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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: |
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(A) for the purchase of energy efficient |
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residential real property; or |
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(B) for energy efficiency improvements to |
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existing residential housing by incorporating the cost of the |
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improvements into the mortgage. |
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Sec. 2305.102. STUDY REGARDING ENERGY EFFICIENCY |
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INFORMATION ON RESIDENTIAL REAL PROPERTY. (a) The energy office |
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shall conduct a study to examine methods for introducing |
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information into the marketplace about the energy efficiency of |
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residential real 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 state and local agencies involved in residential |
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housing programs, builders, building code organizations, energy |
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efficiency organizations, utilities, real estate agents, lenders, |
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agencies in mortgage markets, and representatives from any other |
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appropriate industries or other interested members of the public, |
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as determined by the energy office. |
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(c) The study shall consider, at a minimum: |
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(1) the establishment of standards for rating the |
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energy efficiency of new and existing residential real property, |
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and for providing information reflecting how that rating would |
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change if certain recommended improvements were made; |
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(2) the establishment of procedures to ensure that new |
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and existing residential real properties can receive an energy |
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efficiency rating in the six months before the time of sale, and |
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that the rating is 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) the inclusion of a field for all residential real |
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property listinqs for certain energy efficiency information, |
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including; |
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(A) past utility bills; |
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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 shall address the question of whether or not |
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introducing information into the marketplace about the energy |
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efficiency of residential real property through whatever methods |
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the advisory committee and the energy office find most promising is |
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likely to increase the average energy efficiency of residential |
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real property in this State. |
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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 other appropriate entities. All state agencies, boards, |
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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 this 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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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |