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H. B. No. 1202 *HR26/R2251* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
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To: Education
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Representative Hobgood-Wilkes
HOUSE BILL NO. 1202
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 of 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
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(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; 31
(x) Conflict resolution; and 32
(xi) Professional school counselors must spend a 33
minimum of eighty percent (80%) of their contractual time to the 34
delivery of services to students as outlined by the American 35
School Counselor Association. Delivery of services is the direct 36
service provided to students, parents, school staff and the 37
community which are interaction between professional school 38
counselors and students. These direct services may include the 39
delivery of the following: 40
1. School counseling core curriculum: This 41
curriculum is designed to help students attain the desired 42
competencies and to provide all students with the knowledge, 43
attitudes and skills appropriate for their developmental level. 44
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The school counseling core curriculum is delivered throughout the 45
school's overall curriculum and may be presented by professional 46
school counselors in collaboration with other professional 47
educators and other resources. Collaborative efforts may be 48
implemented to enhance the services provided. 49
2. Individual student planning: Professional 50
school counselors coordinate ongoing systemic activities or 51
individual/group sessions designed to assist students in 52
establishing personal/social goals and developing future career 53
plans. 54
3. Responsive services: Responsive services 55
are designed to meet students' immediate needs and concerns in 56
regard to social/personal issues. Responsive services may include 57
counseling in individual, small-group settings, or crisis 58
responses. 59
4. Indirect Student Services: Indirect 60
services are provided on behalf of students as a result of the 61
school counselors' interactions with others including referrals 62
for additional assistance, consultation and collaboration with 63
parents, teachers, other educators and community organizations. 64
(2) * * * [Deleted] 65
(3) The State Department of Education may adopt regulations 66
regarding the activities of the professional school counselor as 67
are not inconsistent with this section. 68
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ST: School counselors; delete requirement that
counselors abide by American School Counselor
Association Code of Ethics.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 69
and after July 1, 2026. 70