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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 443 FILED ON: 1/9/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 716
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Joshua Tarsky
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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 improving mental health in schools.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Joshua Tarsky13th Norfolk1/9/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 443 FILED ON: 1/9/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 716
By Representative Tarsky of Needham, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 716) of
Joshua Tarsky for legislation to authorize schools to employ school adjustment counselors.
Education.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act relative to improving mental health 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 SECTION 1. Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following
2section:-
3 Section 102. (a) A school shall employ a minimum number, as determined by the
4department pursuant to subsection (b), of school adjustment counselors, certified by the
5commissioner pursuant to section 38G.
6 (b) The department shall promulgate regulations, pursuant to chapter 30A, which shall
7include criteria for the minimum number of school adjustment counselors that a school shall
8employ, which shall include: (i) the number of students enrolled in the school; (ii) whether the
9school has Title I status; and (iii) any mitigating circumstances as detailed by the school
10committee.
11 (c) For schools without sufficient funds to meet the requirements of subsection (a), the
12department shall provide funding for the additional required school adjustment counselors. 2 of 2
13 SECTION 2. Not later than February 1, 2026, the department of elementary and
14secondary education shall promulgate any regulations necessary to implement section 102 of
15chapter 71 of the General Laws, inserted by section 1.
16 SECTION 3. Section 1 shall take effect on August 1, 2026.