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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of a residential energy efficiency |
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loan program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 388, Health and Safety Code, is amended |
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by adding Section 388.013 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 388.013. ENERGY EFFICIENCY LOAN PROGRAM. (a) The |
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comptroller and the State Energy Conservation Office by rule shall |
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establish and administer a self-sustaining program that issues |
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loans to be used for improvements that increase the energy |
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efficiency of residences that are not newly constructed. |
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(b) Rules adopted under this section must establish |
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eligibility requirements for receipt of a loan issued under this |
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section, including emissions reduction cost-effectiveness |
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criteria. |
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(c) The State Energy Conservation Office shall annually |
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submit to the commission and the laboratory a report that: |
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(1) evaluates the effectiveness of the program |
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established under this section; and |
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(2) quantifies energy savings and emissions |
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reductions as a result of this program for consideration in the |
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state implementation plan for emissions reduction credit. |
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SECTION 2. Section 389.002, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 389.002. USE OF CERTAIN INFORMATION FOR FEDERAL |
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RECOGNITION OF EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS. The commission, using |
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information derived from the reports to the commission under |
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Sections 386.205, 388.003(e), [and] 388.006, and 388.013, shall |
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take all appropriate and necessary actions so that emissions |
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reductions achieved by means of activities under Chapters 386 and |
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388 are credited by the United States Environmental Protection |
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Agency to the appropriate emissions reduction objectives in the |
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state implementation plan. |
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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 the 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 September 1, 2015. |