81R9674 EAH-D
 
  By: Coleman H.B. No. 2957
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a notification requirement if a counselor is not
  assigned to a public school campus.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 33, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 33.009 to read as follows:
         Sec. 33.009.  PARENTAL NOTIFICATION CONCERNING SCHOOL
  COUNSELORS. (a)  A public school that does not have a full-time
  school counselor certified under Subchapter B, Chapter 21, assigned
  to the campus for more than 30 consecutive instructional days
  during the same school year shall provide written notice of the
  absence of a counselor to the parent of or other person standing in
  parental relation to each student enrolled in the school.
         (b)  The principal of the school shall provide the notice
  required by Subsection (a) not later than the 30th instructional
  day after the first day the school does not have a full-time school
  counselor assigned to the campus.
         (c)  The school shall:
               (1)  make a good faith effort to ensure that the notice
  required by this section is provided in a bilingual form to any
  parent or other person standing in parental relation whose primary
  language is not English; and
               (2)  retain a copy of any notice provided under this
  section.
         SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2009-2010
  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, 2009.