Texas 2023 88th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB1001 House Committee Report / Bill

Filed 05/01/2023

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                    88R23001 BEE-D
 By: Schwertner, et al. S.B. No. 1001
 (King of Hemphill)
 Substitute the following for S.B. No. 1001:  No.


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to the regulation of electric vehicle supply equipment;
 requiring an occupational registration; authorizing fees;
 authorizing an administrative penalty.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Subtitle A, Title 14, Occupations Code, is
 amended by adding Chapter 2311 to read as follows:
 CHAPTER 2311.  ELECTRIC VEHICLE SUPPLY EQUIPMENT
 SUBCHAPTER A.  GENERAL PROVISIONS
 Sec. 2311.0101.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
 (1)  "Commercial transaction" means any sale or
 exchange for compensation of electrical energy through a digital
 network.
 (2)  "Commission" means the Texas Commission of
 Licensing and Regulation.
 (3)  "Department" means the Texas Department of
 Licensing and Regulation.
 (4)  "Digital network" means an online-enabled
 application, website, or system offered or used by an electric
 vehicle supply provider that allows a user to initiate a commercial
 transaction to dispense electrical energy from electric vehicle
 supply equipment to an electric vehicle.
 (5)  "Electric vehicle supply equipment" means a device
 or equipment used to dispense electrical energy to an electric
 vehicle.
 (6)  "Electric vehicle supply provider" means an owner
 or operator of electric vehicle supply equipment that is available
 and accessible to the public to provide electrical energy through a
 commercial transaction.
 SUBCHAPTER B.  POWERS AND DUTIES
 Sec. 2311.0201.  RULES. The commission shall adopt rules as
 necessary to implement this chapter.
 Sec. 2311.0202.  FEES. The commission by rule shall set fees
 in amounts sufficient to cover the costs of administering this
 chapter.
 Sec. 2311.0203.  CONTRACT. The department may contract to
 perform the department's duties related to electric vehicle supply
 equipment, including inspections. A reference in this chapter to
 the commission or department in the context of a contracted service
 means the contractor.
 Sec. 2311.0204.  INSPECTION OF ELECTRIC VEHICLE SUPPLY
 EQUIPMENT. The department may periodically, or in response to a
 complaint, conduct an inspection of electric vehicle supply
 equipment in order to verify compliance with registration
 requirements and standards established in this chapter and
 commission rules, unless electric vehicle supply equipment is
 exempt from the application of this chapter by commission rule.
 Sec. 2311.0205.  COMPLAINTS REGARDING ELECTRIC VEHICLE
 SUPPLY EQUIPMENT. In accordance with Chapter 51, the executive
 director of the department shall establish methods by which
 consumers are notified of the name, Internet website address,
 mailing address, and telephone number of the department for the
 purpose of directing complaints to the department.
 Sec. 2311.0206.  EXEMPTIONS. (a) The commission by rule may
 exempt electric vehicle supply equipment from a requirement
 established by this chapter if the commission determines that
 imposing or enforcing the requirement:
 (1)  is not cost-effective for the department;
 (2)  is not feasible with current resources or
 standards; or
 (3)  will not substantially benefit or protect
 consumers.
 (b)  Electric vehicle supply equipment is exempt from the
 requirements of this chapter if, in accordance with commission
 rule, the electric vehicle supply equipment is:
 (1)  installed in or adjacent to a private residence
 for noncommercial use;
 (2)  provided for the exclusive use of an individual,
 or a group of individuals, including employees, tenants, visitors,
 or residents of a multiunit housing or office development; or
 (3)  provided by a business for use at no charge.
 Sec. 2311.0207.  REGULATION OF LEGACY CHARGERS. The
 commission may adopt rules to regulate electric vehicle supply
 equipment in operation before January 1, 2024, that:
 (1)  has never had a metering system in place capable of
 measuring electricity transferred from the charging station to the
 vehicle; or
 (2)  is not capable of measuring the time elapsed while
 actively charging a vehicle and calculating a fee for the charging
 session.
 SUBCHAPTER C.  OPERATION OF ELECTRIC VEHICLE SUPPLY EQUIPMENT
 Sec. 2311.0301.  DUTIES OF ELECTRIC VEHICLE SUPPLY PROVIDER.
 Unless electric vehicle supply equipment is exempt from the
 application of this chapter or has been removed from service, an
 electric vehicle supply provider shall:
 (1)  have electric vehicle supply equipment inspected
 as prescribed by commission rule; and
 (2)  maintain electric vehicle supply equipment in
 compliance with maintenance specifications, this chapter, and
 commission rule.
 Sec. 2311.0302.  REQUIRED REGISTRATION. (a) Unless
 electric vehicle supply equipment is exempt from the application of
 this chapter by commission rule, an electric vehicle supply
 provider shall register each charging unit of electric vehicle
 supply equipment operated by the provider with the department
 before the electric vehicle supply equipment is made available for
 use on a digital network for a commercial transaction.
 (b)  The department shall issue a registration to each
 applicant that meets the requirements of this chapter and submits
 an application that meets the requirements of this section. An
 application for electric vehicle supply equipment registration
 must:
 (1)  be submitted to the department in a manner
 prescribed by the department;
 (2)  be accompanied by any other document or form
 required by the department;
 (3)  include any fee required under Section 2311.0202;
 and
 (4)  include documentation of compliance with Section
 2311.0303, as prescribed by commission rule.
 Sec. 2311.0303.  SPECIFICATIONS. (a)  Specifications and
 tolerances for electric vehicle supply equipment shall be the same
 as those recommended by the National Institute of Standards and
 Technology.
 (b)  Electric vehicle supply equipment must be installed and
 operated in accordance with Chapter 1305.
 (c)  The commission may adopt rules as necessary to establish
 standards under this chapter.
 (d)  This subsection applies only to electric vehicle supply
 equipment installed after December 1, 2024, that is made available
 to the public and not intended primarily for private use. The
 commission, in consultation with the Texas Department of
 Transportation, shall adopt standards that require electric
 vehicle supply equipment to be equipped with a standard electric
 vehicle charging connector or plug type that is widely compatible
 with as many types of electric vehicles as practicable.
 Sec. 2311.0304.  FEES; DISCLOSURES. (a) An electric
 vehicle supply provider shall disclose on the display of the
 electric vehicle supply equipment or on the electric vehicle supply
 provider's digital network:
 (1)  the fee calculation method or methods; and
 (2)  applicable surcharges.
 (b)  Before the user begins charging, the electric vehicle
 supply provider shall disclose:
 (1)  the rate the user will be charged at the time of
 the transaction based on the available fee calculation method or
 methods; and
 (2)  a list of applicable surcharges.
 (c)  In accordance with commission rule, an electric vehicle
 supply provider shall show on the display of the provider's
 electric vehicle supply equipment or on the provider's digital
 network a notice to consumers that:
 (1)  states that the department regulates electric
 vehicle supply equipment; and
 (2)  provides information on filing a complaint with
 the department about electric vehicle supply equipment.
 Sec. 2311.0305.  RECEIPT. After a reasonable period
 following the completion of a commercial transaction for electric
 vehicle charging, on request of a user, the electric vehicle supply
 provider shall transmit a summary that includes:
 (1)  the date and time of the transaction;
 (2)  the physical location of the electric vehicle
 supply equipment;
 (3)  the duration of and kilowatt hours provided during
 the transaction; and
 (4)  an itemization of the total fees paid, including
 surcharges, if applicable.
 Sec. 2311.0306.  REPAIR OF DAMAGED ELECTRIC VEHICLE SUPPLY
 EQUIPMENT. (a) An electric vehicle supply provider shall:
 (1)  remove from operation in a manner that prevents
 use and access by the public, in accordance with commission rules,
 electric vehicle supply equipment that poses a safety risk; and
 (2)  remove electric vehicle supply equipment that
 poses a safety risk from the electric vehicle supply provider's
 digital network listing of available charging units.
 (b)  If the department determines that electric vehicle
 supply equipment poses a safety risk, the department shall place a
 tag or other mark with the words "Out of Order" on the electric
 vehicle supply equipment.
 (c)  An electric vehicle supply provider may not return
 electric vehicle supply equipment to operation until the equipment
 has been repaired in accordance with manufacturer specifications
 and commission rule.
 SUBCHAPTER D.  ENFORCEMENT
 Sec. 2311.0401.  DISCIPLINARY ACTION. A person is subject
 to the denial of an application, imposition of an administrative
 penalty under Subchapter F, Chapter 51, or disciplinary action
 under Section 51.353 if the person engages in a commercial
 transaction in violation of this chapter or a rule adopted under
 this chapter.
 Sec. 2311.0402.  ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES. A proceeding
 for the denial of a registration or a disciplinary action or an
 appeal from that proceeding is governed by Chapter 2001, Government
 Code.
 SECTION 2.  The Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation
 shall adopt rules necessary to implement the changes in law made by
 this Act not later than December 1, 2024.
 SECTION 3.  (a) The Texas Department of Licensing and
 Regulation may establish and lead a stakeholder work group to
 provide input, advice, and recommendations on the activities under
 this Act.  The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation shall
 establish the size, composition, and scope of the stakeholder work
 group.
 (b)  This section expires on December 1, 2024.
 SECTION 4.  (a) An electric vehicle supply provider shall
 register all of the provider's electric vehicle supply equipment in
 operation in this state not later than March 1, 2025.
 (b)  Except as provided by Subsection (c) of this section,
 electric vehicle supply equipment installed in this state must be
 operated in compliance with manufacturer specifications, Chapter
 2311, Occupations Code, as added by this Act, and Texas Commission
 of Licensing and Regulation rules:
 (1)  not later than March 1, 2028, if the equipment is
 installed before the effective date of this Act;
 (2)  not later than March 1, 2025, if the equipment is
 installed on or after the effective date of this Act and before
 March 1, 2025; and
 (3)  when the equipment begins operating, if the
 equipment is installed on or after March 1, 2025.
 (c)  Electric vehicle supply equipment installed in this
 state that is subject to Section 2311.0303(d), Occupations Code, as
 added by this Act, is not required to comply with that subsection or
 rules adopted under that subsection until January 1, 2030.
 SECTION 5.  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, 2023.