The bill H.618, introduced by Representative McCann, aims to mandate that school counselors dedicate at least 80 percent of their time to providing direct or indirect services to students, aligning with the recommendations of the American School Counselors Association (ASCA). The bill highlights findings from the ASCA National Model and the 2020 ASCA State of the Profession study, which indicate that many school counselors face challenges due to being assigned inappropriate duties that detract from their primary role of supporting students' academic, career, and social-emotional development.

To implement this requirement, the bill introduces new definitions and stipulations regarding the roles of school counselors, including what constitutes direct and indirect services. It specifies that school counselors must spend no more than 20 percent of their time on school support services, which are defined as activities outside the scope of direct or indirect student services. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, ensuring that school counselors can focus more effectively on their essential responsibilities to students.