LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

March 30, 2009

TO:	Honorable Kip Averitt, Chair, Senate Committee on Natural Resources
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB1042 by Ellis (Relating to improving state energy conservation, including through the use of thermostat settings.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

This bill would implement recommendations in the LBB Government Effectiveness and Efficiency Report entitled, "Improve Energy Conservation in State Facilities by Using Seasonal Thermostat Settings."

 

The bill would amend the Government Code to require the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) to develop and maintain a database of state agency energy consumption and expenditures. The bill would require a state agency or institution of higher education in charge and control of a state building to adjust thermostat settings that meet industry standards for energy conservation to correspond to seasonal temperature changes and building occupancy schedules and would allow exceptions for temperature sensitive operations.

 

The bill would amend a reporting requirement in the Health and Safety Code to require a political subdivision, institution of higher education, or state agency to report annually on seasonal specific thermostat settings and thermostat settings for nonpeak or off hours to SECO.

 

The bill would take effect September 1, 2009.

 

It is anticipated that these measures can be implemented with existing agency resources.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 301 Office of the Governor, 302 Office of the Attorney General, 303 Facilities Commission, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 305 General Land Office and Veterans' Land Board, 313 Department of Information Resources, 320 Texas Workforce Commission, 360 State Office of Administrative Hearings, 405 Department of Public Safety, 455 Railroad Commission, 473 Public Utility Commission of Texas, 529 Health and Human Services Commission, 582 Commission on Environmental Quality, 601 Department of Transportation, 696 Department of Criminal Justice, 701 Central Education Agency, 710 Texas A&M University System Administrative and General Offices, 720 The University of Texas System Administration, 808 Historical Commission

LBB Staff:

JOB, WK, JI, MM, PJK, DB