HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 443        FILED ON: 1/9/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 716

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Joshua Tarsky

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to improving mental health in schools.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Joshua Tarsky

13th Norfolk

1/9/2025


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 443        FILED ON: 1/9/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 716

By Representative Tarsky of Needham, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 716) of Joshua Tarsky for legislation to authorize schools to employ school adjustment counselors.  Education.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

_______________

 

An Act relative to improving mental health in schools.

 

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. Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 102. (a) A school shall employ a minimum number, as determined by the department pursuant to subsection (b), of school adjustment counselors, certified by the commissioner pursuant to section 38G.

(b) The department shall promulgate regulations, pursuant to chapter 30A, which shall include criteria for the minimum number of school adjustment counselors that a school shall employ, which shall include: (i) the number of students enrolled in the school; (ii) whether the school has Title I status; and (iii) any mitigating circumstances as detailed by the school committee.

(c) For schools without sufficient funds to meet the requirements of subsection (a), the department shall provide funding for the additional required school adjustment counselors.

SECTION 2. Not later than February 1, 2026, the department of elementary and secondary education shall promulgate any regulations necessary to implement section 102 of chapter 71 of the General Laws, inserted by section 1.

SECTION 3. Section 1 shall take effect on August 1, 2026.