Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

Texas House Bill HB1980 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	81R10375 MTB-D
2	2	By: Rodriguez H.B. No. 1980
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to the use of solar energy in certain state buildings,
8	8	public school facilities, and higher education facilities.
9	9	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
10	10	SECTION 1. Subchapter I, Chapter 2166, Government Code, is
11	11	amended by adding Section 2166.409 to read as follows:
12	12	Sec. 2166.409. USE OF SOLAR ENERGY IN STATE BUILDINGS. (a)
13	13	In this section, "solar energy device" means a system or series of
14	14	mechanisms designed primarily to provide heating or cooling or to
15	15	produce electrical or mechanical power by collecting and
16	16	transferring solar-generated energy. The term includes a
17	17	mechanical or chemical device that has the ability to store
18	18	solar-generated energy for use in heating or cooling or in the
19	19	production of power.
20	20	(b) This section applies to the construction of a new state
21	21	building and the acquisition of a building by the state, including a
22	22	building construction project otherwise exempt from this chapter
23	23	under Section 2166.003.
24	24	(c) During the planning phase of the proposed construction,
25	25	the commission, or the governing body of the appropriate agency or
26	26	institution that is undertaking a project otherwise exempt from
27	27	this chapter under Section 2166.003, shall include in the
28	28	construction plans for a new state building the use of a solar
29	29	energy device.
30	30	(d) Not later than one year after the acquisition by the
31	31	state of a building that does not use a solar energy device, the
32	32	state agency or institution of higher education that has charge and
33	33	control of the acquired building shall retrofit the building with a
34	34	solar energy device.
35	35	SECTION 2. Subchapter Z, Chapter 44, Education Code, is
36	36	amended by adding Section 44.906 to read as follows:
37	37	Sec. 44.906. USE OF SOLAR ENERGY IN INSTRUCTIONAL
38	38	FACILITIES. (a) In this section:
39	39	(1) "Instructional facility" has the meaning assigned
40	40	by Section 46.001.
41	41	(2) "Solar energy device" means a system or series of
42	42	mechanisms designed primarily to provide heating or cooling or to
43	43	produce electrical or mechanical power by collecting and
44	44	transferring solar-generated energy. The term includes a
45	45	mechanical or chemical device that has the ability to store
46	46	solar-generated energy for use in heating or cooling or in the
47	47	production of power.
48	48	(b) A school district that constructs a new instructional
49	49	facility shall include in the construction plans for the facility
50	50	the use of a solar energy device.
51	51	(c) Not later than one year after the acquisition by a
52	52	school district of a building to be used as an instructional
53	53	facility that does not use a solar energy device, the school
54	54	district shall retrofit the acquired building with a solar energy
55	55	device.
56	56	SECTION 3. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
57	57	amended by adding Section 51.9273 to read as follows:
58	58	Sec. 51.9273. USE OF SOLAR ENERGY IN EDUCATIONAL AND
59	59	HOUSING FACILITIES. (a) In this section:
60	60	(1) "Housing facility" has the meaning assigned by
61	61	Section 53.02.
62	62	(2) "Solar energy device" means a system or series of
63	63	mechanisms designed primarily to provide heating or cooling or to
64	64	produce electrical or mechanical power by collecting and
65	65	transferring solar-generated energy. The term includes a
66	66	mechanical or chemical device that has the ability to store
67	67	solar-generated energy for use in heating or cooling or in the
68	68	production of power.
69	69	(b) An institution of higher education that constructs a new
70	70	educational or housing facility shall include in the construction
71	71	plans for the facility the use of a solar energy device.
72	72	(c) Not later than one year after the acquisition by an
73	73	institution of higher education of a building to be used as an
74	74	educational or housing facility that does not use a solar energy
75	75	device, the institution of higher education shall retrofit the
76	76	acquired building with a solar energy device.
77	77	SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.