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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study of methods for increasing the availability of |
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certain information on energy efficiency of certain residential |
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property. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 2305, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter F to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER F. RESIDENTIAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY STUDY |
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Sec. 2305.101. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Residential real property" means a detached |
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one-family or two-family dwelling. |
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(2) "Energy efficiency mortgage" means a mortgage that |
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provides financing incentives for: |
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(A) the purchase of energy efficient residential |
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real property; or |
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(B) energy efficiency improvements to existing |
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residential housing by incorporating the cost of the improvements |
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into the mortgage. |
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Sec. 2305.102. STUDY: METHODS FOR PROVIDING ENERGY |
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EFFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR RESIDENTIAL REAL PROPERTY. (a) The |
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energy office shall conduct a study to examine methods for |
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introducing information into the residential real property |
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marketplace regarding energy efficiency of residential real |
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property. |
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(b) The energy office shall establish an advisory committee |
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to direct the focus of the study. The advisory committee shall be |
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composed of: |
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(1) state and local government agencies involved in |
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residential housing programs; |
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(2) builders; |
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(3) organizations that develop and adopt uniform |
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building codes; |
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(4) organizations that study and develop techniques |
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and standards to enhance energy efficiency; |
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(5) utilities; |
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(6) real estate agents; |
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(7) mortgage lenders; |
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(8) financial agencies involved in mortgage markets; |
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and |
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(9) representatives from any other appropriate |
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industry or other interested members of the public, as determined |
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by the energy office. |
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(c) The study shall consider, at a minimum: |
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(1) establishing standards for rating the energy |
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efficiency of new and existing residential real property, and |
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providing information that reflects the manner in which that rating |
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would change if certain recommended improvements were made; |
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(2) establishing procedures to ensure that new and |
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existing residential real properties can receive an energy |
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efficiency rating in the six months before the time of sale and that |
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any rating performed may be communicated to potential buyers; |
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(3) possible methods for creating incentives for the |
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growth and development of the market for home energy ratings; |
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(4) including a dedicated field in residential real |
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property listings to allow for the provision of certain information |
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regarding the energy efficiency of the residence, including: |
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(A) past utility bills; or |
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(B) an energy efficiency rating; |
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(5) possible methods for delivering energy efficiency |
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mortgages to the buyers of properties that meet a minimum standard |
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for energy efficiency; and |
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(6) creating public awareness of the energy efficiency |
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rating system and the availability of energy efficiency mortgages. |
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(d) The study must: |
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(1) address the question of whether introducing |
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information into the marketplace regarding energy efficiency of |
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residential real property through the method the advisory committee |
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and the energy office determine most promising is likely to |
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increase the average energy efficiency of residential real property |
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in this state; and |
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(2) specify any statutory changes the advisory |
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committee and the energy office determine are necessary to achieve |
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a particular result. |
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(e) To obtain information to conduct the study, the advisory |
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committee or the energy office may contract with appropriate |
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organizations, public or private institutions of higher education, |
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and any other appropriate entities. State agencies, boards, and |
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commissions and institutions of higher education shall comply with |
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requests from the energy office for information or assistance in |
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conducting the study. |
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(f) The energy office shall report to the governor, the |
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lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of |
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representatives on the study and its results not later than October |
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1, 2008. |
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Sec. 2305.103. EXPIRATION. This subchapter expires August |
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31, 2009. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |