New bill proposes taxes to support counseling services

A new bill introduced to the California Assembly aims to get counselors into all public schools. To fund the counseling services, the bill proposes an additional tax on gun and ammunition sales.

Assemblymember Jim Cooper said the focus is “recognizing children in need of invention early on.”

This bill would put school counselors into all public middle schools and high schools. Not all schools currently have them. The counselors would look for early warning signs of threats.

The bill would not ban guns or ammunition, but would tax them.

“It’s a small price to pay,” said Cooper.

“I think it’s a good thing, especially with students’ mental challenges. The money also has to come from somewhere,” said CVHS counselor Amanda Maloney.