| 1 | 1 | | 89R12802 KJE-D |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | By: Schwertner S.B. No. 1878 |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | AN ACT |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | relating to the Polytechnic College at Sam Houston State |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | University, including the college's eligibility to participate in |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | certain programs. |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | SECTION 1. Section 96.63, Education Code, is amended to |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | read as follows: |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | Sec. 96.63. POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE [JOSEY SCHOOL OF VOCATIONAL |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | EDUCATION]. (a) The Polytechnic College [Josey School of |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | Vocational Education] is a division of Sam Houston State University |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | and is under the direction and control of the Board of Regents, |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | State Senior Colleges. |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | (b) The administration of the college [school] is under the |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | direction of the president of Sam Houston State University. |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | (c) The college [school] shall provide workforce |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | [vocational] training for individuals over the age of 18 who cannot |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | qualify scholastically for college entrance and for other persons |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | who desire to avail themselves of short intensive courses in |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | workforce training [vocational education in the following |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | fields: agriculture, home management, distributive education, |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | photography, plumbing, sheet metal work, machine shop, auto |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | mechanics, furniture, electrical appliances, air conditioning and |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | refrigeration, printing, radio, garment making, interior |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | decorating, light construction contracting, photoengraving, |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | watchmaking, and other trades of like nature]. The training [in |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | these subjects] shall be designed to lead to an occupational skills |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | award, a level one certificate, or a level two certificate, as |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board [organized |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | so that the courses may be completed in from 9 to 24 months. Courses |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | may also be offered in English and mathematics and other subjects |
|---|
| 38 | 38 | | which will contribute to the vocational training of the student. |
|---|
| 39 | 39 | | Vocational courses in government, designed to prepare workers in |
|---|
| 40 | 40 | | various county, city, and state offices, may also be offered]. |
|---|
| 41 | 41 | | (d) In making funding recommendations for the college under |
|---|
| 42 | 42 | | Section 61.059, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall |
|---|
| 43 | 43 | | recommend that the college be funded in the same manner as a public |
|---|
| 44 | 44 | | state college, as defined by Section 61.003 [The rate of tuition |
|---|
| 45 | 45 | | charged students shall be the actual cost of teaching service, not |
|---|
| 46 | 46 | | to exceed $500 per scholastic year of nine months. Scholarships may |
|---|
| 47 | 47 | | be awarded by the board to worthy indigent students who might |
|---|
| 48 | 48 | | greatly benefit from the training offered. The amount of the |
|---|
| 49 | 49 | | scholarships may vary according to the needs of the individuals, |
|---|
| 50 | 50 | | but in no case may it reduce the tuition payment by the student to a |
|---|
| 51 | 51 | | point less than the tuition fee regularly charged students at the |
|---|
| 52 | 52 | | state senior colleges]. |
|---|
| 53 | 53 | | SECTION 2. Section 56.401(2), Education Code, is amended to |
|---|
| 54 | 54 | | read as follows: |
|---|
| 55 | 55 | | (2) "Eligible institution" means: |
|---|
| 56 | 56 | | (A) a public junior college; |
|---|
| 57 | 57 | | (B) a public technical institute; [or] |
|---|
| 58 | 58 | | (C) a public state college; or |
|---|
| 59 | 59 | | (D) the Polytechnic College at Sam Houston State |
|---|
| 60 | 60 | | University. |
|---|
| 61 | 61 | | SECTION 3. Section 61.09092(a), Education Code, is amended |
|---|
| 62 | 62 | | to read as follows: |
|---|
| 63 | 63 | | (a) In this section, "lower-division institution of higher |
|---|
| 64 | 64 | | education" means a public junior college, public state college, or |
|---|
| 65 | 65 | | public technical institute and the Polytechnic College at Sam |
|---|
| 66 | 66 | | Houston State University. |
|---|
| 67 | 67 | | SECTION 4. Section 61.881(2), Education Code, is amended to |
|---|
| 68 | 68 | | read as follows: |
|---|
| 69 | 69 | | (2) "Lower-division institution of higher education" |
|---|
| 70 | 70 | | means a public junior college, public state college, or public |
|---|
| 71 | 71 | | technical institute and the Polytechnic College at Sam Houston |
|---|
| 72 | 72 | | State University. |
|---|
| 73 | 73 | | SECTION 5. The change in law made by this Act to Section |
|---|
| 74 | 74 | | 56.401(2), Education Code, applies beginning with grants awarded |
|---|
| 75 | 75 | | under the Texas Educational Opportunity Grant Program for the 2026 |
|---|
| 76 | 76 | | fall semester. Grants awarded under the Texas Educational |
|---|
| 77 | 77 | | Opportunity Grant Program for an academic term before that semester |
|---|
| 78 | 78 | | are governed by the law in effect immediately before the effective |
|---|
| 79 | 79 | | date of this Act, and the former law is continued in effect for that |
|---|
| 80 | 80 | | purpose. |
|---|
| 81 | 81 | | SECTION 6. The change in law made by this Act to Section |
|---|
| 82 | 82 | | 61.881(2), Education Code, applies beginning with grants awarded |
|---|
| 83 | 83 | | under the Texas Reskilling and Upskilling through Education (TRUE) |
|---|
| 84 | 84 | | Program for the 2025 fall semester. |
|---|
| 85 | 85 | | SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
|---|