85R4597 KKA-D
 
  By: Rodríguez S.B. No. 777
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the availability of school counselors at public middle,
  junior high, and high school campuses.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 33.002, Education Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d) to read as
  follows:
         (a)  From funds appropriated for the purpose or other funds
  that may be used for the purpose, the commissioner shall distribute
  funds for programs under this subchapter. In distributing those
  funds, the commissioner shall give preference to a school district
  that received funds under this subsection for the preceding school
  year and then to the districts that have the highest concentration
  of students at risk of dropping out of school, as described by
  Section 29.081.  To receive funds for the program, a school
  district must apply to the commissioner.  For each school year that
  a school district receives funds under this subsection, the
  district shall allocate an amount of local funds for school
  guidance and counseling programs that is equal to or greater than
  the amount of local funds that the school district allocated for
  that purpose during the preceding school year. Subsections (b) and
  (c) apply [This section applies] only to a school district that
  receives funds as provided by this subsection.
         (d)  A school district shall ensure that a full-time school
  counselor certified under the rules of the State Board for Educator
  Certification is available at each middle, junior high, or high
  school campus in the district with an enrollment of more than 350
  students. This subsection does not apply to a campus that serves
  only students placed in a disciplinary alternative education
  program, juvenile justice alternative education program, or other
  alternative education program. If a campus serves a combination of
  students placed in those programs and students enrolled in a
  regular education program, only the number of students enrolled in
  the regular education program is considered in determining whether
  the campus is required to ensure the availability of a school
  counselor in accordance with this subsection.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter E, Chapter 42, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 42.2519 to read as follows:
         Sec. 42.2519.  ADDITIONAL STATE AID FOR CERTIFIED SCHOOL
  COUNSELORS. (a)  For each school year, from funds that may be used
  for the purpose, a school district is entitled to state aid in an
  amount, as determined by the commissioner, sufficient to assist the
  district in employing certified school counselors required by
  Section 33.002(d).
         (b)  The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to
  administer this section.
         SECTION 3.  This Act applies beginning with the 2017-2018
  school year.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.