Texas 2021 87th Regular

Texas House Bill HB3583 Introduced / Bill

Filed 03/10/2021

                    87R8820 MP-F
 By: Paddie H.B. No. 3583


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to energy savings performance contracts.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Section 44.901, Education Code, is amended by
 amending Subsection (f-1) and adding Subsection (k) to read as
 follows:
 (f-1)  Notwithstanding other law, the board may use any
 available money to pay the provider of the energy or water
 conservation measures under this section, and the board is not
 required to pay for such costs solely out of the savings realized by
 the school district under an energy savings performance contract.
 [The board may contract with the provider to perform work that is
 related to, connected with, or otherwise ancillary to the measures
 identified in the scope of an energy savings performance contract.]
 (k)  The scope of an energy savings performance contract may
 not be modified under this section. For the purposes of this
 subsection, a modification includes a change order or contract
 addendum that adds to the scope of work for projects not awarded
 under the original contract.
 SECTION 2.  Section 51.927, Education Code, is amended by
 amending Subsection (g-1) and adding Subsection (m) to read as
 follows:
 (g-1)  Notwithstanding other law, the board may use any
 available money to pay the provider of the energy or water
 conservation measures under this section, and the board is not
 required to pay for such costs solely out of the savings realized by
 the institution of higher education under an energy savings
 performance contract.  [The board may contract with the provider to
 perform work that is related to, connected with, or otherwise
 ancillary to the measures identified in the scope of an energy
 savings performance contract.]
 (m)  The scope of an energy savings performance contract may
 not be modified under this section. For the purposes of this
 subsection, a modification includes a change order or contract
 addendum that adds to the scope of work for projects not awarded
 under the original contract.
 SECTION 3.  Section 2166.406, Government Code, is amended by
 amending Subsection (f-1) and adding Subsection (m) to read as
 follows:
 (f-1)  Notwithstanding other law, the state agency may use
 any available money to pay the provider of the energy or water
 conservation measures under this section, and the state agency is
 not required to pay for such costs solely out of the savings
 realized by the state agency under an energy savings performance
 contract. [The state agency may contract with the provider to
 perform work that is related to, connected with, or otherwise
 ancillary to the measures identified in the scope of an energy
 savings performance contract.]
 (m)  The scope of an energy savings performance contract may
 not be modified under this section. For the purposes of this
 subsection, a modification includes a change order or contract
 addendum that adds to the scope of work for projects not awarded
 under the original contract.
 SECTION 4.  Section 302.001(4), Local Government Code, is
 amended to read as follows:
 (4)  "Energy savings performance contract" means a
 contract with a provider for energy or water conservation or usage
 measures in which the estimated energy savings, utility cost
 savings, increase in billable revenues, or increase in meter
 accuracy resulting from the measures is subject to guarantee to
 offset the cost of the energy or water conservation or usage
 measures over a specified period. The term does not include the
 design or construction of a highway, road, street, bridge,
 underground utility, water supply project, water plant, wastewater
 plant, water and wastewater distribution or conveyance facility,
 wharf, dock, airport runway or taxiway, drainage project, or other
 similar or related civil engineering construction project. The term
 includes a contract related to the pilot program described by
 Subdivision (9-a) and a contract for the installation or
 implementation of the following in new or existing facilities,
 including all causally connected work:
 (A)  insulation of a building structure and
 systems within the building;
 (B)  storm windows or doors, caulking or weather
 stripping, multiglazed windows or doors, heat-absorbing or
 heat-reflective glazed and coated window or door systems, or other
 window or door system modifications that reduce energy consumption;
 (C)  automatic energy control systems, including
 computer software and technical data licenses;
 (D)  heating, ventilating, or air-conditioning
 system modifications or replacements that reduce energy or water
 consumption;
 (E)  lighting fixtures that increase energy
 efficiency;
 (F)  energy recovery systems;
 (G)  electric systems improvements;
 (H)  water-conserving fixtures, appliances, and
 equipment or the substitution of non-water-using fixtures,
 appliances, and equipment;
 (I)  water-conserving landscape irrigation
 equipment;
 (J)  landscaping measures that reduce watering
 demands and capture and hold applied water and rainfall, including:
 (i)  landscape contouring, including the use
 of berms, swales, and terraces; and
 (ii)  the use of soil amendments that
 increase the water-holding capacity of the soil, including compost;
 (K)  rainwater harvesting equipment and equipment
 to make use of water collected as part of a storm-water system
 installed for water quality control;
 (L)  equipment for recycling or reuse of water
 originating on the premises or from other sources, including
 treated municipal effluent;
 (M)  equipment needed to capture water from
 nonconventional, alternate sources, including air-conditioning
 condensate or graywater, for nonpotable uses;
 (N)  metering or related equipment or systems that
 improve the accuracy of billable-revenue-generation systems;
 (O)  alternative fuel programs resulting in
 energy cost savings and reduced emissions for local government
 vehicles, including fleet vehicles; or
 (P)  programs resulting in utility cost savings[;
 or
 [(Q)  other energy or water conservation-related
 improvements or equipment, including improvements or equipment
 relating to renewable energy or nonconventional water sources or
 water reuse].
 SECTION 5.  Section 302.004(a-1), Local Government Code, is
 amended to read as follows:
 (a-1)  Notwithstanding other law, the governing body of a
 local government may use any available money to pay the provider of
 the energy or water conservation measures under this section, and
 the governing body is not required to pay for such costs solely out
 of the savings realized by the local government under an energy
 savings performance contract. [The governing body may contract
 with the provider to perform work that is related to, connected
 with, or otherwise ancillary to the measures identified in the
 scope of an energy savings performance contract.]
 SECTION 6.  Section 302.005, Local Government Code, is
 amended by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
 (d)  The scope of an energy savings performance contract may
 not be modified under this section. For the purposes of this
 subsection, a modification includes a change order or contract
 addendum that adds to the scope of work for projects not awarded
 under the original contract.
 SECTION 7.  The following sections are repealed:
 (1)  Section 44.901(j), Education Code;
 (2)  Section 51.927(k), Education Code;
 (3)  Section 2166.406(k), Government Code; and
 (4)  Section 302.007, Local Government Code.
 SECTION 8.  The changes in law made by this Act do not apply
 to an energy savings performance contract entered into before the
 effective date of this Act, and the former law governing the
 contract is continued in effect for that purpose.
 SECTION 9.  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, 2021.