84R7704 JAM-F
 
  By: Anchia H.B. No. 2392
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the establishment of a residential energy efficiency
  loan program.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 386.252(a), Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Money in the fund may be used only to implement and
  administer programs established under the plan.  Money
  appropriated to the commission to be used for the programs under
  Section 386.051(b) shall be allocated as follows:
               (1)  not more than four percent may be used for the
  clean school bus program under Chapter 390;
               (2)  not more than three percent may be used for the new
  technology implementation grant program under Chapter 391, from
  which at least $1 million will be set aside for electricity storage
  projects related to renewable energy;
               (3)  five percent shall be used for the clean fleet
  program under Chapter 392;
               (4)  not more than $3 million may be used by the
  commission to fund a regional air monitoring program in commission
  Regions 3 and 4 to be implemented under the commission's oversight,
  including direction regarding the type, number, location, and
  operation of, and data validation practices for, monitors funded by
  the program through a regional nonprofit entity located in North
  Texas having representation from counties, municipalities, higher
  education institutions, and private sector interests across the
  area;
               (5)  not less than 16 percent shall be used for the
  Texas natural gas vehicle grant program under Chapter 394;
               (6)  not more than five percent may be used to provide
  grants for natural gas fueling stations under the clean
  transportation triangle program under Section 394.010;
               (7)  not more than five percent may be used for the
  Texas alternative fueling facilities program under Chapter 393;
               (8)  a specified amount may be used each year to support
  research related to air quality as provided by Chapter 387;
               (9)  not more than $200,000 may be used for a health
  effects study;
               (10)  $500,000 is to be deposited in the state treasury
  to the credit of the clean air account created under Section
  382.0622 to supplement funding for air quality planning activities
  in affected counties;
               (11)  at least $4 million and up to four percent to a
  maximum of $7 million, whichever is greater, is allocated to the
  commission for administrative costs;
               (12)  at least two percent and up to five percent of the
  fund is to be used by the commission for the drayage truck incentive
  program established under Subchapter D-1;
               (13)  not more than five percent may be used for the
  light-duty motor vehicle purchase or lease incentive program
  established under Subchapter D;
               (14)  not more than $216,000 is allocated to the
  commission to contract with the Energy Systems Laboratory at the
  Texas Engineering Experiment Station annually for the development
  and annual computation of creditable statewide emissions
  reductions obtained through wind and other renewable energy
  resources for the state implementation plan;
               (15)  1.5 percent of the money in the fund is allocated
  for administrative costs incurred by the laboratory; [and]
               (15-a) not less than $3 million shall be used for the
  energy efficiency loan guarantee program under Section 388.013; and
               (16)  the balance is to be used by the commission for
  the diesel emissions reduction incentive program under Subchapter C
  as determined by the commission.
         SECTION 2.  Chapter 388, Health and Safety Code, is amended
  by adding Section 388.013 to read as follows:
         Sec. 388.013.  ENERGY EFFICIENCY LOAN GUARANTEE PROGRAM.
  (a) The comptroller and the State Energy Conservation Office by
  rule shall establish and administer a program that issues or
  guarantees loans to be used for improvements that increase the
  energy efficiency of residences that are not newly constructed.
         (b)  Rules adopted under this section must establish
  eligibility requirements for receipt of a loan issued or guaranteed
  under this section, including emissions reduction
  cost-effectiveness criteria.
         (c)  The State Energy Conservation Office shall annually
  submit to the commission and the laboratory a report that:
               (1)  evaluates the effectiveness of the program
  established under this section; and
               (2)  quantifies energy savings and emissions
  reductions as a result of this program for consideration in the
  state implementation plan for emissions reduction credit.
         SECTION 3.  Section 389.002, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 389.002.  USE OF CERTAIN INFORMATION FOR FEDERAL
  RECOGNITION OF EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS. The commission, using
  information derived from the reports to the commission under
  Sections 386.205, 388.003(e), [and] 388.006, and 388.013, shall
  take all appropriate and necessary actions so that emissions
  reductions achieved by means of activities under Chapters 386 and
  388 are credited by the United States Environmental Protection
  Agency to the appropriate emissions reduction objectives in the
  state implementation plan.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2015.