79R4674 SGA-D

By:  Seliger                                                      S.B. No. 953



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to an energy-efficient building program.                             
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subtitle D, Title 16, Property Code, is amended 
by adding Chapter 431 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 431. ENERGY-EFFICIENT BUILDING PROGRAM
	Sec. 431.001.  DEFINITION.  In this chapter, "National 
Housing Act" means Section 203(b), (i), or (k) of the National 
Housing Act (12 U.S.C. Sections 1709(b), (i), and (k)).
	Sec. 431.002.  ENERGY-EFFICIENT BUILDING ACCREDITATION 
PROGRAM.  (a)  The commission, in consultation with the Energy 
Systems Laboratory at the Texas Engineering Experiment Station of 
The Texas A&M University System, the Texas Commission on 
Environmental Quality, and an advisory committee appointed by the 
commission, may establish an energy-efficient building 
accreditation program for buildings that exceed the building energy 
performance standards under Section 388.003, Health and Safety 
Code, by 15 percent or more.
	(b)  If the commission establishes a program under this 
chapter, the commission, in consultation with the Energy Systems 
Laboratory, shall update the program on or before December 1 of each 
even-numbered year using the best available energy-efficient 
building practices.
	(c)  If the commission establishes a program under this 
chapter, the program must include a checklist system to produce an 
energy-efficient building scorecard to help:
		(1)  home buyers compare potential homes and, by 
providing a copy of the completed scorecard to a mortgage lender, 
qualify for energy-efficient mortgages under the National Housing 
Act; and
		(2)  communities qualify for emissions reduction 
credits by adopting codes that meet or exceed the energy-efficient 
building or energy performance standards established under Chapter 
388, Health and Safety Code.
	Sec. 431.003.  PUBLIC INFORMATION PROGRAM.  The commission 
may establish a public information program to inform homeowners, 
sellers, buyers, and others regarding energy-efficient building 
ratings.
	Sec. 431.004.  MEASUREMENT SYSTEM FOR REDUCTION IN ENERGY 
AND EMISSIONS.  If the commission establishes a program under this 
chapter, the Energy Systems Laboratory shall establish a system to 
measure the reduction in energy and emissions produced under the 
energy-efficient building program and report those savings to the 
commission.
	Sec. 431.005.  CERTIFICATION FEE.  If the commission 
establishes a program under this chapter, the commission may set a 
certification fee sufficient to cover the cost of administering the 
program and pay for any education efforts conducted under this 
chapter.
	SECTION 2.  Section 388.009, Health and Safety Code, as 
added by Section 17, Chapter 1331, Acts of the 78th Legislature, 
Regular Session, 2003, is repealed.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.