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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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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, |
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State Senior 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 workforce |
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[vocational] training for individuals over the age of 18 who cannot |
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qualify scholastically for college entrance and for other persons |
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who desire to avail themselves of short intensive courses in |
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workforce training [vocational education in the following |
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fields: agriculture, home management, distributive education, |
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photography, plumbing, sheet metal work, machine shop, auto |
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mechanics, furniture, electrical appliances, air conditioning and |
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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 training [in |
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these subjects] shall be designed to lead to an occupational skills |
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award, a level one certificate, or a level two certificate, as |
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defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board [organized |
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so that the courses may be completed in from 9 to 24 months. Courses |
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may also be offered in English and mathematics and other subjects |
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which will contribute to the vocational training of the student. |
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Vocational courses in government, designed to prepare workers in |
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various county, city, and state offices, may also be offered]. |
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(d) In making funding recommendations for the college under |
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Section 61.059, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall |
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recommend that the college be funded in the same manner as a public |
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state college, as defined by Section 61.003 [The rate of tuition |
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charged students shall be the actual cost of teaching service, not |
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to exceed $500 per scholastic year of nine months. Scholarships may |
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be awarded by the board to worthy indigent students who might |
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greatly benefit from the training offered. The amount of the |
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scholarships may vary according to the needs of the individuals, |
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but in no case may it reduce the tuition payment by the student to a |
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point less than the tuition fee regularly charged students at the |
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state senior 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. |