| TO: | Honorable Bill Callegari, Chair, House Committee on Government Reform |
| FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | SB658 by Seliger (Relating to an energy-efficient building accreditation program.), As Engrossed |
| Fiscal Year | Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds |
|---|---|
| 2008 | $0 |
| 2009 | $0 |
| 2010 | $0 |
| 2011 | $0 |
| 2012 | $0 |
| Fiscal Year | Probable (Cost) from GENERAL REVENUE FUND 1 |
Probable Revenue Gain from GENERAL REVENUE FUND 1 |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | ($250,000) | $250,000 |
| 2009 | ($250,000) | $250,000 |
| 2010 | ($250,000) | $250,000 |
| 2011 | ($250,000) | $250,000 |
| 2012 | ($250,000) | $250,000 |
| Fiscal Year | Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2007 |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 2.0 |
| 2009 | 2.0 |
| 2010 | 2.0 |
| 2011 | 2.0 |
| 2012 | 2.0 |
The bill would amend the Property Code to authorize the Texas Residential Construction Commission (TRCC), in consultation with the Energy Systems Laboratory at the Texas Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) of the Texas A&M University System, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and an advisory committee appointed by TRCC, to establish an energy-efficient building accreditation program. If the program were implemented, TRCC and TEES would be required to update the program on or before December 1 of each even-numbered year and create a checklist system to produce an energy-efficient building scorecard to help home buyers compare homes and qualify for energy-efficient mortgages under the National Housing Act and help communities qualify for emissions reduction credits by adopting codes that meet or exceed certain standards established in the Health and Safety Code. The bill would authorize TRCC to establish a public information program regarding energy-efficient building ratings. If the program were implemented, TEES would be required to establish a system to measure the reduction in energy and emissions produced under the program and report those savings to TRCC. The bill would authorize TRCC to set a certification fee sufficient to cover the cost of administering the program.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2007.
Based on the analysis of TRCC, it is assumed the commission would require one Program Specialist II position (1.0 FTE; $47,382/year) to promote the program with home owners, builders, sellers, buyers, and others regarding energy-efficient building ratings; and one Administrative Assistant III position (1.0 FTE; $33,416/year) to track accreditations and produce the scorecard. Employee benefits costs associated with the two new positions are estimated to be $22,858 each year (28.29% of salaries). It is assumed the costs for consumable supplies, travel, rent, information technology, and other operating costs would be $146,344 each year.
It is assumed TRCC would assess a certification fee that would generate revenue sufficient to recover any costs associated with implementing the provisions of the bill.
| Source Agencies: | 370 Residential Construction Commission, 582 Commission on Environmental Quality, 710 Texas A&M University System Administrative and General Offices, 712 Texas Engineering Experiment Station
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| LBB Staff: | JOB, JRO, MN, MW, TG
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