By: Haggerty H.B. No. 2905
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the installation of water conservation systems in Texas
Department of Criminal Justice facilities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 493, Government Code, is amended by
adding Section 493.0101 to read as follows:
Sec. 493.0101. WATER CONSERVATION SYSTEMS FOR CORRECTIONAL
FACILITIES. (a) The department shall contract with a private
vendor, at no cost to the state, to install electronic water
conservation systems on prison toilets, sinks, and showers.
(b) A private vendor contracting with the department under
this section must:
(1) demonstrate that the electronic water
conservation systems used will yield an annual cost savings of at
least 50 percent of the amount of current plumbing operation costs;
(2) have a minimum of five years of verifiable
experience with retrofit installations in correctional facilities;
(3) use technological equipment that has a five-year
history of use in correctional facilities; and
(4) have demonstrable experience with the use and
reuse of gray water.
(c) A contract between the department and a private vendor
under this section must include a provision that will ensure a
budget-neutral or positive fiscal impact on the state.
(d) The department shall contract for the installation of
the conservation systems in at least 15 correctional facilities
designated by the department. In designating a correctional
facility under this subsection, the department shall consider:
(1) the facility where the greatest amount of savings
can be achieved;
(2) the age of the facility; and
(3) the potential operational and security concerns of
the facility.
(e) A private vendor that contracts with the department
under this section may not receive any remuneration under the
contract until cost savings to the state have been verified.
(f) Not later than December 31, 2006, the department shall
submit a progress report to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of
the house of representatives, and the Legislative Budget Board.
The report must include an evaluation of the initial installation
of the water conservation systems, the effectiveness of the
technology used, and the amount of cost savings to the state. The
department may request assistance from the state auditor and the
Legislative Budget Board with the preparation of the report and the
calculation of savings.
SECTION 2. (a) Not later than October 1, 2005, the Texas
Department of Criminal Justice shall submit a request for proposals
from private vendors to provide water conservation systems under
Section 493.0101, Government Code, as added by this Act.
(b) The initial installation of the water conservation
systems described by Subsection (a) of this section shall begin not
later than February 1, 2006, and shall be completed by January 1,
2008.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2005.