Legislative pRIORITIES

  FEBRUARY 2025

 Legislative NEWS ALERT

  LSSSCA Champions Accountability and Transparency for School Counselors' Time

We are excited to announce that Rep. Mary Gonzalez has filed LSSSCA’s bill for the 89th                  Legislative Session, HB 3024. This important legislation aims to bring greater accountability and      transparency to how school counselors allocate their time. The bill will require the Texas                  Academic Performance Report (TAPR) to include key data points on school counseling activities,      specifically: 

• The number of school counselors at each campus.

• The average number of hours spent by counselors on: 

• Findings and conclusions from the district’s compliance assessment with its counseling policy.

  HB 3024 will take effect in the 2025-2026 school year. If the bill receives a two-thirds vote in            both legislative houses, it will take immediate effect; otherwise, it will become law on                      September 1, 2025.

  Here is a flyer outlining HB 3024.

  Stay tuned for further updates on the progress of HB 3024 as it moves through the legislative          process. We’ll also keep you posted on any CALLS TO ACTION to support Rep. Gonzalez and            help ensure this priority bill reaches the Governor’s desk.

 Legislative pRIORITIES

  LSSSCA’s lobby team, Eric Wright & Associates, is currently tracking approximately 100 bills that      may affect or be of interest to school counselors. Below are brief summaries and links to our          top legislative priorities.

  HB 462 - Relating to the armed security officers required to be present at public schools        and the permissible uses of the school safety allotment and the creation of a mental              health allotment under the Foundation School Program.

  HB 1122 - Relating to the employment of certified school counselors by school districts.

  SB 559 (HB 1122)- Relating to the employment of certified school counselors by school          districts.

  HB 1129- Relating to the eligibility of mental health professionals for the Homes for                Texas Heroes home loan program.

  HB 1727- Relating to social workers employed by school districts.

  HB1728- Relating to creating a mental health allotment under the Foundation School              Program.

  Click here to view the full list of all tracked bills.

FEBRUARY 2024

SB 763 AND TX SCHOOL COUNSELORS- UPDATE

SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE EXAMINING THE LEGISLATION AND REVIEWING OPTIONS.  SOME HAVE ALREADY ACTED.

SB 763 was effective September 1st, and LSSSCA is monitoring the implementation of the legislation.   We are seeing school districts around the state beginning to examine the legislation, review options, develop potential implementation plans, and much more.  A handful of districts have already voted on resolutions in favor of bringing chaplains onto school campuses.  

LSSSCA is tracking district implementation.  Keep up with the districts that have acted by clicking here.

WANT TO GET INVOLVED IN THE CHAPLAIN DISCUSSION?

We encourage our members to monitor your respective school board’s meeting schedules and agendas.  If you wish to engage on the issue and/or to provide public comment at a school board meeting, LSSSCA recommends that we continue to remind school board members and the public of the qualifications of our school counselors, and the differences in the qualifications between school counselors and chaplains – they do not line up.  Below are some key points to make as you engage in this discussion:   

• school counselors have master’s degrees;
• school counselors are licensed and certified; and school counselors are educators;
• school counselors are trained in child development and counseling; 
• school counselors serve as the mental health professional that works with every student on campus; and
• Chaplains should work alongside school counselors.

NOVEMBER 2023

END OF SESSION REPORT

LSSSCA’s lobby team, Eric Wright & Associates, summarized the key legislation including appropriation in an 88th Regular Session, End of Session Report.

Read the Report

JUNE 2023

SB 763 and Texas School Counselors

SB 763 was filed during the most recent legislative session.  It included language giving districts permission to hire chaplains for school counselor positions, as filed, it read:

(d)  Notwithstanding Subsections (b) and (c) or any other law, a school district may employ a chaplain instead of a school counselor to perform the duties required of a school counselor under this title. A chaplain employed under this subsection is not required to be certified by the State Board for Educator Certification.

LSSSCA immediately launched an advocacy campaign directed to the members of the Senate Education Committee and the full Senate with the following message:

The Lone Star State School Counselor Association urges you to vote no to SB 763.  If passed, this bill would allow school districts to hire chaplains to fill the role of the school counselor.  School counselors are uniquely qualified and solely eligible to meet the requirements of designing and implementing school counseling programs. They deliver direct and indirect services that support academic, career and social/emotional development and positively affect achievement for all students.  Chaplains who do not possess the academic and professional credentials of a school counselor, even with the best intention, may provide inappropriate responses or interventions to students that could jeopardize students’ development and well-being.

School counselors are qualified to deliver school counseling curriculum to all students that focuses on prevention and early intervention.  They are uniquely trained to identify students who may require more intensive services. These services all contribute to a safe and healthy school climate and would be a better investment of the school safety allotment.  Chaplains or any other individuals without school counselor credentials are not positioned to have an impact on school safety and cannot provide the necessary support for all students.

Thank you for your support for school counseling and for the best possible outcomes for all students.

Many LSSSCA members participated in this campaign.  More than 230 messages were sent to legislators.  As a result of this effort, the bill was amended.  The original language  regarding hiring chaplains in a school counselor role was replaced with the paragraph below: 

A school district or an open-enrollment charter school may employ or accept as a volunteer a chaplain to provide support, services, and programs for students as assigned by the board of trustees of the district or the governing body of the school. A chaplain employed or volunteering under this chapter is not required to be certified by the State Board for Educator Certification.

The entire bill and its activity and amendments can be found here:  https://legiscan.com/TX/bill/SB763/2023

LSSSCA advocacy is ongoing to protect school counseling and students.  You’re encouraged to stay connected to the association to see how you can participate in future advocacy efforts.