BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 568
By: Lucio
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
School counselors are the bridge between students, teachers, school faculty, and parents, and are at the frontlines during children's most vulnerable times. Increasing demands on school counselors' time has led to less time being spent with students. Counselors are responsible for too many students to provide the adequate individualized attention that is necessary for each student.
As proposed, S.B. 568 requires a school district with 350 or more students in enrollment to employ a counselor certified under the rules of the State Board for Educator Certification for each school in the district.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the commissioner of education in SECTION 3 (Section 42.2518, Education Code) of this bill.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Sections 33.002(b) and (c), Education Code, as follows:
(b) Requires a school district with 350, rather than 500, or more students in enrollment to employ a counselor certified under the rules of the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) for each school in the district. Deletes existing text specifying that the students be enrolled in elementary school grades. Makes conforming changes.
(c) Makes conforming changes.
SECTION 2. Amends Section 42.152(i), Education Code, to provide that funds distributed under this subsection are in addition to any other funds available for programs under Subchapter A (School Counselors and Counseling Programs), Chapter 33 (Service Programs and Extracurricular Activities), including funds provided under Section 42.2518. Deletes existing text providing that a program established under Subchapter A 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. Deletes existing text requiring that preference, in distributing those funds, be given to a school district that received funds for a program under this subsection for the preceding school year.
SECTION 3. Amends Subchapter E, Chapter 42, Education Code, by adding Section 42.2518, as follows:
Sec. 42.2518. ADDITIONAL STATE AID FOR CERTIFIED COUNSELORS. (a) Entitles a school district, for each school, from funds that may be used for the purpose, to state aid in an amount, as determined by the commissioner of education (commissioner), sufficient to assist the district in employing the number of certified counselors required by Section 33.002 (Certified Counselor).
(b) Requires the commissioner to adopt rules as necessary to administer this section.
SECTION 4. Repealer: Section 33.002(a) (relating to providing that this section applies only to certain school districts), Education Code.
SECTION 5. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 2009-2010 school year.
SECTION 6. Effective date: September 1, 2009.