Bill Text: TX HB2406 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to transferring certain energy assistance programs from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs to the Public Utility Commission of Texas.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-04-06 - No action taken in committee [HB2406 Detail]
Download: Texas-2011-HB2406-Introduced.html
82R9886 AJZ-F | ||
By: J. Davis of Harris | H.B. No. 2406 |
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relating to transferring certain energy assistance programs from | ||
the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs to the Public | ||
Utility Commission of Texas. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Section 2306.097, Government Code, is | ||
transferred to Subchapter B, Chapter 16, Utilities Code, | ||
redesignated as Section 16.022, Utilities Code, and amended to read | ||
as follows: | ||
Sec. 16.022 [ |
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ASSISTANCE PROGRAM [ |
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responsibility for administration of the following elements of the | ||
State Low-Income Energy Assistance Program, from whatever sources | ||
funded: | ||
(1) the Energy Crisis Intervention Program; | ||
(2) the weatherization program; and | ||
(3) the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. | ||
(b) Applications, forms, and educational materials for a | ||
program administered under Subsection (a)(1), (2), or (3) must be | ||
provided in English, Spanish, and any other appropriate language. | ||
SECTION 2. Section 39.903(f), Utilities Code, is amended to | ||
read as follows: | ||
(f) Notwithstanding Section 39.106(b), the commission shall | ||
adopt rules regarding programs to assist low-income electric | ||
customers on the introduction of customer choice. The programs may | ||
not be targeted to areas served by municipally owned utilities or | ||
electric cooperatives that have not adopted customer choice. The | ||
programs shall include: | ||
(1) reduced electric rates as provided by Subsections | ||
(h)-(l); and | ||
(2) targeted energy efficiency programs to be | ||
administered [ |
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SECTION 3. Section 2305.036(c), Government Code, is amended | ||
to read as follows: | ||
(c) Projects funded under this program may include: | ||
(1) projects to demonstrate commercially available | ||
cost-effective energy-saving techniques and technologies; | ||
(2) training and technical assistance in | ||
energy-efficient construction, design, or remodeling; | ||
(3) projects to provide energy education workshops or | ||
seminars for consumers; | ||
(4) financing for energy designs and improvements, | ||
energy-efficient appliances, and energy management systems; and | ||
(5) funding of a weatherization assistance program | ||
through the Public Utility Commission of Texas [ |
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income. | ||
SECTION 4. Section 2306.187(e), Government Code, is amended | ||
to read as follows: | ||
(e) Subsections (a) and (b) do not apply to a single or | ||
multifamily dwelling that receives weatherization assistance money | ||
from the Public Utility Commission of Texas [ |
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provided under the first-time homebuyer program. | ||
SECTION 5. (a) As soon as practicable after the effective | ||
date of this Act, the Texas Department of Housing and Community | ||
Affairs and the Public Utility Commission of Texas shall develop a | ||
transition plan for transferring the functions performed by the | ||
department under Section 2306.097, Government Code, to the | ||
commission. The transition plan must include a timetable with | ||
specific steps and deadlines needed to complete the transfer. | ||
(b) In accordance with the transition plan developed by the | ||
Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs and the Public | ||
Utility Commission of Texas under Subsection (a) of this section, | ||
on November 1, 2011: | ||
(1) all functions and activities relating to Section | ||
2306.097, Government Code, performed by the Texas Department of | ||
Housing and Community Affairs immediately before that date are | ||
transferred to the Public Utility Commission of Texas; | ||
(2) a rule or form adopted by the executive director of | ||
the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs that relates | ||
to Section 2306.097, Government Code, is a rule or form of the | ||
Public Utility Commission of Texas and remains in effect until | ||
amended or replaced by the commission; | ||
(3) a reference in law to or an administrative rule of | ||
the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs that relates | ||
to Section 2306.097, Government Code, means the Public Utility | ||
Commission of Texas; | ||
(4) a complaint, investigation, or other proceeding | ||
before the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs that | ||
is related to Section 2306.097, Government Code, is transferred | ||
without change in status to the Public Utility Commission of Texas, | ||
and the commission assumes, as appropriate and without a change in | ||
status, the position of the department in an action or proceeding to | ||
which the department is a party; | ||
(5) any employee of the Texas Department of Housing | ||
and Community Affairs who is primarily involved in administering | ||
Section 2306.097, Government Code, becomes an employee of the | ||
Public Utility Commission of Texas; | ||
(6) all money, contracts, leases, property, and | ||
obligations of the Texas Department of Housing and Community | ||
Affairs related to Section 2306.097, Government Code, are | ||
transferred to the Public Utility Commission of Texas; | ||
(7) all property in the custody of the Texas | ||
Department of Housing and Community Affairs related to Section | ||
2306.097, Government Code, is transferred to the Public Utility | ||
Commission of Texas; and | ||
(8) the unexpended and unobligated balance of any | ||
money appropriated by the legislature for the Texas Department of | ||
Housing and Community Affairs related to Section 2306.097, | ||
Government Code, is transferred to the Public Utility Commission of | ||
Texas. | ||
(c) Before November 1, 2011, the Texas Department of Housing | ||
and Community Affairs may agree with the Public Utility Commission | ||
of Texas to transfer any property of the department to the | ||
commission to implement the transfer required by this Act. | ||
(d) In the period beginning September 1, 2011, and ending on | ||
November 1, 2011, the Texas Department of Housing and Community | ||
Affairs shall continue to perform functions and activities under | ||
Section 2306.097, Government Code, as if that section had not been | ||
transferred, redesignated, and amended by this Act, and the former | ||
law is continued in effect for that purpose. | ||
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |