HB2050 - Relating to the duties of a public school counselor.

  89R10556 AND-F     By: Lopez of Cameron H.B. No. 2050       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the duties of a public school counselor.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Sections 33.006(a) and (b), Education Code, are   amended to read as follows:          (a)  The primary responsibility of a school counselor is to   counsel students to fully develop each student's academic, career,   and  personal[ , and social ] abilities.          (b)  In addition to a school counselor's responsibility   under Subsection (a), the school counselor shall:                (1)  participate in planning, implementing, and   evaluating a comprehensive developmental school counseling   [ guidance ] program to serve all students and to address the special   needs of students:                      (A)  who are at risk of dropping out of school,   becoming substance abusers, participating in gang activity, or   committing suicide;                      (B)   who are at risk of:                             (i)     choosing an unhealthy or inappropriate   solution to a problem; or                             (ii)     engaging in harmful behavior toward   themselves or others;                       (C)   who are in need of modified instructional   strategies; or                       (D)  [ (C) ]  who are gifted and talented, with   emphasis on identifying and serving gifted and talented students   who are educationally disadvantaged;                (2)  consult with a student's parent or guardian and   make referrals as appropriate in consultation with the student's   parent or guardian;                (3)  consult with school staff, parents, and other   community members to help them increase the effectiveness of   student education and promote student success;                (4)  coordinate people and resources in the school,   home, and community;                (5)  with the assistance of school staff, interpret   standardized test results and other assessment data that help a   student make educational and career plans;                (6)  deliver classroom guidance activities or serve as   a consultant to teachers conducting lessons based on the school's   guidance curriculum; and                (7)  serve as an impartial, nonreporting resource for   interpersonal conflicts and discord involving two or more students,   including accusations of bullying under Section 37.0832.          SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026   school year.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives   a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as   provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this   Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this   Act takes effect September 1, 2025.