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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to requiring solar panels to be offered by certain |
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builders of new homes. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The heading of Subtitle F, Title 16, Property |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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SUBTITLE F. REGULATION [INSPECTION] OF [NEW] RESIDENTIAL |
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CONSTRUCTION GENERALLY |
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SECTION 2. The heading of Chapter 446, Property Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 446. INSPECTION OF RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION IN |
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UNINCORPORATED AREAS AND OTHER AREAS NOT SUBJECT TO MUNICIPAL |
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INSPECTIONS |
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SECTION 3. Subtitle F, Title 16, Property Code, is amended |
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by adding Chapter 447 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 447. REQUIREMENTS FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS |
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Sec. 447.001. SOLAR PANEL OPTION REQUIRED IN CERTAIN |
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SUBDIVISIONS. (a) In this section, "solar energy device" means a |
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system or series of mechanisms designed primarily to provide |
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heating or cooling or to produce electrical or mechanical power by |
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collecting and transferring solar-generated energy. The term |
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includes a mechanical or chemical device that has the ability to |
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store solar-generated energy for use in heating or cooling or in the |
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production of power. |
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(b) This chapter applies only to a contract for construction |
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of a new home in a subdivision that contains more than 50 lots on |
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which the builder has built or is offering to build new homes. |
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(c) A builder who enters into a contract to which this |
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chapter applies shall offer the home buyer an option to install a |
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solar energy device on the home for heating or cooling or for the |
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production of power. |
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SECTION 4. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to a contract for new home construction entered into on or after the |
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effective date of this Act. A contract entered into before the |
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effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect |
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immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that law is |
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continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |