1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education; requiring a school counselor in every school; appropriating 
1.3 	money;amending Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 121A.39.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 121A.39, is amended to read:
1.6 	121A.39 SCHOOL COUNSELORS.
1.7 	(a) Beginning in the 2019-2020 school year and later, a school district ~~is strongly~~ 
1.8 	~~encouraged to have an adequate student-to-counselor ratio for its students beginning in the~~ 
1.9 	~~2015-2016 school year and later~~ must have a school counselor in every district school 
1.10 	building serving students in any grade from kindergarten through grade 12.
1.11 	(b) A school counselor shall assist a student in meeting the requirements for high school 
1.12 	graduation, college and career exploration, and selection, college affordability planning, 
1.13 	and successful transitions into postsecondary education or training.

1.14 	Sec. 2. SCHOOL COUNSELORS; APPROPRIATION.
 1.15 	$....... in fiscal year 2019 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of 
1.16 	education to reimburse school districts for planning, hiring, and training school counselors 
1.17 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 121A.39. The appropriation is available until June 30, 
1.18 	2020. The base appropriation for fiscal year 2020 and later is $.......