HBA-NRS H.B. 2007 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2007
By: Naishtat
Public Health
3/21/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Indoor air pollutants, which may include toxic forms of mold, are of
increasing concern to the public. Among the major causes of unhealthy
indoor air quality in schools are poor facility design, improper
ventilation, improperly installed heating and air conditioning systems,
water leaks, high humidity, and outgassing of new materials. In 1995, the
74th Texas Legislature passed law authorizing the Texas Board of Health to
establish voluntary guidelines for indoor air quality and ventilation in
schools. House Bill 2007 establishes mandatory indoor air quality
guidelines for newly constructed or substantially renovated schools. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority is expressly delegated to the Texas Board of Health in SECTION 1
(Section 385.002, Health and Safety Code) of this bill. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 2007 amends the Health and Safety Code to require the Texas
Board of Health (board) by rule to establish mandatory guidelines for
indoor air quality in a public school for which construction or a
substantial renovation of the school begins after the date that the board's
mandatory guidelines are adopted and take effect. In establishing the
guidelines, the bill requires the board to consider certain costs and
effects associated with indoor air quality.  

The bill amends the Education Code to prohibit a school district from using
school facilities allotment funds to make payments on bonds issued in
connection with the renovation of an instructional facility unless the
district obtains a copy of a survey conducted promptly after the renovation
is complete that analyzes the facility's overall indoor air quality. A
survey is not necessary for a renovation project for which working drawings
were completed before the effective date of the Act.    

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.