SRC-CTC C.S.S.B. 1331 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 1331
By: Brown, J. E. "Buster"
Natural Resources
4/18/2001
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Recently, the United States Department of Energy published new energy
efficiency standards for clothes-washing machines (machines).  These
federal standards, however, do not address water efficiency.  In Texas,
water conservation and machines that use water efficiently are issues of
increasing importance.  C.S.S.B. 1331 requires the Texas Natural Resource
Conservation Commission to report to the legislature certain information
relating to the water consumption of clothes-washing machines. 

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.  (a) Defines "water consumption
factor." 

(b) 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. 

(c) Requires the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission
(commission), beginning in February 2003, to report certain information to
the legislature in February of each year. 

(d) Requires the commission, by rule, to require appropriate industry trade
associations or other entities to provide the information described by
Subsection (c) to the commission by January 2003, and each January
thereafter. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2001.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

Amends As Filed S.B. 1331 as follows:

SECTION 1.  Removes proposed text pertaining to the definition of "modified
energy factor" and to the prohibition relating to certain clothes-washing
machines.  Adds proposed text pertaining to a report to the legislature on
certain clothes-washing machines. 

Removes proposed SECTIONS 2 - 4.

SECTION 2.  Redesignates SECTION 5 as SECTION 2.