Relating to requiring the counties particpating in the QMHP Pilot Program to have at least one qualified mental health professional in each public school in that county.
Summary
HB3507 amends West Virginia’s school counseling statute to create a Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) Pilot Program and to require participating counties to ensure that every public school in those counties has at least one QMHP. The bill defines a QMHP as a person professionally qualified and registered by the West Virginia Board of Examiners in Counseling to provide collaborative mental health services, and it expressly classifies school counselors as QMHPs for purposes of the section. It also authorizes the Board of Examiners in Counseling to hire school counselors who work as QMHPs to serve in schools.
The bill also reinforces and expands existing school counselor duties and training requirements. It restates that county boards must provide counseling services, limits the amount of time school counselors may spend on non-counseling administrative tasks, and requires recurring training on career counseling, academic planning, personal/social counseling, and building/trades and apprenticeship opportunities. The pilot program would involve 10 counties selected by the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education and Accountability (LOCEA), with a report due after two years to evaluate results and determine whether the program should be expanded.
Impact
HB3507 would change state education law by adding a new pilot framework for mental health staffing in public schools and by formally treating school counselors as QMHPs under this section. For participating counties, the bill would create an affirmative obligation to place at least one QMHP in each public school, potentially increasing access to school-based mental health services and changing staffing, contracting, and billing practices. It also preserves county flexibility by allowing contracts with federal and state agencies for billing and by stating that the section does not require a specific level of legislative funding.
Sentiment
The bill appears generally supportive of expanding school-based mental health services and strengthening the role of school counselors, with the sponsor list suggesting broad bipartisan interest in the issue. Because no committee transcript or vote record is provided, there is no documented opposition or recorded floor sentiment in the materials supplied. The overall framing of the bill is constructive and programmatic, focused on service delivery, counselor training, and pilot evaluation rather than controversy.
Contention
The main potential points of contention are likely to be implementation and scope: whether counties can staff every school with a QMHP, how the pilot will be funded, and whether classifying school counselors as QMHPs appropriately reflects their training and licensure. Another possible issue is the bill’s reliance on a pilot program selected by LOCEA, which may raise questions about county selection, administrative burden, and whether the program should be expanded statewide after evaluation. No specific objections are documented in the provided materials.
Making a supplementary appropriation to the Department of Human Services, Bureau for Medical Services – Policy and Programming and State Board of Education – State Department of Education
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8; Title 33; Title 36; Title 49; Title 52; Title 56; Title 63 and Title 68, relative to professional counselors.
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8; Title 33; Title 36; Title 49; Title 52; Title 56; Title 63 and Title 68, relative to professional counselors.