BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 59

By: Zaffirini

Government Transparency & Operation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties note that there are numerous energy and water management reporting requirements for state agencies and institutions of higher education and contend that these requirements at times overlap or are inconsistent. S.B. 59 seeks to address this issue by eliminating certain reporting requirements and clarifying others.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 59 amends the Government Code to remove the requirements for a state agency or institution of higher education to prepare a long-range plan for the delivery of reliable, cost‑effective utility services for the agency or institution, submit the plan to the state energy conservation office (SECO), and use the plan in preparing the agency's or institution's five-year construction and major renovation plans. The bill removes the requirement for SECO, as part of the energy and water management planning assistance provided to a state agency other than an institution of higher education, to assist the agency in meeting certain energy and water conservation requirements.

S.B. 59 removes the requirement for a state agency or institution of higher education that occupies a state-owned building to prepare and implement a five-year energy and water management plan and to submit the plan to SECO upon request and the requirement for an agency or institution that occupies a building not owned by the state to cooperate with SECO in addressing the energy or water management of that building. The bill revises the requirement for each state agency and institution of higher education to set percentage goals for reducing the agency's or institution's use of water, electricity, gasoline, and natural gas as part of the agency's or institution's comprehensive energy and water management plan by replacing the reference to gasoline with a reference to transportation fuel.

S.B. 59 changes the deadline by which SECO is required to submit a report to the governor and the Legislative Budget Board on the status and effectiveness of the utility management and conservation efforts of state agencies and institutions of higher education from December 1 of each even-numbered year to January 15 of each odd-numbered year.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.