§16-22-18. Annual stipend or supplement for certified counselors.

(a) Public elementary and secondary school counselors who were certified as nationally certified school counselors by the National Board for Certified Counselors prior to January 1, 2003, shall receive the same annual stipend or supplement as is provided for public school counselors who have received certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. The annual budget act for public education shall contain an appropriation of at least five thousand dollars ($5,000) for each qualified public school counselor certified by the National Board for Certified Counselors. Nothing in this section shall imply or be interpreted as a right to additional compensation for any prior school year.

(b) Effective in 2013, upon certificate renewal, all public elementary and secondary school counselors meeting the qualifying criteria as set forth in this section shall obtain school counseling certification by the NBPTS or forfeit their annual stipend.

(Act 2006-507, p. 1150, §§1-3.)