BILL ANALYSIS
By: Puente
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Currently, state agencies and institutions of higher education are required to have the design architect and engineer on a construction project certify to the agency or institution that the project complies with the energy and water conservation design standards required under the Texas Government Code. However, the certification of compliance with applicable energy and water conservation design standards does not always reach the appropriate parties, and the agency or institution for which the project is being constructed may not be the entity with ultimate responsibility. As proposed, HB 3467 requires the conservation design certification to be directed to the appropriate authority, agency, or institution.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
Amends the Government Code to prohibit a state agency or an institution of higher education from beginning construction of a new state building or a major renovation project before the design architect or engineer for the construction or renovation has performed certain acts.
Amends the Government Code to provide that a project analysis consists of certain information required by the code, including necessary funding for life-cycle costing, whole building integrated design, commissioning, and post-occupancy building performance verification and energy-efficient architectural and engineering design alternatives.
Amends the heading of Section 2166.403, Government Code.
Amends the Government Code to require the Texas Building and Procurement Commission (TBPC) or the governing body of the appropriate agency or institution that is undertaking a project otherwise exempt from this chapter under Section 2166.003, during the planning phase of the proposed construction, to present a detailed written evaluation at an open meeting to verify the economic feasibility of certain acts, including using energy-efficient architectural or engineering design alternatives. The bill sets forth requirements for such written evaluations, including, but not limited to, the availability of the written evaluation to the public and a study of economic feasibility.
Amends the Government Code, to redefine "alternative energy."
Amends the Government Code by adding provisions relating to the evaluation of architectural and engineering design alternatives, and sets for the requirements for such evaluation.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2005