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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to efficiency standards for certain appliances; providing |
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a civil penalty. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle C, Title 5, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended by adding Chapter 392 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 392. APPLIANCE EFFICIENCY STANDARDS |
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SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS |
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Sec. 392.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Bottle-type water dispenser" means a water |
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dispenser that uses a bottle or reservoir as the source of potable |
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water. |
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(2) "Commercial hot food holding cabinet" means a |
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heated, fully enclosed compartment with one or more solid or glass |
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doors that is designed to maintain the temperature of hot food that |
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has been cooked in a separate appliance. |
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(3) "Energy Star Program" means the United States |
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Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star Program. |
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(4) "Portable electric spa" means a factory-built |
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electric spa or hot tub, supplied with equipment for heating and |
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circulating water. |
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(5) "Residential pool pump" means a pump used to |
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circulate and filter residential swimming pool water to maintain |
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the water's clarity and sanitation. |
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(6) "Total horsepower" means the product of a motor's |
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service factor and nameplate horsepower. |
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(7) "Water dispenser" means a factory-made assembly |
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that mechanically cools and heats potable water and that dispenses |
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the cooled or heated water by integral or remote means. |
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Sec. 392.002. APPLICABILITY; EXEMPTIONS. (a) This chapter |
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applies to the following new products sold, offered for sale, or |
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installed in this state: |
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(1) bottle-type water dispensers; |
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(2) commercial hot food holding cabinets; |
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(3) portable electric spas; and |
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(4) residential pool pumps. |
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(b) This chapter does not apply to: |
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(1) a new product manufactured in this state and sold |
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outside the state; |
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(2) a new product manufactured outside this state and |
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sold at wholesale inside the state for final retail sale and |
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installation outside the state; |
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(3) a product installed in a mobile manufactured home |
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at the time of the home's construction; |
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(4) a product designed expressly for installation and |
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use in a recreational vehicle; |
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(5) a commercial heated glass merchandizing cabinet, |
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drawer warmer, or cook-and-hold appliance for hot food; or |
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(6) water pumps that are labeled as not intended for |
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use as a swimming pool filtration system and are used in: |
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(A) a water feature; |
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(B) a fountain; |
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(C) a spa jet; or |
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(D) a process other than filtration. |
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[Sections 392.003-392.050 reserved for expansion] |
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SUBCHAPTER B. EFFICIENCY STANDARDS |
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Sec. 392.051. MINIMUM EFFICIENCY STANDARDS FOR CERTAIN |
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APPLIANCES. (a) Not later than September 1, 2010, the comptroller, |
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in consultation with the State Energy Conservation Office, shall |
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adopt rules establishing minimum efficiency standards for each type |
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of new product described by Section 392.002(a). |
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(b) If the federal law establishes an Energy Star Program |
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efficiency standard for an appliance covered by this chapter, the |
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standard set under this chapter is preempted by the federal law |
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unless an application for waiver under Section 392.102 is granted. |
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Sec. 392.052. NEW OR INCREASED EFFICIENCY STANDARDS. (a) |
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The comptroller may adopt rules to establish increased efficiency |
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standards for a product listed in Section 392.002(a). |
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(b) In considering increased standards, the comptroller, in |
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consultation with the State Energy Conservation Office, shall |
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prescribe increased efficiency standards if the comptroller |
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determines that the standards would: |
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(1) serve to promote energy conservation in this |
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state; and |
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(2) be cost-effective for consumers who purchase and |
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use the new product. |
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Sec. 392.053. EFFECTIVE DATE OF STANDARDS. A standard |
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established under this subchapter takes effect on the first |
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anniversary of the date the rule establishing the standard is |
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adopted. |
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Sec. 392.054. BOTTLE-TYPE WATER DISPENSERS. A bottle-type |
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water dispenser designed for dispensing both hot and cold water may |
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not have standby energy consumption greater than 1.2 kilowatt-hours |
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per day, as measured in accordance with the test criteria contained |
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in version 1 of the "Energy Star Program Requirements for Bottled |
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Water Coolers," except that Section D, "Timer Usage," of those test |
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criteria may not be used to test units with an integral, automatic |
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timer. |
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Sec. 392.055. COMMERCIAL HOT FOOD HOLDING CABINETS. (a) A |
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commercial hot food holding cabinet must have a maximum idle energy |
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rate of not greater than 40 watts per cubic foot of interior volume, |
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as determined by the "idle energy rate-dry test" in ASTM F2140-01, |
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"Standard Test Method for Performance of Hot Food Holding |
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Cabinets," copyright 2007 ASTM International. |
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(b) Interior volume must be measured in accordance with the |
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method shown in the "Energy Star Program Requirements for |
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Commercial Hot Food Holding Cabinets" as in effect on August 15, |
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2003. |
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Sec. 392.056. PORTABLE ELECTRIC SPAS. A portable electric |
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spa may not have a standby power greater than 5(V2/3) watts where V |
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equals the fill volume in gallons. Standby power must be measured |
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in accordance with the test method for portable electric spas |
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contained in Section 1604, Title 20, California Code of |
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Regulations, as of December 2008. |
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Sec. 392.057. RESIDENTIAL POOL PUMP MOTORS. (a) A |
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residential pool pump motor may not be a split-phase or capacitor |
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start-induction run type motor except that the following are not |
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prohibited by this subsection: |
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(1) a two-speed motor with a low-speed section that is |
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a capacitor start-induction run type; and |
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(2) a 48-frame motor designed for use with |
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above-ground pools, portable spas, or whirlpool bathtubs. |
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(b) A residential pool pump motor with a total horsepower |
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capacity of one or more must: |
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(1) have the capability of operating at more than one |
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speed with a low speed having a rotation rate that is not more than |
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one-half of the motor's maximum rotation rate; and |
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(2) be operated with a pump control with the |
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capability to operate the pump at two or more speeds. |
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(c) A pool pump motor control that is sold for use with a |
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pool pump capable of operating at more than one speed must have the |
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capability of operating the pool pump at more than one speed. The |
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pump's default circulation speed may not exceed one-half of the |
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motor's maximum rotation rate. |
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[Sections 392.058-392.100 reserved for expansion] |
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SUBCHAPTER C. IMPLEMENTATION AND MODIFICATION OF EFFICIENCY |
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STANDARDS |
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Sec. 392.101. PRODUCT COMPLIANCE. (a) A new product |
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described by Section 392.002(a) may not be sold or offered for sale |
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in this state unless the efficiency of the new product meets or |
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exceeds the applicable efficiency standards prescribed by the rules |
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adopted under Subchapter B. |
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(b) On or after the first anniversary of the date the sale or |
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offering for sale of a new product becomes subject to an efficiency |
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standard adopted under this chapter, that product may not be |
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installed for compensation in this state unless the efficiency of |
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the product meets or exceeds the applicable efficiency standards |
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prescribed by the rules adopted under Subchapter B. |
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Sec. 392.102. APPLICATION FOR WAIVER. For purposes of this |
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chapter, the comptroller may apply for a waiver of federal |
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preemption in accordance with federal procedures under 42 U.S.C. |
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Section 6297(d) to authorize state efficiency standards for a |
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product regulated by the federal government. |
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[Sections 392.103-392.150 reserved for expansion] |
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SUBCHAPTER D. TESTING, CERTIFICATION, LABELING, AND ENFORCEMENT |
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Sec. 392.151. PRODUCT TESTING. (a) The manufacturer of a |
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new product subject to an efficiency standard adopted under this |
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chapter shall test samples of the product in accordance with the |
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test procedures adopted under this chapter. |
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(b) The comptroller, in consultation with the State Energy |
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Conservation Office, by rule shall adopt test procedures for |
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determining a product's energy efficiency if Subchapter B does not |
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provide for the procedures. The comptroller shall adopt test |
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methods approved by the United States Department of Energy or, in |
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the absence of those test methods, other appropriate nationally |
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recognized test methods. |
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(c) The comptroller may adopt revised test procedures when |
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new versions of test procedures become available. |
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Sec. 392.152. PRODUCT CERTIFICATION. (a) The manufacturer |
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of a new product subject to an efficiency standard adopted under |
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this chapter shall certify to the comptroller that the product is in |
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compliance with that standard according to test results. |
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(b) The comptroller shall adopt rules governing the |
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certification of products under this section and shall coordinate |
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certification by this state with the certification programs of |
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other states and federal agencies with similar standards. |
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Sec. 392.153. PRODUCT LABELING. (a) The manufacturer of a |
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new product subject to an efficiency standard adopted under this |
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chapter shall identify each product offered for sale or |
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installation in this state as being in compliance with this chapter |
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by means of a mark, label, or tag on the product and packaging at the |
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time of sale or installation. |
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(b) The comptroller shall adopt rules governing the |
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identification of products and packaging under this section. The |
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rules must to the greatest practical extent be coordinated with the |
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labeling programs of other states and federal agencies with |
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equivalent efficiency standards. The comptroller shall allow the |
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use of existing marks, labels, or tags that connote compliance with |
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the efficiency requirements of this chapter. |
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Sec. 392.154. COMPTROLLER TESTING FOR EFFICIENCY STANDARDS |
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COMPLIANCE. The comptroller may test products subject to an |
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efficiency standard adopted under this chapter for compliance with |
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the applicable efficiency standards. If a product tested is found |
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not to be in compliance with the standards, the comptroller shall: |
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(1) impose against the manufacturer of the product an |
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assessment in an amount sufficient to recover the costs of |
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purchasing and testing the product; and |
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(2) make information available to the public on any |
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product found to be not in compliance with the standards. |
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Sec. 392.155. INSPECTIONS. The comptroller may have |
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periodic inspections conducted of a distributor or retailer of new |
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products covered by Section 392.002 subject to an efficiency |
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standard adopted under this chapter to determine compliance with |
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this chapter. The inspections must be conducted at reasonable and |
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convenient hours. Notice must be given before an inspection may be |
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conducted. |
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Sec. 392.156. COMPLAINTS. The comptroller shall |
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investigate a complaint received concerning a violation of this |
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chapter and shall report the results of the investigation to the |
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attorney general. |
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Sec. 392.157. ATTORNEY GENERAL ENFORCEMENT. The attorney |
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general may institute proceedings to enforce this chapter. |
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Sec. 392.158. VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES. (a) The |
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comptroller shall issue a warning to a person for the person's first |
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violation of this chapter. |
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(b) A person's second and subsequent violations are subject |
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to a civil penalty of not more than $250. |
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(c) Each violation constitutes a separate violation, and |
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each day that a violation continues constitutes a separate |
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violation. |
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(d) A penalty assessed under this section is in addition to |
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costs assessed under Section 392.154. |
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Sec. 392.159. RULES FOR IMPLEMENTATION AND ENFORCEMENT. |
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The comptroller may adopt additional rules necessary to ensure the |
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proper implementation and enforcement of this chapter. |
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SECTION 2. Section 389.002, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 389.002. USE OF CERTAIN INFORMATION FOR FEDERAL |
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RECOGNITION OF EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS. (a) The commission, using |
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information derived from the reports to the commission under |
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Sections 386.205, 388.003(e), and 388.006, shall take all |
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appropriate and necessary actions so that emissions reductions |
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achieved by means of activities under Chapters 386 and 388 are |
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credited by the United States Environmental Protection Agency to |
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the appropriate emissions reduction objectives in the state |
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implementation plan. |
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(b) The commission shall work 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 to ensure that the emissions reductions |
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achieved by the efficiency standards established under Chapter 392 |
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are credited by the United States Environmental Protection Agency |
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to the appropriate emissions reduction objectives in the state |
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implementation plan. |
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SECTION 3. (a) The efficiency standards prescribed by |
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rules adopted under Subchapter B, Chapter 392, Health and Safety |
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Code, as added by this Act, apply only to the sale or offer of sale |
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of a new product to which that chapter applies that occurs on or |
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after January 1, 2011. |
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(b) Notwithstanding Subsection (a) of this section, a new |
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residential pool pump that does not meet the efficiency standards |
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contained in Section 392.057, Health and Safety Code, as added by |
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this Act, may be sold in this state through December 31, 2011. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |