Chapter 71 of the General Laws, as amended by section 219 of chapter 238 of the acts of 2024, is here by further amended by adding the following section:

Section 102. (a) For the purpose of this section, the following terms shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:

“School mental health counselor”, a person licensed or eligible for licensure as a mental health counselor under section 165 of chapter 112.

“School psychologist”, a person licensed or eligible for licensure as a licensed educational psychologist under section 165 of chapter 112 who has been certified as a school psychologist by the department of education.

(b) Subject to appropriation, each public school shall employ school mental health counselors or school psychologist that have been granted by the commissioner a provisional or standard certificate of employment, pursuant to section 38G, for grades 3 to 12. During the school year, a school mental health counselor or school psychologist shall have at least 1 meeting with each student to ensure that the student: (i) is aware the counselor or psychologist is available to them; (ii) becomes familiar with the counselor or psychologist; and (iii) understands that the counselor or psychologist is accessible to them for whenever they may need.