80R4836 JJT-D

By: Straus H.B. No. 3240

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to building energy performance standards.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Sections 388.003(a) and (b), Health and Safety Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) To achieve energy conservation in this state, the State Energy Conservation Office shall adopt an energy code for single-family residential construction and an energy code for all other residential, commercial, and industrial construction. The office shall ensure that the adopted energy codes will result in energy conservation to an extent that meets or exceeds the conservation to be achieved by the codes prescribed by Subsection (b) and shall periodically review and consider for adoption the most recent revision of those codes.

(b) Until the energy codes are revised as provided by Subsection (a):

(1) [single-family residential construction,] the energy efficiency chapter of the International Residential Code, as it existed on May 1, 2001, is adopted as the energy code in this state for single-family residential construction; and

(2) [.

[(b) To achieve energy conservation in all other residential, commercial, and industrial construction,] the International Energy Conservation Code as it existed on May 1, 2001, is adopted as the energy code for use in this state for all other residential, commercial, and industrial construction.

SECTION 2. Section 388.005(c), Health and Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:

(c) Each political subdivision shall establish a goal to reduce the electric consumption by the political subdivision by five percent each year until December 31, 2012 [for five years, beginning January 1, 2002].

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, 2007.