HB3624 - Relating to excused absences from public school for a student's mental or behavioral health.

  89R12049 RAL-F     By: Plesa H.B. No. 3624       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to excused absences from public school for a student's   mental or behavioral health.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 25.087, Education Code, is amended by   adding Subsection (b-9) and amending Subsection (d) to read as   follows:           (b-9)     A school district shall excuse a student from   attending school for a maximum of five days in a school year for the   student's mental or behavioral health.   The district may not   require the student to provide a statement from a health care   professional to justify or verify the student's absence.   On a   student's second excused absence under this subsection, the   district may refer the student to the district's school counselor   or other appropriate school support personnel.          (d)  A student whose absence is excused under Subsection (b),   (b-1), (b-2), (b-4), (b-5), (b-7), (b-8), (b-9), or (c) may not be   penalized for that absence and shall be counted as if the student   attended school for purposes of calculating the average daily   attendance of students in the school district.  A student whose   absence is excused under Subsection (b), (b-1), (b-2), (b-4),   (b-5), (b-7), (b-8), (b-9), or (c) shall be allowed a reasonable   time to make up school work missed on those days.  If the student   satisfactorily completes the school work, the day of absence shall   be counted as a day of compulsory attendance.          SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026   school year.          SECTION 3.  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.