TITLE: Relating to verification of excused absences from public school for students with severe or life-threatening illnesses.

SUMMARY: Relating to verification of excused absences from public school for students with severe or life-threatening illnesses.

FULL TEXT:
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.