Lopez Bill Cuts Counselor Ratio To 300-To-1 By 2033-2034

The text as introduced · 1,103 words

89R1080 CXP-D

By: Lopez of Cameron
H.B. No. 1122

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 2033-2034 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 2031-2032 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, 2033.

(b-2) Beginning with the 2029-2030 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, 2031.

(b-3) Beginning with the 2027-2028 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, 2029.

(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, 2027.

(c) Beginning with the 2033-2034 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 2031-2032 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, 2033.

(c-3) Beginning with the 2029-2030 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, 2031.

(c-5) Beginning with the 2027-2028 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, 2029.

(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, 2027.

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. For each school year, from money 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.

SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026

school year.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives

a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as

provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this

Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this

Act takes effect September 1, 2025.