MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Education; Appropriations

By: Representative Stringer

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE PAYMENT OF AN ANNUAL SALARY SUPPLEMENT TO SCHOOL COUNSELORS ACQUIRING THE NATIONAL CERTIFIED SCHOOL COUNSELOR ENDORSEMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. A school counselor employed by a local school board or the State Board of Education as a counselor who acquires the National Certified School Counselor endorsement from the National Board for Certified Counselors shall receive an annual salary supplement in the amount of Six Thousand Dollars ($6,000.00) from the state. If the counselor acquires the endorsement before April 15, the supplement shall be paid beginning with the school year in which the endorsement is received; however, if the endorsement is not received before April 15, the salary supplement shall begin with the school year following the school year during which the endorsement is acquired. The salary supplement shall be in addition to all other compensation to which the counselor is entitled. The counselor shall be reimbursed one (1) time for the actual cost of completing the process of acquiring the National Certified School Counselor endorsement, regardless of whether or not the specific process resulted in the award of the National Certified School Counselor endorsement. Subject to appropriation by the Legislature, the State Department of Education shall pay the salary supplement directly to the local school district. A local school district may not reduce the salary paid to a counselor receiving a salary supplement under this section, and the counselor shall receive any local supplement to which counselors with similar training and experience in that district otherwise are entitled.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1999.