82R4260 AJA-D
 
  By: Rodriguez S.B. No. 619
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to requiring solar panels to be offered by certain
  builders of new homes.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subtitle C, Title 5, Business & Commerce Code, is
  amended by adding Chapter 106 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 106. REGULATION OF CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS
         Sec. 106.001.  SOLAR PANEL OPTION REQUIRED IN CERTAIN
  SUBDIVISIONS. (a) In this section, "solar energy device" means a
  system or series of mechanisms designed primarily to provide
  heating or cooling or to produce electrical or mechanical power by
  collecting and transferring solar-generated energy. The term
  includes a mechanical or chemical device that has the ability to
  store solar-generated energy for use in heating or cooling or in the
  production of power.
         (b)  This chapter applies only to a contract for construction
  of a new home in a subdivision that contains more than 50 lots on
  which the builder has built or is offering to build new homes.
         (c)  A builder who enters into a contract to which this
  chapter applies shall offer the home buyer an option to install a
  solar energy device on the home for heating or cooling or for the
  production of power.
         SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to a contract for new home construction entered into on or after the
  effective date of this Act. A contract entered into before the
  effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect
  immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that law is
  continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.