85R2406 SRS-F     By: Cyrier H.B. No. 358       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to excused absences from public school for the purpose of   visiting a military recruitment center or military installation.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 25.087(b-2), Education Code, is amended   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 or a military   recruitment center or military installation for a branch of the   armed services of the United States 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   or enlisting in a branch of the armed services, 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, military recruitment center,   or military installation; and                      (C)  a procedure that requires written permission   from a student's parent for a student to travel with a military   recruiter for a visit to a military recruitment center or military   installation.          SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2017-2018   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, 2017.