Public schools; require each school to employ licensed mental health counselor, with whom students shall meet once a year.

S. B. No. 2493 *SS08/R1217* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/SS08/R1217
PAGE 1 (icj\tb)

To: Education;
Appropriations
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Senator(s) Jackson, Gillespie Isom, Pope

SENATE BILL NO. 2493

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-9-79, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 1
REQUIRE EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT TO EMPLOY A LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH 2
COUNSELOR IN EACH SCHOOL; TO REQUIRE ALL STUDENTS TO MEET WITH 3
THEIR SCHOOL'S MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR AT LEAST ONCE PER SCHOOL 4
YEAR; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 6
SECTION 1. Section 37-9-79, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 7
amended as follows: 8
37-9-79. (1) Beginning with the 2014-2015 school year, the 9
assignment of K-12 Professional School Counselors to the 10
particular schools within the district shall be at the discretion 11
of the local school board with the following restrictions: 12
(a) No individual shall be employed as a professional 13
school counselor without a minimum of a Master's Degree in 14
Guidance and Counseling, or in an emergency situation, an 15
appropriate certification as determined by the Commission on 16
Teacher and Administrator Education, Certification and Licensure 17
and Development; and 18
S. B. No. 2493 *SS08/R1217* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS08/R1217
PAGE 2 (icj\tb)

(b) Professional school counselors shall provide the 19
following comprehensive counseling services: 20
(i) Academic and personal/social counseling; 21
(ii) Use multiple student data sources to help 22
students make informed academic and career choices; 23
(iii) Career and educational counseling; 24
(iv) Individual and group counseling 25
(large/small); 26
(v) Crisis intervention and preventive counseling; 27
(vi) Referrals to community agencies; 28
(vii) Educational consultations and collaboration 29
with teachers, administrators, parents and community leaders; 30
(viii) Educational and career placement services; 31
(ix) Follow-up counseling services; 32
(x) Conflict resolution; and 33
(xi) Professional school counselors must spend a 34
minimum of eighty percent (80%) of their contractual time to the 35
delivery of services to students as outlined by the American 36
School Counselor Association. Delivery of services is the direct 37
service provided to students, parents, school staff and the 38
community which are interaction between professional school 39
counselors and students. These direct services may include the 40
delivery of the following: 41
1. School counseling core curriculum: This 42
curriculum is designed to help students attain the desired 43
S. B. No. 2493 *SS08/R1217* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS08/R1217
PAGE 3 (icj\tb)

competencies and to provide all students with the knowledge, 44
attitudes and skills appropriate for their developmental level. 45
The school counseling core curriculum is delivered throughout the 46
school's overall curriculum and may be presented by professional 47
school counselors in collaboration with other professional 48
educators and other resources. Collaborative efforts may be 49
implemented to enhance the services provided. 50
2. Individual student planning: Professional 51
school counselors coordinate ongoing systemic activities or 52
individual/group sessions designed to assist students in 53
establishing personal/social goals and developing future career 54
plans. 55
3. Responsive services: Responsive services 56
are designed to meet students' immediate needs and concerns in 57
regard to social/personal issues. Responsive services may include 58
counseling in individual, small-group settings, or crisis 59
responses. 60
4. Indirect Student Services: Indirect 61
services are provided on behalf of students as a result of the 62
school counselors' interactions with others including referrals 63
for additional assistance, consultation and collaboration with 64
parents, teachers, other educators and community organizations. 65
(2) Professional school counselors shall abide by the 66
American School Counselor Association Code of Ethics. 67
S. B. No. 2493 *SS08/R1217* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS08/R1217
PAGE 4 (icj\tb)
ST: Public schools; require each school to
employ licensed mental health counselor, with
whom students shall meet once a year.
(3) The State Department of Education may adopt regulations 68
regarding the activities of the professional school counselor as 69
are not inconsistent with this section. 70
(4) Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, each school 71
district shall employ a licensed mental health counselor in each 72
school. All students shall be required to meet with their 73
school's mental health counselor at least once per school year. 74
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 75
and after July 1, 2026. 76