SF 862

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 02/15/2017 10:19am

A bill for an act
relating to education; requiring adequate levels of school counseling services;
appropriating money; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter
121A.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [121A.24] LICENSED SCHOOL COUNSELORS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Counselors. new text end

new text begin A school district shall provide adequate school counseling
services to its students. A school district may directly employ or contract for licensed school
counselors.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Ratio. new text end

new text begin For the 2017-2018 school year and later, the ratio of students to licensed
school counselors must not exceed 400 enrolled students in kindergarten through grade 12
per licensed school counselor. In any year, a school district's ratio may exceed this amount
by up to 20 percent, provided that the five-year average does not exceed the ratio of 400
enrolled students per licensed school counselor.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin School counseling aid. new text end

new text begin A school district is eligible for school counseling aid
equal to $....... times the number of full-time equivalent licensed school counselors employed
or under contract to the school district.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for the 2017-2018 school year and later.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin SCHOOL COUNSELORS; APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2018 and $....... in fiscal year 2019 are appropriated from the general
fund to the commissioner of education for school counseling aid under Minnesota Statutes,
section 121A.24.
new text end