1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education; requiring adequate levels of school counseling services; 
1.3 	appropriating money;proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, 
1.4 	chapter 121A.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [121A.24] LICENSED SCHOOL COUNSELORS.
1.7 		Subdivision 1.Counselors. A school district shall provide adequate school 
1.8 	counseling services to its students. A school district may directly employ or contract 
1.9 	for licensed school counselors.
1.10 		Subd. 2.Ratio. For the 2016-2017 school year and later, the ratio of students to 
1.11 	licensed school counselors must not exceed 400 enrolled students in kindergarten through 
1.12 	grade 12 per licensed school counselor. In any year, a school district's ratio may exceed 
1.13 	this amount by up to 20 percent, provided that the five-year average does not exceed the 
1.14 	ratio of 400 enrolled students per licensed school counselor.
1.15 		Subd. 3.School counseling aid. A school district is eligible for school counseling 
1.16 	aid equal to $....... times the number of full-time equivalent licensed school counselors 
1.17 	employed or under contract to the school district.

1.18 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for the 2016-2017 school year and 
1.19 	later.

1.20 	Sec. 2. SCHOOL COUNSELORS; APPROPRIATION.
 1.21 	$....... in fiscal year 2017 is appropriated from the general fund to the Department of 
1.22 	Education for school counseling aid under Minnesota Statutes, section 121A.24.