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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to an energy-efficient building accreditation program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle D, Title 16, Property Code, is amended |
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by adding Chapter 431 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 431. ENERGY-EFFICIENT BUILDING ACCREDITATION PROGRAM |
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Sec. 431.001. ENERGY-EFFICIENT BUILDING ACCREDITATION |
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PROGRAM. (a) In this section, "National Housing Act" means |
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Section 203(b), (i), or (k) of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. |
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Sections 1709(b), (i), and (k)). |
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(b) The commission, in consultation with the Energy Systems |
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Laboratory at the Texas Engineering Experiment Station of The Texas |
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A&M University System, the Texas Commission on Environmental |
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Quality, and an advisory committee appointed by the commission, may |
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establish an energy-efficient building accreditation program for |
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buildings that exceed the building energy performance standards |
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under Section 388.003, Health and Safety Code, by 15 percent or |
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more. |
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(c) If the commission establishes a program under this |
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chapter, the commission, in consultation with the Energy Systems |
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Laboratory, shall update the program on or before December 1 of each |
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even-numbered year using the best available energy-efficient |
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building practices. |
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(d) If the commission establishes a program under this |
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chapter, the program must include a checklist system to produce an |
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energy-efficient building scorecard to help: |
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(1) home buyers compare potential homes and, by |
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providing a copy of the completed scorecard to a mortgage lender, |
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qualify for energy-efficient mortgages under the National Housing |
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Act; and |
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(2) communities qualify for emissions reduction |
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credits by adopting codes that meet or exceed the energy-efficient |
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building or energy performance standards established under Chapter |
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388, Health and Safety Code. |
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Sec. 431.002. PUBLIC INFORMATION PROGRAM. The commission |
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may establish a public information program to inform homeowners, |
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sellers, buyers, and others regarding energy-efficient building |
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ratings. |
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Sec. 431.003. MEASUREMENT SYSTEM FOR REDUCTION IN ENERGY |
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AND EMISSIONS. If the commission establishes a program under this |
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chapter, the Energy Systems Laboratory shall establish a system to |
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measure the reduction in energy and emissions produced under the |
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energy-efficient building program and report those savings to the |
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commission. |
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Sec. 431.004. CERTIFICATION FEE. If the commission |
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establishes a program under this chapter, the commission may set a |
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certification fee sufficient to cover the cost of administering the |
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program and pay for any education efforts conducted under this |
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chapter. |
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SECTION 2. Section 388.009, Health and Safety Code, is |
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repealed. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |