By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 59

(Kuempel)

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to energy and water management planning and reporting requirements for state agencies and institutions of higher education.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 447.009, Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 447.009. ENERGY AND WATER MANAGEMENT PLANNING; REPORTING. (a) The state energy conservation office shall provide energy and water management planning assistance to a state agency or an institution of higher education, including assistance to:

(1) [preparation by the agency or institution of a long-range plan for the delivery of reliable, cost-effective utility services for the state agency or institution;

[(2) assistance to] the Department of Public Safety for energy emergency contingency planning, using state or federal funds when available; and

(2) [(3) assistance to] each state agency or institution of higher education in preparing comprehensive energy and water management plans[; and

[(4) assistance to state agencies other than institutions of higher education in meeting the requirements of Section 447.002, including assistance in scheduling and assigning priorities to implementation plans to ensure that state agencies adopt qualified cost-effective efficiency measures and programs for all state facilities not later than September 1, 2006].

(b) [A state agency or an institution of higher education shall develop the plan described in Subsection (a)(1) and submit the plan to the state energy conservation office upon request. The agency or institution shall use the plan in preparing its five-year construction and major renovation plans. After other energy-saving or water-saving alternatives are considered, district heating and cooling or on-site generation of electricity may be considered in planning for reliable, efficient, and cost-effective utility services.

[(c)] The state energy conservation office shall prepare guidelines for preparation of the plan described in Subsection (a)(2) [(a)(3)] and develop a template for state agencies and institutions of higher education to use in creating the plan. Each state agency and institution of higher education shall set percentage goals for reducing the agency's or institution's use of water, electricity, transportation fuel [gasoline], and natural gas and include those goals in the agency's or institution's comprehensive energy and water management plan. [A state agency or an institution of higher education that occupies a state-owned building shall prepare and implement a five-year energy and water management plan and shall submit that plan to the office upon request. The agency or institution shall update its plan annually. A state agency or an institution of higher education that occupies a building not owned by the state shall cooperate with the office in addressing the energy or water management of that building.]

(c) [(d)] The comprehensive energy and water management plan described in Subsection (a)(2) [(a)(3)] shall be included in the five-year construction and major repair and rehabilitation plans for institutions of higher education as required by Section 61.0651, Education Code.

(d) [(e)] Not later than January 15 [December 1] of each odd-numbered [even-numbered] year, the state energy conservation office shall 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. The report must include information submitted to the office from each state agency and institution of higher education. The office shall post the report on the office's Internet website.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.