SRC-SEW H.B. 2403 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterH.B. 2403
By: Lewis, Ron (Brown)
Natural Resources
5/10/2001
Committee Report (Amended)


DIGEST 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. H.B. 2403 requires the Texas
Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) to report to the
legislature on the water consumption factor of all clotheswashing machines
that were imported into this state during the preceding calendar year.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Natural Resources
Conservation Commission in SECTION 1 (Section 372.004, Health and Safety
Code) of this bill.   

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 372, Health and Safety Code, by adding Section
372.004, as follows: 

Sec. 372.004.  REPORT TO LEGISLATURE. Defines "water consumption factor."
Provides that this section does not apply to a clothes-washing machine with
a capacity of more than 3.5 cubic feet or less than 1.6 cubic feet.
Requires the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission (commission)
to report to the legislature not later than February 28 of each year on
certain issues.  Requires the commission by rule to require appropriate
industry trade associations or other entities to provide the information
described by this section to the commission not later than January 31 of
each year. 
 
SECTION 2.  Effective date:  September 1, 2001.  Requires the commission to
submit to the legislature the initial report required by Section
372.004(c), Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act, in February 2003.
Requires appropriate trade associations or other entities to begin
providing information to the commission as required by Section 372.004(d),
Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act, in January 2003.