84R8245 MK-D

By: González H.B. No. 1773

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the creation of a task force to examine the effectiveness of school counseling programs in public schools.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. TASK FORCE ON PUBLIC SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAMS. (a) A task force is established under this section to examine the effectiveness of school counseling programs on student performance in public schools.

(b) The task force is composed of the following 50 members appointed by the commissioner of education:

(1) 20 school counselors;

(2) 10 individuals who serve on the board of trustees of a school district;

(3) 10 superintendents;

(4) four representatives of regional education service centers who have experience with school counseling;

(5) one representative of the State Board of Education;

(6) one representative of the Texas Education Agency;

(7) two representatives of professional counseling associations; and

(8) two representatives of research organizations that have conducted academic studies on school counseling.

(c) In making appointments to the task force, the commissioner of education must include members from the counties that comprise the Texas-Mexico border area.

(d) The commissioner of education shall appoint the members of the task force not later than December 1, 2015. The commissioner shall fill a vacancy in the task force by the appointment of another person with the same qualifications as the original appointee.

(e) The representative of the Texas Education Agency shall serve as the presiding officer of the task force.

(f) The presiding officer shall call the initial meeting of the task force on or before January 1, 2016. The task force shall meet at the times and places that the presiding officer determines are appropriate.

(g) Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the task force.

SECTION 2. DUTIES OF TASK FORCE. The task force shall:

(1) examine whether public schools are using school counseling programs, including the national framework developed by the American School Counselor Association;

(2) determine which school counseling programs schools prefer to use; and

(3) conduct a statistical analysis, incorporating information on student demographics, to determine the effectiveness of school counseling programs and the impact on student achievement and performance.

SECTION 3. REPORT. Not later than September 1, 2017, the task force shall deliver a report to the commissioner of education detailing the task force's findings and recommendations and the results of the statistical analysis conducted by the task force.

SECTION 4. EXPIRATION. The task force is abolished, and this Act expires, December 1, 2017.

SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.