PRINTER'S NO. 2115
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1622
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY THOMAS, KENYATTA, McCLINTON, HOHENSTEIN, FRANKEL,
ULLMAN, DAY, DiGIROLAMO, McNEILL, HILL-EVANS, T. DAVIS,
SCHLOSSBERG, DeLUCA, SCHROEDER, O'MARA, NEILSON, STEPHENS,
SHUSTERMAN, DAWKINS, DONATUCCI, FREEMAN, SAPPEY, CALTAGIRONE,
OTTEN, DALEY, TOOHIL, RADER, BROOKS, MIHALEK, MADDEN,
BULLOCK, GALLOWAY, KINSEY, JOHNSON-HARRELL, MALAGARI, WARREN,
BURGOS, POLINCHOCK, HANBIDGE, ISAACSON, MURT, KIM, FIEDLER,
ROZZI AND HELM, JUNE 12, 2019
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JUNE 12, 2019
AN ACT
Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
act relating to the public school system, including certain
provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
laws relating thereto," in preliminary provisions, providing
for study of school mental health professionals.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
section to read:
Section 128. Study of School Mental Health Professionals.
(a) The department shall conduct a study of public schools
regarding school mental health professionals, which shall
include the following:
(1) The number of full-time and part-time school counselors,
school social workers and school psychologists in each school in
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
this Commonwealth.
(2) In each school in this Commonwealth, the ratio of
students to:
(i) school counselors;
(ii) school social workers; and
(iii) school psychologists.
(3) Whether a school counselor, school social worker or
school psychologist is providing counseling assistance to more
than one school.
(4) The nationally accepted ratios of students to:
(i) school counselors;
(ii) school social workers; and
(iii) school psychologists.
(5) Recommendations regarding how a school can increase the
number of school counselors, school social workers and school
psychologists to meet the nationally accepted ratios.
(b) The department shall prepare a report based on the study
conducted under subsection (a) and shall submit the report by
December 21, 2021, to the chairperson and the minority
chairperson of the Education Committee of the Senate and the
chairperson and minority chairperson of the Education Committee
of the House of Representatives.
(c) As used in this section, the following words and phrases
shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless
the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Department." The Department of Education of the
Commonwealth.
"School counselor." A person licensed and certified by the
Commonwealth as a school counselor and hired to provide
individual or group counseling assistance to students in the
20190HB1622PN2115 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
elementary, middle or high school grades.
"School psychologist." A person licensed and certified by
the Commonwealth as a school psychologist and hired to provide
individual or group counseling assistance to students in the
elementary, middle or high school grades.
"School social worker." A person licensed and certified by
the Commonwealth as a school social worker and hired to provide
individual or group counseling assistance to students in the
elementary, middle or high school grades.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20190HB1622PN2115 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10