24 LC 49 1623
House Bill 1064
By: Representatives Schofield of the 63
rd
, Scott of the 76
th
, and Davis of the 87
th
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, the
1
"Quality Basic Education Act," so as to provide for trauma informed school counselors in2
Georgia's public schools; to provide for the repeal of provisions for state funding for school3
counselors; to provide for state funding for one trauma informed school counselor for every4
150 full-time equivalent students; to provide for duties and responsibilities of trauma5
informed school counselors; to require the Professional Standards Commission to create a6
professional trauma informed school counselor endorsement for eligible certificated7
professional personnel; to provide for eligibility of individuals to receive such endorsement;8
to provide for eligibility for professional trauma informed school counselor programs; to9
provide for assessing the fidelity of training and implementation for individuals who receive10
such endorsement; to provide for related matters; to provide for a short title; to provide for11
an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.12
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:13
SECTION 1.14
This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Trauma Informed School Counselors Act."15
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SECTION 2.
16
Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, the "Quality17
Basic Education Act," is amended in Part 5, relating to program weights and funding18
requirements, by revising subsection (c) and adding a new subsection to Code Section19
20-2-182, relating to program weights to reflect funds for payment of salaries and benefits,20
maximum class size, reporting requirements, and application to specific school years, to read21
as follows:22
"(c) The program weights for the kindergarten, kindergarten early intervention, primary,23
primary grades early intervention, upper elementary, upper elementary grades early24
intervention, middle school, and alternative education programs and the program weights25
for the high school programs authorized pursuant to paragraph (4) of subsection (b) of26
Code Section 20-2-151, when multiplied by the base amount, shall reflect sufficient funds27
to pay the beginning salaries for at least one school counselor for every 450 full-time28
equivalent students. Beginning in Fiscal Year 2015 and thereafter, the program weights29
for the English for speakers of other languages program and the programs for persons with30
disabilities shall also earn school counselor funding. Further, beginning in Fiscal Year31
2016 and thereafter, the program weights for the program for intellectually gifted students32
and the remedial education program shall also earn school counselor funding. The duties33
and responsibilities for such school counselors shall be established by the state board to34
require a minimum of five of the six full-time equivalent program count segments of the35
counselor's time to be spent counseling or advising students or parents. This subsection
36
shall stand repealed and reserved on July 1, 2026."37
"(c.2)(1) As used in this subsection, the term 'trauma informed school counselor' means38
a certificated professional personnel with a professional trauma informed school39
counseling endorsement provided for in Code Section 20-2-209.2.40
(2) Beginning in Fiscal Year 2027 and thereafter, the program weights for the41
kindergarten, kindergarten early intervention, primary, primary grades early intervention,42
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upper elementary, upper elementary grades early intervention, middle school, alternative43
education programs, high school programs authorized pursuant to paragraph (4) of44
subsection (b) of Code Section 20-2-151, English for speakers of other languages,45
persons with disabilities, for intellectually gifted students, and remedial education46
programs, when multiplied by the base amount, shall reflect sufficient funds to pay the47
beginning salaries for at least one trauma informed school counselor for every 15048
full-time equivalent students. The duties and responsibilities for such trauma informed49
counselors shall be established by the state board to require a minimum of five of the six50
full-time equivalent program count segments of the trauma informed counselor's time to51
be spent counseling or advising students or parents."52
SECTION 3.53
Said article is further amended in Subpart 1 of Part 6, relating to certificated professional54
personnel, by adding a new Code section to read as follows:55
"20-2-209.2.56
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:57
(1) 'Trauma' means the result of an event, series of events, or set of circumstances that58
is experienced by an individual as physically or emotionally harmful or threatening and59
that has lasting adverse effects on the individual's functioning and physical, social,60
emotional, or spiritual well-being.61
(2) 'Trauma informed counseling' means an approach to providing mental health support62
and counseling services that recognizes the impact of trauma on individuals and seeks to63
create a safe and supportive environment that promotes healing and resilience.64
(b) No later than December 31, 2024, the Professional Standards Commission, in65
consultation with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities,66
shall create a professional trauma informed counseling endorsement for eligible certificated67
professional personnel who elect to complete a trauma informed counseling program which68
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meets the minimum requirements provided in subsection (d) of this Code section and which69
is approved by the Professional Standards Commission.70
(c) All eligible certificated professional personnel, as determined pursuant to rules and71
regulations of the Professional Standards Commission, who are employed in a public72
school in this state, complete a professional trauma informed counseling program approved73
by the Professional Standards Commission, and provide to the Professional Standards74
Commission verification of such completion from an approved provider shall receive the75
professional trauma informed counseling endorsement.76
(d) To be eligible for approval by the Professional Standards Commission, a professional77
trauma informed counseling program shall, at a minimum, cover the following topics:78
(1) Recognizing different types of trauma in school-age children and evaluating the79
impact of trauma on their daily functioning;80
(2) Assessing for trauma related symptoms in school-age children;81
(3) Understanding how traumatic experiences influence personal identity for school-age82
children and their ability to maintain healthy relationships;83
(4) Understanding cultural competency, developing the ability to work with students84
from diverse backgrounds, and being aware of how cultural differences may impact85
trauma experiences and healing;86
(5) Providing trauma-sensitive mental health support and counseling services to87
school-age children to foster lasting change;88
(6) Helping school-age children process present trauma while addressing core trauma89
from the past; 90
(7) Helping school-age children develop a clear understanding of techniques for91
emotional stabilization and positive self-care;92
(8) Helping school-age children understand personal agency, achieve resiliency, and93
create external anchors in the face of adversity; and94
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(9) Understanding that collaboration with other school personnel, including, but not95
limited to, teachers, school administrators, and school psychologists, is essential in96
providing comprehensive support to students who have experienced trauma.97
(e) The Professional Standards Commission, in consultation with the Department of98
Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, shall establish measures to assess the99
fidelity of training and implementation for individuals who receive the professional trauma100
informed counseling endorsement."101
SECTION 4.102
This Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law103
without such approval.104
SECTION 5.105
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.106
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