By: Lopez of Cameron H.B. No. 155
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the employment of certified school counselors by school
  districts.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 33.002, Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 33.002.  [CERTIFIED] SCHOOL COUNSELOR TO STUDENT RATIO;
  DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS FOR COUNSELING PROGRAMS. (a) In this
  section, "school counselor" means a school counselor certified
  under Subchapter B, Chapter 21.
         (a-1)  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. Funds distributed under this
  subsection are in addition to any other funds available for
  programs under this subchapter, including funds provided under
  Section 48.2641 [This section applies only to a school district
  that receives funds as provided by this subsection].
         (b)  Beginning with the 2031-2032 school year, a [A] school
  district with 300 [500] or more students in enrollment [enrolled in
  elementary school grades] shall employ a school counselor
  [certified under the rules of the State Board for Educator
  Certification] for each [elementary] school in the district. A
  school district shall employ at least one school counselor for
  every 300 [500 elementary school] students in the district.
         (b-1)  Beginning with the 2029-2030 school year, a school
  district with 350 or more students in enrollment shall employ a
  school counselor for each school in the district. A school district
  shall employ at least one school counselor for every 350 students in
  the district. This subsection expires September 1, 2031.
         (b-2)  Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, a school
  district with 400 or more students in enrollment shall employ a
  school counselor for each school in the district. A school district
  shall employ at least one school counselor for every 400 students in
  the district. This subsection expires September 1, 2029.
         (b-3)  Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, a school
  district with 450 or more students in enrollment shall employ a
  school counselor for each school in the district. A school district
  shall employ at least one school counselor for every 450 students in
  the district. This subsection expires September 1, 2027.
         (b-4)  A school district with 500 or more students in
  enrollment shall employ a school counselor for each school in the
  district. A school district shall employ at least one school
  counselor for every 500 students in the district. This subsection
  expires September 1, 2025.
         (c)  Beginning with the 2031-2032 school year, a [A] school
  district with fewer than 300 [500] students in enrollment [enrolled
  in elementary school grades] shall provide guidance and counseling
  services to [elementary school] students by:
               (1)  employing a part-time school counselor [certified
  under the rules of the State Board for Educator Certification];
               (2)  employing a part-time teacher certified as a
  school counselor under Subchapter B, Chapter 21 [the rules of the
  State Board for Educator Certification]; or
               (3)  entering into a shared services arrangement
  agreement with one or more school districts to share a school
  counselor [certified under the rules of the State Board for
  Educator Certification].
         (c-1)  Beginning with the 2029-2030 school year, a school
  district with fewer than 350 students in enrollment shall provide
  guidance and counseling services to students by:
               (1)  employing a part-time school counselor;
               (2)  employing a part-time teacher certified as a
  school counselor under Subchapter B, Chapter 21; or
               (3)  entering into a shared services arrangement
  agreement with one or more school districts to share a school
  counselor.
         (c-2)  Subsection (c-1) and this subsection expire September
  1, 2031.
         (c-3)  Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, a school
  district with fewer than 400 students in enrollment shall provide
  guidance and counseling services to students by:
               (1)  employing a part-time school counselor;
               (2)  employing a part-time teacher certified as a
  school counselor under Subchapter B, Chapter 21; or
               (3)  entering into a shared services arrangement
  agreement with one or more school districts to share a school
  counselor.
         (c-4)  Subsection (c-3) and this subsection expire September
  1, 2029.
         (c-5)  Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, a school
  district with fewer than 450 students in enrollment shall provide
  guidance and counseling services to students by:
               (1)  employing a part-time school counselor;
               (2)  employing a part-time teacher certified as a
  school counselor under Subchapter B, Chapter 21; or
               (3)  entering into a shared services arrangement
  agreement with one or more school districts to share a school
  counselor.
         (c-6)  Subsection (c-5) and this subsection expire September
  1, 2027.
         (c-7)  A school district with fewer than 500 students in
  enrollment shall provide guidance and counseling services to
  students by:
               (1)  employing a part-time school counselor; 
               (2)  employing a part-time teacher certified as a
  school counselor under Subchapter B, Chapter 21; or 
               (3)  entering into a shared services arrangement
  agreement with one or more school districts to share a school
  counselor.
         (c-8)  Subsection (c-7) and this subsection expire September
  1, 2025.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter F, Chapter 48, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 48.2641 to read as follows:
         Sec. 48.2641.  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 the number of certified school counselors
  required by Section 33.002.
         (b)  The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to
  administer this section.
         SECTION 3.  This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024
  school year.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the
  last day of the legislative session.