Through a unanimous veto override vote on Wednesday, legislation sponsored by State Representative David S. Olsen (R-Downers Grove) that provides transparency and clarity regarding the counselors that work in Illinois schools is one step closer to becoming law.
HB 4514, which received near-unanimous approval in the House and unanimous approval in the Senate earlier this year, seeks to protect the title of “school counselor” by providing that only persons duly licensed and endorsed as a school counselor may use the title in a school setting. “Individuals who do not hold the appropriate credentials and have not had the proper training should not serve in the role of school counselors,” said Olsen. “Parents and students deserve assurances to know that those calling themselves school counselors have had the proper education that meets the requirements of the State Board of Education.”
The bill received an amendatory veto by Governor Rauner in August, who called for a study to determine the labor market impacts of protecting the title of “school counselor.”
With the 107-0 override vote in the House on Wednesday, HB 4514 now moves to the Senate, where a three-fifths override vote would be required for the bill to become law.
