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HB1011 • 2026

School counselors; delete requirement of counselors to abide by the American School Counselor Association Code of Ethics.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-9-79, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO DELETE THE PROVISION THAT REQUIRES PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELORS TO ABIDE BY THE AMERICAN SCHOOL COUNSELOR ASSOCIATION CODE OF ETHICS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Education
Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor
Ford (73rd)
Last action
2026-02-03
Official status
Dead
Effective date
July 1, 20

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

School Counselors Can Follow Their Own Ethics Rules

This bill removes the requirement for school counselors to follow the American School Counselor Association's Code of Ethics.

What This Bill Does

  • Removes a rule that requires professional school counselors in Mississippi to follow the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Code of Ethics.

Who It Names or Affects

  • School counselors in Mississippi

Terms To Know

Professional School Counselors
Teachers with special training to help students with their education, personal growth, and career planning.
American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Code of Ethics
Rules that guide how school counselors should behave and make decisions in their work.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass, so it does not change any rules right now.
  • It is unclear what new ethics guidelines or rules might replace the ASCA Code of Ethics if this bill had passed.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/03 (H) Died In Committee

  2. 2026-01-16 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/16 (H) Referred To Education

Official Summary Text

School counselors; delete requirement of counselors to abide by the American School Counselor Association Code of Ethics.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
H. B. No. 1011 *HR26/R906* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR26/R906
PAGE 1 (DJ\KW)

To: Education
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Ford (73rd)

HOUSE BILL NO. 1011

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-9-79, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 1
DELETE THE PROVISION THAT REQUIRES PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELORS 2
TO ABIDE BY THE AMERICAN SCHOOL COUNSELOR ASSOCIATION CODE OF 3
ETHICS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 5
SECTION 1. Section 37-9-79, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 6
amended as follows: 7
37-9-79. (1) Beginning with the 2014-2015 school year, the 8
assignment of K-12 Professional School Counselors to the 9
particular schools within the district shall be at the discretion 10
of the local school board with the following restrictions: 11
(a) No individual shall be employed as a professional 12
school counselor without a minimum of a Master's Degree in 13
Guidance and Counseling, or in an emergency situation, an 14
appropriate certification as determined by the Commission on 15
Teacher and Administrator Education, Certification and Licensure 16
and Development; and 17
(b) Professional school counselors shall provide the 18
following comprehensive counseling services: 19
H. B. No. 1011 *HR26/R906* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R906
PAGE 2 (DJ\KW)
ST: School counselors; delete requirement of
counselors to abide by the American School
Counselor Association Code of Ethics.
(i) Academic and personal/social counseling; 20
(ii) Use multiple student data sources to help 21
students make informed academic and career choices; 22
(iii) Career and educational counseling; 23
(iv) Individual and group counseling 24
(large/small); 25
(v) Crisis intervention and preventive counseling; 26
(vi) Referrals to community agencies; 27
(vii) Educational consultations and collaboration 28
with teachers, administrators, parents and community leaders; 29
(viii) Educational and career placement services; 30
(ix) Follow-up counseling services; and 31
(x) Conflict resolution * * *. 32
* * * 33
( * * *2) The State Department of Education may adopt 34
regulations regarding the activities of the professional school 35
counselor as are not inconsistent with this section. 36
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 37
and after July 1, 2026. 38