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AN ACT
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relating to the Polytechnic College at Sam Houston State |
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University, including the college's eligibility to participate in |
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certain programs. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 96.63, Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 96.63. POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE [JOSEY SCHOOL OF VOCATIONAL |
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EDUCATION]. (a) The Polytechnic College [Josey School of |
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Vocational Education] is a division of Sam Houston State University |
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and is under the direction and control of the board of regents of |
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the Texas State University System [Board of Regents, State Senior |
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Colleges]. |
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(b) The administration of the college [school] is under the |
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direction of the president of Sam Houston State University. |
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(c) The college [school] shall provide career and technical |
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education [vocational training] for individuals [over the age of 18 |
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who cannot qualify scholastically for college entrance and for |
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other persons] who desire to avail themselves of short intensive |
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courses in career and technical education [vocational education in |
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the following fields: agriculture, home management, distributive |
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education, photography, plumbing, sheet metal work, machine shop, |
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auto mechanics, furniture, electrical appliances, air conditioning |
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and refrigeration, printing, radio, garment making, interior |
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decorating, light construction contracting, photoengraving, |
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watchmaking, and other trades of like nature]. The education |
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[training in these subjects] shall be designed to lead to career and |
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technical education certificates, as defined by the Texas Higher |
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Education Coordinating Board [organized so that the courses may be |
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completed in from 9 to 24 months. Courses may also be offered in |
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English and mathematics and other subjects which will contribute to |
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the vocational training of the student. Vocational courses in |
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government, designed to prepare workers in various county, city, |
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and state offices, may also be offered]. |
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(d) Notwithstanding any other law, the college shall be |
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funded in the same manner as a public state college, as defined by |
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Section 61.003 [The rate of tuition charged students shall be the |
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actual cost of teaching service, not to exceed $500 per scholastic |
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year of nine months. Scholarships may be awarded by the board to |
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worthy indigent students who might greatly benefit from the |
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training offered. The amount of the scholarships may vary |
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according to the needs of the individuals, but in no case may it |
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reduce the tuition payment by the student to a point less than the |
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tuition fee regularly charged students at the state senior |
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colleges]. |
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SECTION 2. Section 56.401(2), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(2) "Eligible institution" means: |
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(A) a public junior college; |
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(B) a public technical institute; [or] |
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(C) a public state college; or |
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(D) the Polytechnic College at Sam Houston State |
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University. |
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SECTION 3. Section 61.09092(a), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) In this section, "lower-division institution of higher |
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education" means a public junior college, public state college, or |
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public technical institute and the Polytechnic College at Sam |
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Houston State University. |
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SECTION 4. Section 61.881(2), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(2) "Lower-division institution of higher education" |
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means a public junior college, public state college, or public |
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technical institute and the Polytechnic College at Sam Houston |
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State University. |
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SECTION 5. The change in law made by this Act to Section |
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56.401(2), Education Code, applies beginning with grants awarded |
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under the Texas Educational Opportunity Grant Program for the 2026 |
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fall semester. Grants awarded under the Texas Educational |
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Opportunity Grant Program for an academic term before that semester |
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are governed by the law in effect immediately before the effective |
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date of this Act, and the former law is continued in effect for that |
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purpose. |
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SECTION 6. The change in law made by this Act to Section |
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61.881(2), Education Code, applies beginning with grants awarded |
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under the Texas Reskilling and Upskilling through Education (TRUE) |
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Program for the 2025 fall semester. |
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SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 3204 was passed by the House on April |
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23, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 137, Nays 7, 3 present, not |
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voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 3204 was passed by the Senate on May |
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12, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: _____________________ |
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Date |
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_____________________ |
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Governor |