By: Menéndez, et al. S.B. No. 1152
 
  (Rodriguez of Bexar)
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to excused absences from public school for the purpose of
  pursuing enlistment in a branch of the armed services of the United
  States or the Texas National Guard.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 25.087, Education Code, is amended by
  adding Subsections (b-5) and (b-6) and amending Subsection (d) to
  read as follows:
         (b-5)  A school district shall excuse a student who is 17
  years of age or older from attending school to pursue enlistment in
  a branch of the armed services of the United States or the Texas
  National Guard, provided that:
               (1)  the district may not excuse for this purpose more
  than four days of school during the period the student is enrolled
  in high school; and 
               (2)  the district verifies the student's activities
  related to pursuing enlistment in a branch of the armed services or
  the Texas National Guard.
         (b-6)  Each school district shall adopt procedures to verify
  a student's activities as described by Subsection (b-5).
         (d)  A student whose absence is excused under Subsection (b),
  (b-1), (b-2), (b-4), (b-5), 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), 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 2017-2018
  school year.
         SECTION 3.  Not later than October 1, 2017, each school
  district shall adopt a policy for verification of student
  activities relating to pursuing military enlistment as required by
  Section 25.087(b-6), Education Code, as added by this Act.
         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, 2017.