88R592 MLH-D     By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 68       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to excused absences from public school for certain   students to visit a professional's workplace for a career   investigation day.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 25.087, Education Code, is amended by   adding Subsection (b-8) and amending Subsection (d) to read as   follows:          (b-8)  A school district may excuse a student from attending   school for a career investigation day to visit a professional at the   professional's workplace during the student's junior and senior   years of high school for the purpose of determining the student's   interest in pursuing a career in the professional's field, 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 may be   excused for this purpose; and                      (B)  a procedure to verify the student's visit at   the professional's workplace.          (d)  A student whose absence is excused under Subsection (b),   (b-1), (b-2), (b-4), (b-5), (b-7), (b-8), 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), 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 2023-2024   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, 2023.