81R10016 CAS-D
By: Edwards H.B. No. 3208
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to public school counselors.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 33.002(b), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) A school district [with 500 or more students enrolled in
elementary school grades] shall employ a counselor [certified under
the rules of the State Board for Educator Certification] for each
[elementary] school in the district. [A school district shall
employ at least one counselor for every 500 elementary school
students in the district.]
SECTION 2. Section 42.152(i), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(i) From the total amount of funds appropriated for
allotments under this section, the commissioner shall, each fiscal
year, withhold $7,500,000 or a greater amount as determined in the
General Appropriations Act and distribute that amount for programs
under Subchapter A, Chapter 33. [A program established under that
subchapter is required only in school districts in which the
program is financed by funds distributed under this section or
other funds distributed by the commissioner for a program under
that subchapter. In distributing those funds, preference shall be
given to a school district that received funds for a program under
this subsection for the preceding school year.]
SECTION 3. Sections 33.002(a) and (c), Education Code, are
repealed.
SECTION 4. This Act applies beginning with the 2009-2010
school year.
SECTION 5. 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, 2009.