AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

The International Building Code is a uniform set of construction and design best practices written by the International Code Council. Chapter 214 of the Local Government Code makes the International Building Code (IBC), as it was written on May 1, 2003, the commercial building code of Texas. Current law also enables local governments to create a process for amending the IBC.

 

S.B. 1679 requires that the procedures adopted by local governments for amending the IBC incorporate a cost-benefit analysis of the change. It also requires that two public hearings be held for each amendment before the amendment may be adopted. This will give business owners and residents of communities an opportunity to review onerous, unnecessary, or costly regulations by political subdivisions.

 

As proposed, S.B. 1679 amends current law relating to certain requirements relating to municipal building codes.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends Section 214.216, Local Government Code, by adding Subsection (f), as follows:

 

(f) Requires that procedures established under Subsection (c) (authorizing a municipality to establish certain procedures) for adopting local amendments to the International Building Code or any other building code include:

 

(1)  the preparation of a cost-benefit analysis of each amendment; and

 

(2)  two public hearings on each amendment.

 

(g) Requires that the procedures identified by Subsection (f)(1) and (f)(2) be completed before any building code or building code amendment is adopted.

 

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2015.