By Burnam                                             H.B. No. 1842
         76R2751 KEL-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to certain requirements applicable to the construction of
 1-3     speculative homes.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Chapter 16, Title 83, Revised Statutes, is
 1-6     amended by adding Article 5221f-2 to read as follows:
 1-7           Art. 5221f-2.  SPECULATIVE HOMES.  (a)  In this section,
 1-8     "speculative home" means a single-family dwelling that is:
 1-9                 (1)  constructed for sale on the open market; and
1-10                 (2)  not constructed for immediate occupancy.
1-11           (b)  A speculative home must be constructed so that:
1-12                 (1)  at least one entrance door, whether located at the
1-13     front, side, or back of the building:
1-14                       (A)  is on an accessible route served by a ramp
1-15     or no-step entrance; and
1-16                       (B)  has a net clear opening of at least 32
1-17     inches;
1-18                 (2)  on the first floor of the building:
1-19                       (A)  each interior door has a net clear opening
1-20     of at least 32 inches, unless the door provides access only to a
1-21     closet of fewer than 15 square feet in area;
1-22                       (B)  each hallway has a width of at least 36
1-23     inches and is level, with ramped or beveled changes at each door
1-24     threshold;
 2-1                       (C)  each bathroom wall is reinforced for
 2-2     potential installation of grab bars;
 2-3                       (D)  each electrical panel or breaker box, light
 2-4     switch, or thermostat is not higher than 48 inches above the floor;
 2-5     and
 2-6                       (E)  each electrical plug or other receptacle is
 2-7     at least 15 inches above the floor; and
 2-8                 (3)  each breaker box is located inside the building on
 2-9     the first floor.
2-10           (c)  A person who constructs a speculative home may obtain a
2-11     waiver of the requirement described by Subsection (b)(1)(A) of this
2-12     article if the cost of grading the terrain to meet the requirement
2-13     is prohibitively expensive.  A person must request the waiver from
2-14     the appropriate governmental authority authorized to issue building
2-15     permits or otherwise regulate the construction of buildings in the
2-16     area in which the speculative home is located.
2-17           SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
2-18     to a speculative home for which new construction begins on or after
2-19     the effective date of this Act.  A speculative home for which new
2-20     construction begins before the effective date of this Act is
2-21     covered by the law in effect when the construction began, and the
2-22     former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
2-23           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
2-24           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the
2-25     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-26     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-27     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
 3-1     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.