81R17739 BEF-D By: Villarreal H.B. No. 2338 Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2338: By: Oliveira C.S.H.B. No. 2338 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the refund of the sales taxes imposed on real property repair and remodeling services for certain energy efficient facilities. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter I, Chapter 151, Tax Code, is amended by adding Section 151.4295 to read as follows: Sec. 151.4295. TAX REFUND FOR CERTAIN ENERGY EFFICIENT FACILITIES. (a) The owner of a facility designated as "Energy Star" by the United States Environmental Protection Agency may apply to the comptroller for and receive a refund in an amount equal to the amount paid by the owner for taxes imposed by this chapter on real property repair and remodeling services performed on the facility in the 18 months preceding the 12-month period in which the facility's energy usage data formed the basis of the designation. (b) The owner of a facility designated as "Designed to Earn the Energy Star" by the United States Environmental Protection Agency may apply to the comptroller for and receive a refund in an amount equal to the amount paid by the owner for taxes imposed by this chapter on real property repair and remodeling services performed on the facility in the 18 months immediately following the date of the facility's designation. (c) The comptroller may require an applicant under this section to provide copies of invoices showing amounts of taxes paid that are claimed for refund and documentation from the United States Environmental Protection Agency establishing the existence of a facility's designation. For a facility designated as "Designed to Earn the Energy Star," the comptroller may also require a certification by a registered architect on a form prescribed by the comptroller that the project receiving the designation was completed in accordance with the requirements to achieve an Energy Star rating at or above the 75th percentile. (d) Taxes paid on construction materials are not eligible for refund under this section. (e) A reference in this section to the United States Environmental Protection Agency's "Energy Star" or "Designed to Earn the Energy Star" designation includes a successor to that agency or designation. SECTION 2. (a) The change in law made by this Act does not affect tax liability accruing before the effective date of this Act. That liability continues in effect as if this Act had not been enacted, and the former law is continued in effect for the collection of taxes due and for civil and criminal enforcement of the liability for those taxes. (b) The change in law made by this Act does not establish an entitlement to a refund of taxes paid before the effective date of this Act. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.