HB367 - Relating to verification of excused absences from public school for students with severe or life-threatening illnesses.

      H.B. No. 367         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.  If this   Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this   Act takes effect September 1, 2025.       ______________________________ ______________________________      President of the Senate Speaker of the House                   I certify that H.B. No. 367 was passed by the House on May 6,   2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 149, Nays 0, 1 present, not   voting.     ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House                 I certify that H.B. No. 367 was passed by the Senate on May   27, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.     ______________________________   Secretary of the Senate       APPROVED:  _____________________                      Date                           _____________________                    Governor