NY State Senate Bill S5699

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Education Committee

Introduced
In Committee
On Floor Calendar
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
Delivered to Governor
Signed/Vetoed by Governor

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Actions

view actions (2)

	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 08, 2020	referred to education
May 13, 2019	referred to education

Co-Sponsors

S5699 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A2709
Current Committee:: Senate Education
Law Section:: Education Law
Laws Affected:: Add §803-b, Ed L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2009-2010: A4183
2011-2012: A888
2013-2014: A2981
2015-2016: A5131
2017-2018: S8169, A3584
2021-2022: S831

S5699 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Requires at least one full-time guidance counselor to be employed in each elementary, intermediate, middle, junior and senior high school throughout the state; sets duties of guidance counselors.

S5699 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

 
BILL NUMBER: S5699

SPONSOR: GOUNARDES
 
TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the education law, in relation to
requiring a guidance counselor in each elementary, intermediate, middle,
junior high and senior high school

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS::

This bill adds a new section 803-b to the Education Law to require at
least one full-time certified or licensed school guidance counselor in
any elementary, intermediate, middle or junior high school exclusive of
any school guidance counselors funded or mandated through special educa-
tion funding, aid, regulation, or statute and delineates some of their
responsibilities.

Section 2 establishes that this act shall take effect immediately.

 
JUSTIFICATION::

Schoolchildren in New York face numerous challenges both in and out of

the classroom everyday. Today's children face a challenging urban envi-
ronment with dwindling guidance services that were routinely available
years ago. Violence on the playground and the street can be a common-
place reminder of abuse, both physical and emotional; that children
might be subject to at home. For many children it can be a struggle to
reach their potential academically, socially and emotionally. School
guidance counselors are prepared to assist students to address and
combat these challenges in a successful and positive way. In many cases
guidance counselors can intervene early and help the student get the
support services needed to prevent any further hindrance to their
success. It is a sad reality that many children do not receive the early
intervention needed to prevent long-term problems and are often unneces-
sarily and inappropriately referred to special education. With the aid
of a school guidance counselor, many long-term problems can be averted.

There are some school districts in New York State that fund not even one
school guidance counselor in the entire district, with the exception of
guidance counselors mandated for special education. In order for schools
to have an effective guidance program that meets the needs of their
large, diverse student populations, each school must be adequately
staffed by at least one certified or licensed school guidance counselor.
This legislation would provide that.

 
LEG HISTORY:

2018: S8169 Hamilton - referred to Education

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS::

TBD

 
EFFECTIVE DATE::

This act shall take effect immediately.

S5699 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf


                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  5699

                       2019-2020 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                              May 13, 2019
                               ___________

Introduced by Sen. GOUNARDES -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
  printed to be committed to the Committee on Education

AN  ACT  to amend the education law, in relation to requiring a guidance
  counselor in each elementary, intermediate, middle,  junior  high  and
  senior high school

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section  803-b
to read as follows:
  §  803-B. FULL-TIME SCHOOL GUIDANCE COUNSELORS REQUIRED IN ELEMENTARY,
INTERMEDIATE, MIDDLE, JUNIOR HIGH AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS.  THE BOARD OF
EDUCATION OR TRUSTEES OF EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE STATE SHALL ON AND
AFTER JULY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY EMPLOY AT LEAST ONE  CERTIFIED  OR
LICENSED  SCHOOL  GUIDANCE  COUNSELOR IN EACH OF THE SCHOOLS UNDER THEIR
JURISDICTION EXCLUSIVE OF  ANY  SCHOOL  GUIDANCE  COUNSELORS  FUNDED  OR
MANDATED THROUGH ANY SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING, AID, REGULATION OR STAT-
UTE.    SUCH SCHOOL GUIDANCE COUNSELOR SHALL PERFORM SUCH DUTIES INCLUD-
ING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO:  COORDINATING WITH THE INSTRUCTIONAL  STAFF  TO
PREPARE  STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE EFFECTIVELY IN THEIR CURRENT AND FUTURE
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS,  HELPING  STUDENTS  WHO  EXHIBIT  ANY  ATTENDANCE,
ACADEMIC, BEHAVIORAL OR ADJUSTMENT PROBLEMS, EDUCATING STUDENTS CONCERN-
ING  AVOIDANCE  OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE, AND ENCOURAGING PARENTAL INVOLVE-
MENT.
  § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.



 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD07364-01-9

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The New York State Senate

senate Bill S5699

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Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Education Committee

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Co-Sponsors

S5699 (ACTIVE) - Details

S5699 (ACTIVE) - Summary

S5699 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

S5699 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

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senate Bill S5699

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Sponsored By

Andrew Gounardes

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Education Committee

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Co-Sponsors

Gustavo Rivera

S5699 (ACTIVE) - Details

S5699 (ACTIVE) - Summary

S5699 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

S5699 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments