ENROLLED HOUSE
BILL NO. 2641	By:	Denney and Williams of the House

			   and

		Halligan of the Senate

An Act relating to schools; recognizing the impact of certain family and societal issues on students; stating legislative findings relating to student counseling; describing certain counseling curriculum; directing the Office of Juvenile Affairs to identify an evidence-based counseling curriculum and make it available to students; making provision subject to funding; defining term; and providing for codification.

SUBJECT:  Counseling curriculum

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:

SECTION 1.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1210.241 of Title 70, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:

A.  The Legislature recognizes that many students are dealing with family and societal issues that make it difficult or impossible for them to be successful students.  Among other school-based counseling programs, designated youth services agencies provide counseling for those students.  To assure the quality and availability of the counseling services, the Legislature finds that it is desirable that school districts have access to individual and group counseling using an evidence-based counseling curriculum to prevent self-defeating, destructive or disruptive behavior.  The curriculum may include training in problem solving, anger management, grief counseling, responsibility, communication and decision-making skills.

B.  In order to assure the ability of school districts to give their students the best opportunity for academic and personal success, subject to the availability of funds, the Office of Juvenile Affairs, together with the Oklahoma Association of Youth Services, shall identify an evidence-based counseling curriculum.  Subject to the availability of funds, the Office of Juvenile Affairs, through designated youth services agencies, shall make the identified evidence-based counseling available to students in school districts.  

C.  For purposes of this section, “evidence-based” means a program or practice that has had multiple-site randomized controlled trials across heterogeneous populations demonstrating that the program or practice is effective for the population.

Passed the House of Representatives the 7th day of May, 2012.

	
Presiding Officer of the House of
	Representatives

Passed the Senate the 25th day of April, 2012.

	
Presiding Officer of the Senate