Session Laws

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. The definition of "teacher" in section 1 of chapter 32 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 1988 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the word "counsellor", in line 487, the following words:- or school social worker.

SECTION 2. Section 38J of chapter 71 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 1988 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the word "counsellor", in line 1, the following words:- or school social worker.

SECTION 3. Said chapter 71, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out section 46G and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 46G. To facilitate the early detection of children manifesting traits tending toward juvenile delinquency and to assist in the prevention of such children becoming juvenile delinquents, any city or town acting by its school committee and out of funds appropriated for general school purposes, and any regional school district, may employ such number of school adjustment counsellors or school social workers as the school committee, with the written approval of the commissioner of youth services, shall deem necessary. Each such school adjustment counsellor or school social worker shall be responsible for (a) counselling and helping children in the primary, elementary and secondary grades who are neglected, maladjusted, emotionally disturbed, neurotic or otherwise potentially delinquent and are referred to him by a teacher, principal or other school personnel, (b) cooperating with teachers, principals and all other school personnel in assisting and readjusting such children, (c) establishing helpful and kindly relationships with the home for the purpose of assisting parents to improve spiritual, moral, economic, physical or social conditions that threaten the welfare of the child and of society, (d) enlisting the interest and the help of clergymen and other local leaders and officials in a mutual community effort to save children from delinquency, and (e) serving as a referral agent to obtain necessary aid from specialized public or private organizations in serious cases which appear to be beyond the resources of the community. No person shall be employed under this section unless his professional and personal qualifications have been approved by the commissioner of education and the commissioner of youth services. If said commissioner of education or said commissioner of youth services disapproves the qualifications of such person, he shall state in writing his reasons. A school adjustment counsellor or school social worker employed pursuant to this section may be employed on a full-time or part-time basis as the school committee shall determine. Expenses incurred under the provisions of this section shall be reimbursable under chapter seventy.

SECTION 4. Section 22E of chapter 74 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 1988 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the second sentence and inserting in place thereof the following sentence:- The provisions of this section shall apply to school librarians, school psychologists, school adjustment counselors, and school social workers entitled to tenure pursuant to the provisions of chapter seventy-one.