{"Title":"An Act relative to mental health counselors in schools","BillNumber":"H680","DocketNumber":"HD1899","GeneralCourtNumber":194,"PrimarySponsor":{"Id":"EAR1","Name":"Estela A. Reyes","Type":1,"Details":"https://malegislature.gov/api/GeneralCourts/194/LegislativeMembers/EAR1","ResponseDate":"2025-01-09T13:59:45.407"},"Cosponsors":[{"Id":"EAR1","Name":"Estela A. Reyes","Type":1,"Details":"https://malegislature.gov/api/GeneralCourts/194/LegislativeMembers/EAR1","ResponseDate":"2025-01-09T13:59:45.4066667"}],"JointSponsor":null,"BillHistory":"https://malegislature.gov/api/GeneralCourts/194/Documents/H680/DocumentHistoryActions","LegislationTypeName":"Bill","Pinslip":"By Representative Reyes of Lawrence, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 680) of Estela A. Reyes relative to mental health counselors in public schools.  Education.","DocumentText":"\tChapter 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:\r\n\tSection 102. (a) For the purpose of this section, the following terms shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:\r\n\t“School mental health counselor”, a person licensed or eligible for licensure as a mental health counselor under section 165 of chapter 112.\r\n\t“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.\r\n\t(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.\r\n","EmergencyPreamble":null,"RollCalls":[],"Attachments":[],"CommitteeRecommendations":[],"Amendments":[]}