HBA-NRS H.B. 2007 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2007 By: Naishtat Public Health 3/21/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Indoor air pollutants, which may include toxic forms of mold, are of increasing concern to the public. Among the major causes of unhealthy indoor air quality in schools are poor facility design, improper ventilation, improperly installed heating and air conditioning systems, water leaks, high humidity, and outgassing of new materials. In 1995, the 74th Texas Legislature passed law authorizing the Texas Board of Health to establish voluntary guidelines for indoor air quality and ventilation in schools. House Bill 2007 establishes mandatory indoor air quality guidelines for newly constructed or substantially renovated schools. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking authority is expressly delegated to the Texas Board of Health in SECTION 1 (Section 385.002, Health and Safety Code) of this bill. ANALYSIS House Bill 2007 amends the Health and Safety Code to require the Texas Board of Health (board) by rule to establish mandatory guidelines for indoor air quality in a public school for which construction or a substantial renovation of the school begins after the date that the board's mandatory guidelines are adopted and take effect. In establishing the guidelines, the bill requires the board to consider certain costs and effects associated with indoor air quality. The bill amends the Education Code to prohibit a school district from using school facilities allotment funds to make payments on bonds issued in connection with the renovation of an instructional facility unless the district obtains a copy of a survey conducted promptly after the renovation is complete that analyzes the facility's overall indoor air quality. A survey is not necessary for a renovation project for which working drawings were completed before the effective date of the Act. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.