85R216 KKA-F     By: Lucio III H.B. No. 179       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. (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   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.          (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 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 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.          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 SCHOOL   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 school counselors   required by Section 33.002.          (b)  The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to   administer this section.          SECTION 3.  This Act applies beginning with the 2017-2018   school year.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.