HB 196 Summary

• Allocates funding under the Adequate Education Program to school districts with the highest incidences of crime, violence, food stamp participation, and unemployment for employing licensed social workers beginning in the 2012-2013 school year.

• Requires social workers employed with state funds to be appropriately licensed under Mississippi Code Chapter 53, Title 73, work full-time, and spend at least 75% of work time in direct student relationships.

• Establishes a video conferencing program operated by the Department of Human Services employing 10 licensed social workers to provide services to schools throughout the state that do not employ their own social workers.

• Allows school guidance counselors to arrange social worker services via video conferencing when they identify a student crisis or need, with counselors ensuring confidentiality and privacy protections.

• Amends Section 37-151-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, to incorporate social worker funding allocations into the Adequate Education Program formula.