1Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
2act relating to the public school system, including certain
3provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
4schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
5laws relating thereto," in school health services, further 
6providing for definitions; and providing for school 
7counseling services and grant program.

8The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
9hereby enacts as follows:

10Section 1. Section 1401 of the act of March 10, 1949
11(P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is
12amended by adding a clause to read:

13Section 1401. Definitions.--As used in this article--

14* * *

15(13) "School counselor" means a person who holds a valid
16elementary and secondary school counselor certificate issued by
17the Department of Education and is employed by a school district
18or joint school board as a school counselor to provide
19counseling services, including, but not limited to, family and

1academic problems, career planning, course schedules and problem
2solving around course selection and scheduling, conducting
3groups regarding family changes, social skills and other related
4issues, chemical dependency prevention and early intervention
5activities, crisis intervention and mental health counseling.

6Section 2. The act is amended by adding a section to read:

7Section 1402.1. School Counseling Services and Grant
8Program.--(a) Beginning two (2) years after the effective date 
9of this section, every child of school age shall be provided
10with school counseling services by a school counselor. The
11number of pupils under the care of each school counselor shall
12not exceed three hundred seventy-five (375) for kindergarten
13through the eighth grade and three hundred twenty-five (325) for
14the ninth through twelfth grades.

15(b) The Department of Education shall establish and
16administer a program to award grants to school districts for
17hiring and maintaining school counselors in compliance with
18subsection (a). The grants shall be awarded by giving priority
19to school districts with the highest student-to-counselor
20ratios. The grants shall be funded by appropriations and moneys
21made available to the Department of Education. The Department of
22Education shall promulgate regulations to implement this
23subsection.

24Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.