1 of 1
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1899 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 680
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Estela A. Reyes
_________________
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to mental health counselors in schools.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Estela A. Reyes4th Essex1/15/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1899 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 680
By Representative Reyes of Lawrence, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 680) of
Estela A. Reyes relative to mental health counselors in public schools. Education.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
_______________
An Act relative to mental health counselors in schools.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Chapter 71 of the General Laws, as amended by section 219 of chapter 238 of the acts of
22024, is here by further amended by adding the following section:
3 Section 102. (a) For the purpose of this section, the following terms shall, unless the
4context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:
5 “School mental health counselor”, a person licensed or eligible for licensure as a mental
6health counselor under section 165 of chapter 112.
7 “School psychologist”, a person licensed or eligible for licensure as a licensed
8educational psychologist under section 165 of chapter 112 who has been certified as a school
9psychologist by the department of education.
10 (b) Subject to appropriation, each public school shall employ school mental health
11counselors or school psychologist that have been granted by the commissioner a provisional or
12standard certificate of employment, pursuant to section 38G, for grades 3 to 12. During the 2 of 2
13school year, a school mental health counselor or school psychologist shall have at least 1 meeting
14with each student to ensure that the student: (i) is aware the counselor or psychologist is
15available to them; (ii) becomes familiar with the counselor or psychologist; and (iii) understands
16that the counselor or psychologist is accessible to them for whenever they may need.