HB59: HB59 Education; state funding for one school counselor for every 250 full-time equivalent students; provide

25 LC 49 2045 House Bill 59 By: Representatives Glaize of the 67th, Evans of the 57th, Gilliard of the 162nd, Paris of the 142nd, and Dawson of the 65th A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Code Section 20-2-182 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to1 program weights to reflect funds for payment of salaries and benefits, maximum class size,2 reporting requirements, and application to specific school year s, so as to provide for state3 funding for one school counselor for every 250 full-time equivalent students; to provide for4 related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal co nflicting laws; and for other5 purposes.6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:7 SECTION 1.8 Code Section 20-2-182 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated , relating to program9 weights to reflect funds for payment of salaries and benefits, maximum class size, reporting10 requirements, and application to specific school years, is amended by revising subsection (c)11 as follows:12 "(c) The program weights for the kindergarten, kindergarten early intervention, primary,13 primary grades early intervention, upper elementary, upper elem entary grades early14 intervention, middle school, and alternative education programs and the program weights15 for the high school programs author ized pursuant to paragraph ( 4) of subsection (b) of16 H. B. 59 - 1 - 25 LC 49 2045 Code Section 20-2-151, when multiplied by the base amount, shall reflect sufficient funds17 to pay the beginning salaries for at least one school counselor for every 450 250 full-time18 equivalent students. Beginning in Fiscal Year 2015 and thereaf ter, the program weights19 for the English for speakers of other languages program and the programs for persons with20 disabilities shall also earn school counselor funding. Further , beginning in Fiscal Year21 2016 and thereafter, the program weights for the program for intellectually gifted students22 and the remedial education program shall also earn school counselor funding. The duties23 and responsibilities for such school counselors shall be establ ished by the state board to24 require a minimum of five of the six full-time equivalent program count segments of the25 counselor's time to be spent counseling or advising students or parents."26 SECTION 2.27 This Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law28 without such approval.29 SECTION 3.30 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.31 H. B. 59 - 2 -