A Senate committee voted to report House Bill 3209 to the full Senate with the recommendation that it pass. The measure would require each county to employ two school counselors for every 1,000 students in net enrollment while allowing different ratios for elementary, middle and high schools.

Committee counsel summarized the bill for the committee: "This bill requires each county to employ 2 school counselors for each 1,000 students in net enrollment," and noted the bill also provides that the requirement does not increase the number of eligible professional student support personnel positions provided under step 5 of the public school support program.

The bill permits counties to adopt alternative ratios, including a 1-to-400–450 ratio in elementary and middle schools and a 1-to-250–300 ratio in high schools. Committee counsel told members that the requirement is accounted for in the school aid formula but that the formula includes a local share and state aid; if a county already uses its five allotted positions for other professional student support personnel (for example, nurses), the county could be required to cover the additional cost locally.

Senator from Randolph pressed on funding, asking, "So, Hank, who pays for this?" Committee counsel replied that the positions are part of the school aid formula allocation of five positions per 1,000 students and that the local share/state aid split would determine actual local costs.

Vice Chair moved that the committee report the bill to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass, with the original double committee reference first to the committee on finance. The committee adopted the motion by voice vote. No amendments were recorded in the transcript.

The committee action sends the bill to the full Senate for further consideration and to the finance committee as part of the double referral process.