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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the employment of certified school counselors to comply |
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with the ratio requirement of counselors to public school students. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 33.002(b) and (c), Education Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) A school district with 400 [500] or more students |
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enrolled in elementary school grades shall employ a school |
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counselor certified under the rules of the State Board for Educator |
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Certification for each elementary school in the district. A school |
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district shall employ at least one school counselor for every 400 |
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[500] elementary school students in the district. |
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(c) A school district with fewer than 400 [500] students |
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enrolled in elementary school grades shall provide guidance and |
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counseling services to elementary school students by: |
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(1) employing a part-time school counselor certified |
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under the rules of the State Board for Educator Certification; |
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(2) employing a part-time teacher certified as a |
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school counselor under the rules of the State Board for Educator |
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Certification; or |
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(3) entering into a shared services arrangement |
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agreement with one or more school districts to share a school |
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counselor certified under the rules of the State Board for Educator |
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Certification. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2019-2020 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |