HBA-KDB H.B. 3546 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3546
By: Chisum
Land & Resource Management
4/6/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The 2000 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) is a guide that
establishes minimum regulations for energy-efficient buildings using
prescriptive and performance-related provisions.  The IECC  was developed
to conserve energy,  to minimize increased construction  costs, and not
restrict the use of or give preferential treatment to particular type of
materials, products, or methods of construction.  Adoption of the IECC by
the state would provide standards for the reduction of energy use in
buildings which could provide for a cleaner environment, reduce costs to
builders and owners, and reduce operating costs by saving energy used in
operating buildings.  House Bill 3546 establishes the environmental
building code advisory committee (committee) to review any building codes
from local governments, other states, the federal government or any
international organization and requires the Department of Licensing and
Regulation to adopt a Texas Environmental Building Code based on the
committee's recommendations. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 3546 amends law to establish the Texas Environmental Building
Code Act.  The bill requires the Department of Licensing and Regulation
(department) to appoint an environmental building code advisory committee
(committee) and sets forth its composition requirements.  The bill requires
the committee to review any building codes from local governments, other
states, the federal government, or any international organization which is
based in energy efficient building construction and to make recommendations
to the department for establishing a Texas environmental building code.
The bill requires the department to adopt such a code based on the
committee's recommendations . 

The bill amends the Health and Safety Code to authorize a county to adopt
environmental building codes as established by the department.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.