HB 1537 2003
1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to public school personnel; creating s.
3	1012.235, F.S.; requiring the Department of Education to
4	develop a policy that specifies the ratio of school social
5	workers to students and the ratio of school psychologists
6	to students to be maintained in the public schools;
7	requiring reporting; providing an effective date.
8
9	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
10
11	Section 1. Section 1012.235, Florida Statutes, is created
12	to read:
13	1012.235 School social workers and school psychologists.--
14	(1) The Department of Education shall develop a policy
15	that specifies the ratio of school social workers to students
16	and the ratio of school psychologists to students that should be
17	maintained in the public schools based on guidelines provided by
18	the National Association of School Social Workers and the
19	National Association of School Psychologists.
20	(2) The policy shall include the rationale for employing
21	school social workers and school psychologists in the public
22	schools, a statement of the purpose of school social workers and
23	school psychologists, a summary of the current ratios, and
24	proposals to increase the number of school social workers and
25	school psychologists to meet the specified ratios.
26	(3) By January 2004, the department shall provide a copy
27	of the policy to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and
28	the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
29	Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2003.