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15 Document(s) [ Subject: Building codes ]

Committee: Senate Business and Commerce
Title: Interim Report
Subjects: Alternative energy | Broadband infrastructure | Building codes | Consumer credit and debt | Consumer Credit Commissioner, Office of | Credit service organizations | Droughts | Electric meters | Electric power plants | Electric Reliability Council of Texas | Electric utilities | Electric utility deregulation | Electricity supplies | Electricity transmission and distribution | Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. | Homeowners insurance | Insurance, Texas Department of | Job training programs | Lifeline | Municipally-owned utilities | Occupational licenses | Rural areas | Subprime lending | Telecommunications | Telecommunications deregulation | Texas Windstorm Insurance Association | Universal Service Fund | Water and wastewater utility rates and charges | Workforce |
Library Call Number: L1836.83 B963
Session: 82nd R.S. (2011)
Online version: View report [222 pages]
Charges: This report should address the charges below.
1. Study the impact of drought, regulatory changes proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency, and changing market conditions on Texas' electrical market. Make recommendations, if needed to ensure continued access to reliable and affordable electricity. *
2. Assess the impact of extreme drought conditions on electric generation capacity.
3. Identify those regions of Texas that will be most affected by a lack of capacity.
4. Analyze response plans and make recommendations to improve and expedite those plans.
5. Study and make recommendations for workforce training programs in Texas to ensure that such programs meet business and worker needs. Specifically, study whether such programs target economic growth areas and future workforce needs of the health care, skilled trades, construction, manufacturing, aerospace, and information technology industries and help retain workers in those trades and fields.
6. Study the state's approach to licensing and regulation of occupations to ensure protection of public welfare, trust, health, and safety and eliminate unnecessary, overly restrictive, or anti-competitive regulation. Review guidelines and other states' approaches for determining when regulation is necessary and make recommendations for improving Texas' regulatory system.
7. Conduct a broad review of the Texas homeowners insurance market and make recommendations to improve transparency and consumer education, ensure fair practices, and lower rates. Specifically, consider the following:
  • Compare Texas' homeowners insurance premiums with those of other states and identify the factors underlying Texas' premium levels and recommend steps that the Legislature may take to reduce homeowners' rates, if appropriate;
  • Study strategies that increase awareness of state insurance resources to help consumers compare rates and coverage among various insurance providers
  • Study the relationship between insurance premiums and construction costs, especially as associated with recovery from natural disasters, to ensure that consumers are treated fairly;
  • Review the use by insurers, in rating and underwriting decisions, of customer inquiries regarding the general terms or conditions of, or coverage offered under, an insurance policy.
8. Study the relationship between city governments and municipally-owned utilities, including any duplicative or redundant functions, the amounts and justifications required for transfer payments between the entities, and the benefits and disadvantages of alternative governance structures.
9. Analyze the state of the telecommunications market in Texas, including the costs and benefits of full deregulation of the market; the impact and viability of the Texas Universal Service Fund and Provider of Last Resort requirements; the impact of SB 980, Regular Session, 82nd Legislature, relating to telecommunications regulation and rulemaking; the availability of broadband; telecommunications service discounts; and rights-­of-way charges. Make recommendations to enhance services, support the industry, and ensure adequate and affordable access for consumers.
10. Review current and pending ERCOT protocols as they apply to all generation technology, and identify those protocols that may provide operational, administrative, or competitive advantages to any specific generation by fuel type. Consider the impact any revisions to the protocols may have on grid reliability and electricity rates. Make recommendations for revisions or statutory changes to limit distortions in the Texas electrical market.
11. Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on Business & Commerce, 82nd Legislature, Regular and Called Sessions, and make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, and/or complete implementation. Specifically, review the implementation of HB 2592 and HB 2594 relating to payday lending, and make recommendations relating to consistency and coordination with local ordinances and federal law.
12. Study whether advanced meters, or smart meters, that have been, and will be, installed in Texas have harmful effects on health. Report findings on whether an independent testing company perform an analysis on the safety of advanced meters should be commissioned and the appropriate organization to conduct such a study.
Committee: Senate Business and Commerce
Title: Interim Report - Developing Building Codes for Coastal Properties
Library Catalog Title: Developing building codes for coastal properties : interim report to the 81st Texas Legislature
Subjects: Building codes | Gulf Coast | Tropical storms |
Library Call Number: L1836.80 B963c
Session: 80th R.S. (2007)
Online version: View report [115 pages  File size: 27,859 kb]
Charge: This report should address the charge below.
1. Study the advantages and disadvantages of developing a building code specific to coastal properties in order to mitigate hurricane damage. Focus on avoiding catastrophic losses of property during a major storm. Specifically, consider Florida's building code, which applies to the designation of Enhanced Hurricane Protection Areas (EHPAs) that meet specific criteria to provide shelter and protection for up to eight hours following a catastrophic event.
Committee: Senate Government Organization
Title: Interim Report
Library Catalog Title: Interim report to the 81st Legislature
Subjects: Background checks | Building codes | Energy conservation | Green building | Occupational licenses | State buildings | State land |
Library Call Number: L1836.80 G747o
Session: 80th R.S. (2007)
Online version: View report [68 pages  File size: 2,880 kb]
Charges: This report should address the charges below.
1. Study the function, structure, funding and operations of the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO). Identify opportunities to maximize the impact and further the mission of SECO, and support SECO's role in achieving energy efficiency reporting requirements and targets established through legislation.
2. Examine criminal background check requirements across Texas health and human service, law enforcement, and education agencies, as well as other licensed professionals. Determine best practices, develop cross-agency standards, and make recommendations for reducing costs and streamlining the process.
3. Study the economic and security costs and benefits, both short-term and long-term, of adoption of an open document format for state-created documents.
4. Study whether Texas should adopt high performance building standards. In light of the potential impact of Texas' population growth on the need for electricity and water, study whether high performance buildings can cost-effectively lower utility costs and make more efficient use of natural resources.
5. Study options for developing a new master-planned campus to serve the needs of state government and provide for future growth. Consider locations accessible to the government center, as well as relative property values and lease rates. Consider divestiture of certain real estate assets within Travis County to take advantage of favorable market conditions and the cost and benefits of reducing reliance on leased facilities. Coordinate activities with the Texas Facility Commission and the General Land Office.
6. Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Government Organization Committee, 80th R.S., and make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, and/or complete implementation.
Committee: Senate Intergovernmental Relations
Title: Interim Report
Library Catalog Title: Interim report, 78th Legislature / Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations.
Subjects: Building codes | Construction codes | County development districts | County government | Emergency medical services | Fire prevention | Foreclosures | Homeowners' associations | Real estate development | Special taxing districts | Water districts |
Library Call Number: L1836.77 l786
Session: 77th R.S. (2001)
Online version: View report [231 pages  File size: 3,203 kb]
Charges: This report should address the charges below.
1. Study the appropriateness of foreclosure and other powers granted to property owners' associations to enforce convenants.
2. Examine current state law regarding the purposes, authority and duties of all special districts, including county development districts and fresh water supply districts. The Committee shall examine procedures by which districts are created and board members are selected, the authority to tax and issue bonds, and annexation and condemnation powers. The Committee shall assess the need for safeguards and accountability measures.
3. Study the power of county officials to regulate growth and development in unincorporated areas, including housing development, subdivision regulation, water, and general health, welfare and safety. The Committee shall study county ordinance authority and shall assess the effects of HB 1445, 77th R.S., HB 3172, 77th R.S., and SB 873, 77th R.S..
4. Study the availability and delivrey of fire prevention and emergency medical services across the state. The Committee shall assess variances in service delivery and make recommendations to improve services.
Committee: Senate Intergovernmental Relations
Title: Interim Report
Library Catalog Title: Interim report, 77th Legislature / Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations.
Subjects: Affordable housing | Building codes | Competitive bidding | Councils of government | County government | Criminal Justice, Texas Department of | Design/build process | Housing and Community Affairs, Texas Department of | Municipal annexation | Municipalities | Real estate development | State government contracts | Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation | Transportation, Texas Department of |
Library Call Number: L1836.76 l786
Session: 76th R.S. (1999)
Online version: View report [262 pages  File size: 7,243 kb]
Charges: This report should address the charges below.
1. Evaluate the potential benefits offered through the "design-build" form of bidding, which allows engineers, architects, and builders to form teams and bid on state projects in contrast to the current method which mandates that each entity bid separately. The Committee shall compare the State of Texas practices to other states and to the private sector and evaluate the "design-build" option as it relates to buildings, roads, and other publicly funded projects.
2. Study the funding and expenditures of Councils of Government (COGs) and examine the changing relationship between COGs and the state and federal governments since 1982. The Committee shall monitor the compliance by COGS regarding publication of financial statements, as referenced in the General Appropriations Bill, HB 1, 76th R.S..
3. Review the statutory authority granted to local governments to regulate the development of residential subdivisions. The Committee shall identify conflicting provisions and make recommendations to clarify existing statutes.
4. Monitor the implementation of SB 89, 76th R.S. relating to municipal annexation.
5. Examine the powers, functions and programs administered by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) and the Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation (TSAHC). The committee's report will assess the methodology used in allocating the various housing funds and resources, including the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program and the Housing Trust Fund, and the compliance by the agency with that methodology, and address whether the programs administered by TDHCA and the TSAHC meet the affordable housing demands of targeted population groups throughout the State of Texas.
Committee: House Land and Resource Management
Title: Interim Report
Library Catalog Title: House Committee on Land and Resource Management, Texas House of Representatives interim report, 2000 : a report to the House of Representatives, 77th Texas Legislature.
Subjects: Building codes | Coastal erosion | Coastal protection | County government | Eminent domain | Highway beautification | Municipal annexation | Municipalities | Real estate development | Zoning |
Library Call Number: L1836.76 l229
Session: 76th R.S. (1999)
Online version: View report [100 pages  File size: 367 kb]
Charges: This report should address the charges below.
1. Study the ability of counties to provide for appropriate growth and development in unincorporated areas while balancing private property rights.
2. Conduct a survey of cities and towns sufficient to establish a factual basis for the committee's consideration of matters such as annexation, condemnation and development.
3. Study the regulation of billboards placed along highways.
4. Conduct active oversight of the agencies under the committee's jurisdiction. Monitor actions taken under HB 1704, 76th R.S., SB 710, 76th R.S., and SB 1690, 76th R.S..
Committee: House Urban Affairs
Title: Interim report
Library Catalog Title: House Committee on Urban Affairs, Texas House of Representatives interim report, 2000 : a report to the House of Representatives, 77th Texas Legislature.
Subjects: Affordable housing | Building codes | Firefighters | Housing and Community Affairs, Texas Department of | Manufactured housing | Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation | Volunteer workers |
Library Call Number: L1836.76 ur1
Session: 76th R.S. (1999)
Online version: View report [166 pages  File size: 7,699 kb]
Charges: This report should address the charges below.
1. Study the needs of volunteer fire departments, and evaluate their capacity to fulfill their mission of protecting the public.
2. Review the data used by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs to make decisions affecting affordable housing. Determine the adequacy of the data as it relates to the scope, timeliness, and accuracy of information.
3. Assess the advantages and disadvantages of manufactured housing as one means to alleviate affordable housing deficits.
4. Conduct active oversight of the agencies under the committee's jurisdiction.
Committee: House Insurance
Title: Interim report
Library Catalog Title: Insurance, Texas House of Representatives interim report, 1996 : a report to the House of Representatives, 75th Legislature.
Subjects: Automobile insurance | Building codes | Texas Catastrophic Property Insurance Association |
Library Call Number: L1836.75 in7
Session: 74th R.S. (1995)
Online version: View report [50 pages  File size: 2,167 kb]
Charges: This report should address the charges below.
1. Conduct active oversight of agencies under the committee's jurisdiction.
2. Study practices related to the repair and salvage of motor vehicles under automobile insurance policies.
3. Study the long-term financial stability and solvency of the Texas Catastrophe Property Insurance Association.
4. Review proposals to change building specifications in the plan of operation for the Texas Catastrophe Property Insurance Association.
Committee: Joint Fire Protection Standards
Title: Interim report
Library Catalog Title: Report to the 69th Texas Legislature / from the Texas Fire Protection Standards Committee.
Subjects: Building codes | Fire prevention |
Library Call Number: L1836.68 f514
Session: 68th R.S. (1983)
Online version: View report [103 pages  File size: 2,951 kb]
Charge: This report should address the charge below.
1. Formulate and suggest to the legislature fire protection standards to be enacted statutorily or otherwise adopted through enhanced rulemaking authority on the part of the state fire marshal. In formulating proposed fire protection standards, the committee should address the issues of: (1) whether such standards should be adopted by statute or by rule; (2) whether standards should apply statewide in a uniform fashion or should apply instead only to unincorporated or other areas not presently covered by any standards; (3) whether, under the latter arrangement above in which cities retain their individual authority to adopt fire protection codes, the state fire marshal should have the authority to require mandatory adoption of the Uniform Building Code, Southern Standard Building Code, or some other model code, or at least should have the authority to approve or disapprove the adoption of municipal fire protection codes; (4) whether, under the same arrangement, the state fire marshal should have the authority to prohibit amendments or variances that conflict with municipal fire protection codes; (5) whether, assuming that consideration of the matter is not preempted by enactment of legislation during the 68th Legislature, the state should require the equipping of high-rise buildings with sprinkler systems; (6) whether, similarly assuming no related legislation is enacted during the current session, the state should adopt special fire protection standards for hospitals and convalescent homes, schools and day-care centers, hotels and motels, or other places of public congregation posing a particular threat to human life in the event of a catastrophic fire; and (7) whether the State Board of Insurance should institute, as an incentive to the installation of fire protection devices, mandatory insurance-premium reductions in cases where automatic sprinkler systems or other fire protection technologies have been installed.
Supporting documents
Committee: Joint Fire Protection Standards
Title: HCR 62
Library Call Number: HCR 62
Session: 68th R.S. (1983)
Online version: View document [6 pages  File size: 701 kb]
Committee: Joint Fire Protection Standards
Title: Notices of public hearing and formal meeting
Library Catalog Title: Minutes
Library Call Number: L1801.9 F514 68
Session: 68th R.S. (1983)
Online version: View document [8 pages]
Committee: Joint Texas Coastal and Marine Council
Title: Interim Report - Hurricane resistant building standards and natural hazards
Library Catalog Title: Hurricane resistant building standards and natural hazards.
Subjects: Building codes | Natural disasters | Tropical storms |
Library Call Number: M300.5 h942
Session: 64th R.S. (1975)
Online version: View report [18 pages  File size: 1,328 kb]
Charge: This report should address the charge below.
1. Develop model minimum building standards for high-risk areas along the Texas coast that are particularly susceptible to damage by hurricanes and other natural processes. The principal responsibility for development of such model minimum standards shall rest with the Texas Coastal and Marine Council in cooperation with the Texas Engineering Extension Service, the Division of Disaster Emergency Services and the Bureau of Economic Geology; in performing the duties called for in this Resolution, the responsible agencies shall cooperate and coordinate with local governments, other state agencies, federal agencies, educational institutions, building groups, and any other appropriate persons; agencies and political subdivisions of the state are directed to cooperate with, and upon the request of the council, shall furnish, within the limits of their respective facilities, such data reports, and other information as may be required to fulfill the purposes of this Resolution. The responsible agencies shall consider: (a) the nature and extent of natural processes and forces associated with hurricanes including, but not limited to , wind surge tides, scour, and aftermath flooding; (b) the degree of exposure and susceptibility to destructive forces; (c) the structure and foundation design and construction practices that reduce vulnerability; (d) the levels of acceptable risks associated with protection of lives and mitigation of property damages; (e) the impact on insurance availability and cost; (f) the economic and financial implications; (g) the enforcement aspects; (h) the current activities which may increase the risk to life and property from natural forces and hazards; (i) the esthetic and environmental considerations; and (j) any other matters the responsible agencies deem appropriate.
Supporting documents
Committee: Joint Texas Coastal and Marine Council
Title: Model minimum hurricane resistant building standards for the Texas Gulf Coast
Library Catalog Title: Model minimum hurricane resistant building standards for the Texas Gulf Coast.
Library Call Number: M300.5 m72
Session: 64th R.S. (1975)
Committee: Joint Texas Coastal and Marine Council
Title: Pictoral atlas of Texas coastal hazards
Library Catalog Title: Pictoral atlas of Texas coastal hazards.
Library Call Number: M300.8 p589
Session: 64th R.S. (1975)
Committee: Senate Slums and Slum Clearance
Title: Interim Report
Library Catalog Title: A report to the Senate of the 61st Legislature, state of Texas / by the Senate Interim Committee on Slums and Slum Clearance.
Subjects: Affordable housing | Building codes | Substandard housing |
Library Call Number: L1836.60 sl78
Session: 60th R.S. (1967)
Online version: View report [84 pages  File size: 3,357 kb]
Charge: This report should address the charge below.
1. Study the problem of slums in Texas, the various plans of effective slum clearance utilized in other metropolitan areas of the United States and the possibility of large slum clearance and renewal projects by insurance companies.

* This represents an abstract of the report contents. Charge text is incomplete or unavailable.

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