BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 798

By: Middleton

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Many public school districts include classroom teaching experience among requirements to become a certified school counselor. These requirements have created an unnecessary barrier to entry for prospective school counselors. S.B. 798 seeks to prohibit the inclusion of a requirement that a candidate have experience as a classroom teacher as a qualification for certification as a school counselor.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the State Board for Educator Certification in SECTION 2 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 798 amends the Education Code to prohibit the qualifications for certification as a school counselor from including a requirement that a candidate for certification have experience as a classroom teacher. The bill requires the State Board for Educator Certification, not later than January 1, 2024, to propose any rules necessary to implement the prohibition.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.