83R3744 KKA-D
By: Workman H.B. No. 1720
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the duties and number of certified counselors in public
schools.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 33.002, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d) to read as
follows:
(a) From funds appropriated for the purpose or other funds
that may be used for the purpose, the commissioner shall distribute
funds for programs under this subchapter. In distributing those
funds, the commissioner shall give preference to a school district
that received funds under this subsection for the preceding school
year and then to the districts that have the highest concentration
of students at risk of dropping out of school, as described by
Section 29.081. To receive funds for the program, a school
district must apply to the commissioner. For each school year that
a school district receives funds under this subsection, the
district shall allocate an amount of local funds for school
guidance and counseling programs that is equal to or greater than
the amount of local funds that the school district allocated for
that purpose during the preceding school year. Subsections (b) and
(c) apply [This section applies] only to a school district that
receives funds as provided by this subsection.
(d) A school district with 250 or more students enrolled in
high school grades shall employ a counselor certified under the
rules of the State Board for Educator Certification for each high
school in the district. A school district shall employ at least one
counselor for every 250 high school students in the district.
SECTION 2. Section 33.006, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to read as
follows:
(b) In addition to a school counselor's primary
responsibility under Subsection (a), the counselor shall, to the
extent possible considering the counselor's primary
responsibility:
(1) participate in planning, implementing, and
evaluating a comprehensive developmental guidance program to serve
all students and to address the special needs of students:
(A) who are at risk of dropping out of school,
becoming substance abusers, participating in gang activity, or
committing suicide;
(B) who are in need of modified instructional
strategies; or
(C) who are gifted and talented, with emphasis on
identifying and serving gifted and talented students who are
educationally disadvantaged;
(2) consult with a student's parent or guardian and
make referrals as appropriate in consultation with the student's
parent or guardian;
(3) consult with school staff, parents, and other
community members to help them increase the effectiveness of
student education and promote student success;
(4) coordinate people and resources in the school,
home, and community;
(5) with the assistance of school staff, interpret
standardized test results and other assessment data that help a
student make educational and career plans; and
(6) deliver classroom guidance activities or serve as
a consultant to teachers conducting lessons based on the school's
guidance curriculum.
(c) Except as provided by Subsection (b)(5), a high school
counselor may not be required or permitted to perform functions
associated with the administration of assessment instruments
required or authorized under Subchapter B, Chapter 39. Functions
prohibited under this subsection include scheduling or monitoring
the administration of assessment instruments.
SECTION 3. Subchapter E, Chapter 42, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 42.2519 to read as follows:
Sec. 42.2519. ADDITIONAL STATE AID FOR CERTIFIED HIGH
SCHOOL COUNSELORS. (a) For each school year, from funds that may
be used for the purpose, a school district is entitled to state aid
in an amount, as determined by the commissioner, sufficient to
assist the district in employing the number of certified high
school counselors required by Section 33.002(d).
(b) The amount of state aid to which a school district is
entitled under this section is in addition to the amount of revenue
to which the district is entitled under Section 42.2516(b). This
subsection expires September 1, 2017.
(c) The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to
administer this section.
SECTION 4. This Act applies beginning with the 2013-2014
school year.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.