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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the appropriation of money from the economic |
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stabilization fund to be used for upgrading fixtures and materials |
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in state buildings to maximize energy and water conservation. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The amount of $250 million is appropriated from |
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the economic stabilization fund to the comptroller for the purpose |
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of depositing that amount to the credit of the general revenue fund |
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as money available for use by the Texas Facilities Commission |
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during the state fiscal biennium beginning September 1, 2013, for |
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the purposes of upgrading fixtures and materials in state buildings |
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to maximize energy and water conservation, including for projects |
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relating to: |
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(1) insulation; |
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(2) lighting; |
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(3) ventilation; |
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(4) climate control; |
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(5) water-conserving fixtures, appliances, and |
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equipment or the substitution of non-water-using fixtures, |
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appliances, and equipment; |
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(6) water-conserving landscape irrigation equipment; |
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(7) landscaping measures that reduce watering demands |
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and capture and hold applied water and rainfall, including: |
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(A) landscape contouring, including the use of |
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berms, swales, and terraces; and |
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(B) the use of soil amendments that increase the |
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water-holding capacity of the soil, including compost; |
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(8) rainwater harvesting equipment and equipment to |
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make use of water collected as part of a storm-water system |
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installed for water quality control; |
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(9) equipment for recycling or reusing water |
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originating on the premises or from other sources, including |
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treated municipal effluent; |
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(10) equipment needed to capture water from |
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nonconventional, alternate sources, including air conditioning |
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condensate or graywater, for nonpotable uses; |
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(11) metering equipment needed to segregate water use |
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in order to identify water conservation opportunities or verify |
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water savings; |
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(12) special energy requirements of health-related |
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facilities of higher education and state agencies; and |
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(13) any other item that the commission considers |
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appropriate. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013, but only |
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if it receives a vote of two-thirds of the members present in each |
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house of the legislature, as provided by Section 49-g(m), Article |
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III, Texas Constitution. |