By: Lucio  S.B. No. 490
         (In the Senate - Filed January 13, 2017; February 6, 2017,
  read first time and referred to Committee on Education;
  March 27, 2017, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
  Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 9, Nays 1; March 27, 2017,
  sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 490 By:  West
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to information regarding the number of school counselors
  in public schools.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 39.306, Education Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (d-1) to read as follows:
         (d-1)  The report must also include the number of school
  counselors providing counseling services at each campus.
         SECTION 2.  Section 42.006, Education Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (a-2) to read as follows:
         (a-2)  The commissioner by rule shall require each school
  district and open-enrollment charter school to report through the
  Public Education Information Management System information
  regarding the availability of school counselors at each campus.  
  The commissioner's rules shall require a district or school to
  report the number of full-time equivalent school counselors
  providing counseling services at a campus.  For purposes of this
  subsection, "full-time equivalent school counselor" means 40 hours
  of counseling services a week.  The agency shall maintain the
  information provided in accordance with this subsection.
         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, 2017.
 
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