BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 798
	By: Middleton
	Education
	5/26/2023
	Enrolled

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Currently many school districts have classroom teaching requirements to become a school counselor in many public schools. These hiring requirements have created an unnecessary barrier to entry for prospective school counselors.

S.B. 798 would prohibit the inclusion of a requirement that a candidate have experience as a classroom teacher in the hiring process for a school counselor.

S.B. 798 amends current law relating to the certification requirements for a public school counselor.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the State Board for Educator Certification in SECTION 2 of this bill.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, by adding Section 21.0462, as follows:

Sec. 21.0462. QUALIFICATIONS FOR CERTIFICATION AS SCHOOL COUNSELOR. Prohibits the qualifications for certification as a school counselor from including a requirement that a candidate for certification have experience as a classroom teacher.

SECTION 2. Requires the State Board for Educator Certification, as soon as possible after the effective date of this Act but not later than January 1, 2024, to propose any rules necessary to implement Section 21.0462, Education Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2023.