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.