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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to incentives in the low income housing tax credit program |
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to reward applicants who agree to use energy-saving devices and |
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energy conservation measures in a project. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 2306.6725, Government Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows: |
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(b-1) Regardless of whether the applicants satisfy any |
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other conditions provided by Subsection (b), the department shall |
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provide appropriate incentives as determined through the qualified |
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allocation plan to reward applicants who agree to equip the |
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property that is the basis of the application with energy-saving |
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devices that meet the standards established by the state energy |
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conservation office or with other energy conservation measures |
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specified by the department in the plan. Energy conservation |
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measures specified by the department may include: |
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(1) the installation of plumbing fixtures that |
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conserve water; |
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(2) the installation of solar water heaters; |
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(3) the use of trees or other landscaping; |
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(4) the installation of rainwater harvesting |
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equipment; |
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(5) the installation of Energy Star-labeled windows |
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and glass doors; and |
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(6) the use of construction waste management at the |
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project site. |
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SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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an application for low income housing tax credits that is submitted |
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to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs during an |
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application cycle that begins on or after the effective date of this |
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Act. An application that is submitted during an application cycle |
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that began before the effective date of this Act is governed by the |
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law in effect at the time the application cycle began, and the |
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former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |