yeas 147, Nays 0, 1 present, not |
 
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voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. |
 
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No. 699 on May 20, 2021, by the following vote:    Yeas 144, Nays 0, 1 |
 
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present, not voting. |
 
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______________________________ |
 
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Chief Clerk of the House       |