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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to certain testing of residential structures. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 388.002, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 388.002. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Affected county" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 386.001. |
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(2) "Approved certifications" means Texas Home Energy |
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Rating Organization Performance Verification Technician, |
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Residential Energy Services Network Home Energy Rating System |
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Rater, and Residential Energy Services Network Rating Field |
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Inspector. |
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(3) "Building" has the meaning assigned by the |
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International Building Code. |
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(4) (3) "Code official" means an individual employed |
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by a local jurisdiction to review construction plans and other |
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documents, inspect construction, or administer and enforce |
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building standards under this chapter. |
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(5) (4) "Code-certified inspector" means an |
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inspector who is certified by the International Code Council, the |
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Building Officials and Code Administrators International, Inc., |
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the International Conference of Building Officials, or the Southern |
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Building Code Congress International to have met minimum standards |
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for interpretation and enforcement of requirements of the |
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International Energy Conservation Code and the energy efficiency |
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chapter of the International Residential Code. |
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(6) (5) "Commission" means the Texas Natural Resource |
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Conservation Commission. |
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(7) (6) "International Residential Code" means the |
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International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings as |
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adopted by the International Code Council. |
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(8) (7) "International Energy Conservation Code" |
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means the International Energy Conservation Code as adopted by the |
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International Code Council. |
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(9) (8) "Laboratory" means the Energy Systems |
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Laboratory at the Texas Engineering Experiment Station of The Texas |
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A&M University System. |
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(10) (9) "Local jurisdiction" means the authority |
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responsible for implementation and enforcement of local building |
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codes. |
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(11) (10) "Municipality" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 1.005, Local Government Code. |
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(12) (11) "Nonattainment area" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 386.001. |
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(13) (12) "Single-family residential" means having |
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the character of a detached one- or two-family dwelling or a |
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multiple single-family dwelling not more than three stories high |
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with separate means of egress, including the accessory structures |
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of the dwelling. |
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SECTION 2. Chapter 388, Health and Safety Code, is amended |
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by adding Section 388.009 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 388.009. RESIDENTIAL AIR LEAKAGE AND DUCT TIGHTNESS |
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TESTING. (a) A person with an approved certification is considered |
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an approved party for purposes of performing air leakage and duct |
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tightness testing to ensure compliance with the International |
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Residential Code or the International Energy Conservation Code. |
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(b) A person performing air leakage and duct tightness |
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testing must be independent from the installer of the product being |
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testing. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect on September 1, 2013. |