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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a pilot revolving loan program for retrofitting public |
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school buildings with photovoltaic solar panels and associated |
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energy efficiency improvements. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 2305, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 2305.0321 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 2305.0321. PILOT REVOLVING LOAN PROGRAM FOR SOLAR |
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ENERGY FOR SCHOOL BUILDINGS. (a) The energy office shall |
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establish a pilot program under the loanstar revolving loan program |
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to provide loans to pay the cost of installing photovoltaic solar |
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panels on public school buildings and the cost of associated energy |
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efficiency improvements to the buildings. The energy office shall |
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allocate to the pilot program at least $4 million from the funds |
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available to the loanstar revolving loan program. |
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(b) The energy office by rule shall establish the terms |
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under which a loan may be made under the pilot program, including |
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the interest rate for repayment of pilot program loans. |
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(c) Through the pilot program, the energy office shall offer |
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to each school district the opportunity to apply for a loan to pay |
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the cost of installing photovoltaic solar panels on at least one |
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school building of the school district's choice and the cost of |
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associated energy efficiency improvements to that building. The |
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energy office by rule shall establish a procedure for determining |
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which school districts qualify for a loan under the pilot program, |
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including rules for selecting the school districts that will |
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receive a loan if there is not sufficient money set aside for pilot |
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program improvements at all school districts. |
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(d) Each school district that receives a loan shall pay for |
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the principal of and interest on the loan for each school building |
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improvement primarily from the amount budgeted for the energy costs |
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of the school at which the solar panels are installed. The school |
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district may make additional payments of the principal of or |
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interest on a loan from money rebated to it as compensation for |
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electric energy generated by the solar panels or money received as a |
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gift or grant for the purpose of paying the loan. |
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(e) This section expires September 1, 2011, and the pilot |
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program established under this section is dissolved on that date. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |