--- date_elements.inc	2010-03-22 16:32:14.000000000 -0400
+++ date_elements.inc	2010-03-22 16:36:09.000000000 -0400
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@ function date_combo_validate($element, &
   $langcode = $element['#language'];
   
   // If the whole field is empty and that's OK, stop now.
-  if (empty($form_state['input'][$field_name]) && !$element['#required']) {
+  if ((empty($form_state['input'][$field_name]) && !$element['#required']) | !$element['#access']) {
     return;
   }
   
@@ -572,4 +572,4 @@ function date_input_format($element, $fi
     return $instance['widget']['settings']['input_format'];
   }
   return variable_get('date_format_short', 'm/d/Y - H:i');
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}