HBA-SEP C.S.H.B. 2278 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 2278 By: Carter Energy Resources 4/9/2001 Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The 76th Legislature placed the state energy conservation office (energy office) under the authority of the comptroller of public accounts (comptroller) who then created an advisory committee to make the energy office's programs more responsive and relevant. The committee found that although state agencies are authorized to enter into energy efficiency performance contracts, not one agency has done so. According to the energy office, agencies could save an estimated minimum of $100,000 a day by adopting existing alternatives such as performance contracting. The energy office drafted a mandatory energy efficiency rule for agencies, however, the comptroller's general council determined that the agency's statutory authority should be clarified before the agency could issue such a rule. C.S.H.B. 2278 consolidates the energy management center and the energy office, transfers all functions and activities performed by the General Services Commission that related to energy conservation to the office of the comptroller, and grants the comptroller the rulemaking authority necessary to administer the state energy conservation office programs. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking authority is expressly delegated to the state energy conservation office in SECTION 1 (Section 447.002, Government Code) and to the comptroller of public accounts in SECTION 4 (Section 2305.011, Government Code) of this bill. ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 2278 amends the Government Code to consolidate the energy management center and the state energy conservation office (energy office) and to transfer all functions and activities performed by the General Services Commission (GSC) related to energy conservation to the office of the comptroller of public accounts (comptroller). All money, contracts, leases, rights, and obligations of GSC related to energy conservation are also transferred to the comptroller (SECTION 6). The bill authorizes the comptroller to adopt rules as necessary to administer the energy office programs (Sec. 2305.011). The bill requires the energy office to adopt rules requiring a state agency to implement an energy conservation measure or program in accordance with energy management planning if the measure or program meets the eligibility requirements of provisions regarding energy conservation measures and funding is available (Sec. 447.002). The bill specifies that the energy office is required to semiannually obtain, from each state agency, information relating to the progress each agency has made in reducing energy costs through adherence to energy management planning and to report the information to the Legislative Budget Board (Sec. 447.006). The bill removes provisions regarding energy saving devises or measures. The office is required to provide energy management planning assistance to state agencies in meeting the requirements of provisions regarding energy conservation programs and measures including assistance in scheduling and assigning priorities to implementation plans to ensure that state agencies adopt qualified cost-effective efficiency programs and measures for all state facilities by September 1, 2006 (Sec. 447.010). EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE C.S.H.B. 2278 modifies the original by requiring the state energy conservation office (energy office) to adopt rules requiring a state agency to implement an energy conservation measure or program (measure) and specifying that a measure, before implementation, must meet eligibility requirements for provisions regarding energy conservation measures (447.002). The substitute removes provisions regarding energy saving devices or measures. The substitute requires the energy office to provide energy management planning assistance to state agencies in meeting the requirements of provisions regarding energy conservation programs and measures (Sec. 447.010).