82R1511 JXC-D
By: Anchia H.B. No. 775
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the adoption of energy efficiency, conservation, and
indoor air quality standards for the design, construction, and
renovation of public school instructional facilities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 46, Education Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter D to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER D. STANDARDS FOR INSTRUCTIONAL FACILITIES
Sec. 46.101. DEFINITION. In this subchapter,
"instructional facility" has the meaning assigned by Section
46.001.
Sec. 46.102. ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION STANDARDS
FOR INSTRUCTIONAL FACILITIES. (a) In this section, "energy
office" means the State Energy Conservation Office.
(b) The energy office shall adopt energy efficiency and
conservation standards for the design, construction, and major
renovation of instructional facilities to enable school districts
to achieve long-term savings in energy and water costs through
innovative building techniques.
(c) A building to which this section applies must be
designed and constructed or renovated so that the building achieves
certification under a high-performance building standard that:
(1) is developed and revised through a consensus-based
process;
(2) provides minimum requirements for energy use,
natural resources use, and indoor air quality;
(3) requires substantiating documentation for
certification;
(4) employs third-party, post-construction review and
verification for certification; and
(5) is determined by the energy office to be
nationally recognized in the building industry, such as:
(A) the Texas Collaborative for High Performance
Schools (TX-CHPS) Criteria;
(B) the Green Building Initiative's Green Globes
program; or
(C) the Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System.
(d) A school district that constructs a new instructional
facility or conducts a major renovation of an existing
instructional facility shall ensure that the instructional
facility meets the standards adopted by the energy office under
this section.
(e) The energy office may update the standards adopted under
this section not more frequently than once every three years. A
standard adopted under this section does not become effective until
the first anniversary of the date on which the standard was adopted.
(f) The energy office shall adopt rules necessary to
administer this section. The energy office shall require all rules
to be reviewed and published for comment by an advisory panel before
adoption. The advisory panel, to be appointed by the commissioner,
shall include:
(1) two district superintendents or their designees;
(2) one public school architect;
(3) one public school engineer; and
(4) one public school trustee.
SECTION 2. Not later than July 1, 2012, the State Energy
Conservation Office shall adopt rules establishing energy
efficiency, conservation, and indoor air quality standards for the
design, construction, and renovation of public school
instructional facilities as required by Section 46.102, Education
Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. 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, 2011.