S.B. No. 260
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the absence of a student from school to visit with a
  parent, stepparent, or guardian who will be or has been deployed on
  military duty.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 25.087, Education Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (b-4) and amending Subsection (d) to read as
  follows:
         (b-4)  A school district shall excuse a student whose parent,
  stepparent, or legal guardian is an active duty member of the
  uniformed services as defined by Section 162.002 and has been
  called to duty for, is on leave from, or immediately returned from
  continuous deployment of at least four months outside the locality
  where the parent, stepparent, or guardian regularly resides, to
  visit with the student's parent, stepparent, or guardian.  A school
  district may not excuse a student under this subsection more than
  five days in a school year.  An excused absence under this
  subsection must be taken:
               (1)  not earlier than the 60th day before the date of
  deployment; or
               (2)  not later than the 30th day after the date of
  return from deployment.
         (d)  A student whose absence is excused under Subsection (b),
  (b-2), (b-4), 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-2), (b-4), 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 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, 2013.
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 260 passed the Senate on
  April 18, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0; and that
  the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 17, 2013, by the
  following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 260 passed the House, with
  amendment, on May 14, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 143,
  Nays 0, two present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
              Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor