87R3181 MWC-D
By: González of El Paso H.B. No. 287
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the employment of certified school counselors to comply
with the ratio requirement of counselors to public school students.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 33.002(b) and (c), Education Code, are
amended to read as follows:
(b) A school district with 250 [500] or more students
enrolled in elementary school grades shall employ a school
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 school counselor for every 250
[500] elementary school students in the district.
(c) A school district with fewer than 250 [500] students
enrolled in elementary school grades shall provide guidance and
counseling services to elementary school students by:
(1) employing a part-time school counselor certified
under the rules of the State Board for Educator Certification;
(2) employing a part-time teacher certified as a
school counselor under the rules of the State Board for Educator
Certification; or
(3) entering into a shared services arrangement
agreement with one or more school districts to share a school
counselor certified under the rules of the State Board for Educator
Certification.
SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2021-2022
school year.
SECTION 3. 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, 2021.