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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to certain programs and pilot programs administered by the |
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Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 2306, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Sections 2306.0971 and 2306.0972 to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 2306.0971. SUPPLEMENTAL WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE |
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PROGRAM. (a) In addition to the Energy Services Program for |
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Low-Income Individuals established under Section 2306.097, the |
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department shall establish a program that provides financial |
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assistance for residential weatherization measures that do not |
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qualify for the state's allocation of federal funds under the Low |
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Income Home Energy Assistance Program but that, if performed, would |
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allow a person to receive that federal assistance. |
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(b) The department by rule shall establish eligibility |
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criteria for a person to receive financial assistance for |
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residential weatherization measures under this section. The |
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criteria must ensure that any weatherization measures performed |
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will allow a person to receive federal assistance under the Low |
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Income Home Energy Assistance Program. |
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(c) The department shall collaborate with the state energy |
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conservation office and the Energy Systems Laboratory at the Texas |
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Engineering Experiment Station of The Texas A&M University System |
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to identify cost-effective residential weatherization measures |
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that allow persons to qualify for the Low Income Home Energy |
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Assistance Program. |
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Sec. 2306.0972. WEATHERIZATION PILOT PROGRAM. (a) The |
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department may establish a pilot program to study the effectiveness |
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of weatherization measures in increasing residential energy |
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efficiency for individuals and families of low income. |
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(b) If the department establishes a pilot program under this |
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section, not later than December 1, 2010, the department shall |
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submit a report to the legislature regarding its findings and |
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recommendations under the pilot program. |
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(c) This section expires September 1, 2011. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter K, Chapter 2306, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 2306.260 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 2306.260. USE OF CERTAIN FEDERAL ASSISTANCE TO FUND |
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PILOT PROGRAMS. The department may fund existing pilot programs or |
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create new pilot programs as appropriate using federal supplemental |
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appropriations under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of |
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2009 (Pub. L. No. 111-5) or any other similar federal legislation |
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that is enacted on or after January 1, 2009. This section expires |
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December 31, 2011. |
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SECTION 3. The Texas Department of Housing and Community |
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Affairs shall adopt the rules required by Section 2306.0971, |
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Government Code, as added by this Act, not later than December 1, |
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2009. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |