H.B. No. 2542
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to excused absences in public schools for students
  visiting institutions of higher education.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 25.087, Education Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (b-2) to read as follows:
         (b-2)  A school district may excuse a student from attending
  school to visit an institution of higher education accredited by a
  generally recognized accrediting organization during the student's
  junior and senior years of high school for the purpose of
  determining the student's interest in attending the institution of
  higher education, provided that:
               (1)  the district may not excuse for this purpose more
  than two days during the student's junior year and two days during
  the student's senior year; and
               (2)  the district adopts:
                     (A)  a policy to determine when an absence will be
  excused for this purpose; and
                     (B)  a procedure to verify the student's visit at
  the institution of higher education.
         SECTION 2.  Section 25.087(c), Education Code, as added by
  Chapter 479 (H.B. 2455), Acts of the 80th Legislature, Regular
  Session, 2007, is amended to read as follows:
         (c)  A student whose absence is excused under Subsection (b)
  or (b-2) 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) or (b-2)
  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 3.  This Act applies beginning with the 2009-2010
  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, 2009.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 2542 was passed by the House on April
  15, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 147, Nays 0, 1 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 2542 was passed by the Senate on May
  21, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor