HBA-SEP C.S.H.B. 2403 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 2403
By: Lewis, Ron
Natural Resources
4/22/2001
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The United States Department of Energy recently published new energy
efficiency standards for clotheswashing machines (machines).  These federal
standards, however, do not address water efficiency.  In Texas, water
conservation has emerged as an important issue and machines that use water
inefficiently contribute to the problem.  C.S.H.B. 2403 requires the Texas
Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) to report to the
legislature on the water consumption factor of all clothes-washing machines
that were imported into this state during the preceding calendar year. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority is expressly delegated to the Texas Natural Resource Conservation
Commission in SECTION 1 (Section 372.004, Health and Safety Code) of this
bill. 

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2403 amends the Health and Safety Code to require the Texas
Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC), beginning in February,
2003, to report to the legislature in January of each year on the number of
clothes-washing machines with a water consumption factor of more than 11,
more than 9.5 but not more than 11, and of 9.5 or less that were imported
into this state during the preceding calendar year and report on the
average water consumption factor of all clothes-washing machines that were
imported into this state during the preceding calendar year.    TNRCC shall
by rule require appropriate industry trade associations or other entities
to provide the information to TNRCC by January 2003, and each January
thereafter.  These provisions do not apply to a clothes-washing machine
with a capacity of more than 3.5 cubic feet or less than 1.6 cubic feet. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 2403 modifies the original by removing the prohibition against the
sale, distribution, or importing of clothes-washing machines for use in
this state unless they meet certain water and energy saving performance
standards.  The substitute removes related labeling requirements for
clothes-washing machines.  The substitute requires the Texas Natural
Resource Conservation Commission  to report to the legislature on the water
consumption factor of all clothes-washing machines that were imported into
this state during the preceding calendar year.