83R454 KKA-F
 
  By: Lucio III H.B. No. 282
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the employment of certified 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 COUNSELOR. (a)  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 42.2519 [This section
  applies only to a school district that receives funds as provided by
  this subsection].
         (b)  A school district with 300 [500] or more students in
  enrollment [enrolled in elementary school grades] shall employ a
  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 counselor for every 300
  [500 elementary school] students in the district.
         (c)  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 counselor certified under
  the rules of the State Board for Educator Certification;
               (2)  employing a part-time teacher certified as a
  counselor under 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 counselor
  certified under the rules of the State Board for Educator
  Certification.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter E, Chapter 42, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 42.2519 to read as follows:
         Sec. 42.2519.  ADDITIONAL STATE AID FOR CERTIFIED
  COUNSELORS. (a)  For each school year, from funds 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 counselors required
  by Section 33.002.
         (b)  The amount of state aid to which a school district is
  entitled under this section is in addition to the amount of revenue
  to which the district is entitled under Section 42.2516(b). This
  subsection expires September 1, 2017.
         (c)  The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to
  administer this section.
         SECTION 3.  This Act applies beginning with the 2013-2014
  school year.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.