A bill that seeks to provide more counseling services for students at secondary schools passed a Senate committee on March 13.

Senate Bill 150 would double the funding that’s available through the current School Counselor Corps Grant Program, which was created by the Legislature in 2008 to improve counseling services in schools.

The bill, which is sponsored by Democratic Sens. Rachel Zenzinger of Arvada and Nancy Todd of Aurora, would increase school counseling funds that are provided by the State Board of Education to $10 million a year, an increase of $5 million in annual funding.

The bill provides more counseling services — which were cut as part of education budget woes during the recent recession — to students in grade levels 6-12.

The bill now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee.