Honorable Jim Keffer, Chair, House Committee on Energy Resources
FROM:
John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB883 by Alvarado (Relating to minimum efficiency standards for certain products; providing a civil penalty.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would add Chapter 392 to the Health and Safety Code regarding product efficiency standards for residential pool pumps, pool pump motors and pool pump motor controls. The bill would direct the Comptroller, in consultation with the State Energy Conservation Office, to establish minimum efficiency standards for specified products. The bill would provide for product testing, certification, labeling, inspection and enforcement.
The bill would direct the Comptroller to impose an assessment against the manufacturer of a product found to not be in compliance with efficiency standards in an amount to recover the costs of purchasing and testing the product. In addition, the bill would direct the assessment of a civil penalty of $250 for violations of provisions under Chapter 392, as added by the bill. The bill would authorize the Attorney General to institute proceedings to enforce provisions of the bill.
The bill would amend Chapter 389 of the Health and Safety Code to direct the Commission on Environmental Quality to work with the Energy Systems Laboratory at the Texas Engineering Experiment Station of the Texas A&M University System to ensure that any emissions reductions from implementation of energy efficiency standards required by the bill are credited by the US Environmental Protection Agency towards the state implementation plan (SIP).
The number of penalties that would be assessed cannot be estimated. It is anticipated that any additional costs associated with implementation of the legislation could be absorbed within existing resources.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
302 Office of the Attorney General, 582 Commission on Environmental Quality, 710 Texas A&M University System Administrative and General Offices