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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to continuing education requirements for public school |
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counselors. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 21.054(f), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(f) Continuing education requirements for a counselor must |
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[provide that not more than 25 percent of training required every |
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five years] include instruction regarding: |
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(1) assisting students in developing high school |
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graduation plans; |
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(2) implementing dropout prevention strategies; |
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(3) informing students concerning: |
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(A) college admissions, including college |
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financial aid resources and application procedures; and |
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(B) career opportunities; |
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(4) counseling students concerning mental health |
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conditions and substance abuse, including through the use of |
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grief-informed and trauma-informed interventions and crisis |
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management and suicide prevention strategies; and |
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(5) effective implementation of a comprehensive |
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school counseling program under Section 33.005. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024 |
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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, 2023. |