Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 235 Second Substitute (2020GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Arent, P.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/31/2020

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Gary R. Herbert

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• provides for the creation of model rules by the Office of Energy Development for a voluntary home energy information pilot program;
• requires the Office of Energy Development to administer or contract for the administration of an advisory committee and the development of model rules;
• requires the Office of Energy Development to develop model rules for a home energy performance score system;
• creates the Home Energy Information Advisory Committee to consult on the development of model rules for a home energy information pilot program and the home energy performance score system;
• specifies advisory committee membership and duties; and
• provides for a sunset of provisions relating to the voluntary home energy information pilot program.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

VOLUNTARY HOME ENERGY INFORMATION PILOT
PROGRAM
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Patrice M. Arent
Senate Sponsor: 
Curtis S. Bramble
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill addresses a voluntary home energy information pilot program.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ provides for the creation of model rules by the Office of Energy Development for a
voluntary home energy information pilot program;
▸ requires the Office of Energy Development to administer or contract for the
administration of an advisory committee and the development of model rules;
▸ requires the Office of Energy Development to develop model rules for a home
energy performance score system;
▸ creates the Home Energy Information Advisory Committee to consult on the
development of model rules for a home energy information pilot program and the
home energy performance score system;
▸ specifies advisory committee membership and duties; and
▸ provides for a sunset of provisions relating to the voluntary home energy
information pilot program.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2021:
▸ to the Governor's Office of Energy Development - Office of Energy Development,
as a one-time appropriation:
• from the General Fund, One-time, $50,000.
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
63I-2-263
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapters 182, 240, 246, 325, 370,
and 483
ENACTS:
63M-4-801
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
63M-4-802
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
63M-4-803
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
63M-4-804
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
63M-4-805
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
63I-2-263
 is amended to read:
63I-2-263.
Repeal dates, Title 63A to Title 63N.
(1) On July 1, 2020:
(a) Subsection 
63A-1-203
(5)(a)(i) is repealed; and
(b) in Subsection 
63A-1-203
(5)(a)(ii), the language that states "appointed on or after
May 8, 2018," is repealed.
(2) Sections 
63C-4a-307
 and 
63C-4a-309
 are repealed January 1, 2020.
(3) Title 63C, Chapter 19, Higher Education Strategic Planning Commission is
repealed July 1, 2020.
(4) The following sections regarding the World War II Memorial Commission are
repealed on July 1, 2020:
(a) Section 
63G-1-801
;
(b) Section 
63G-1-802
;
(c) Section 
63G-1-803
; and
(d) Section 
63G-1-804
.
(5) In relation to the State Fair Park Committee, on January 1, 2021:
(a) Section 
63H-6-104.5
 is repealed; and
(b) Subsections 
63H-6-104
(8) and (9) are repealed.
(6) Section 
63H-7a-303
 is repealed on July 1, 2022.
(7) In relation to the Employability to Careers Program Board, on July 1, 2022:
(a) Subsection 
63J-1-602.1
(52) is repealed;
(b) Subsection 
63J-4-301
(1)(h), related to the review of data and metrics, is repealed;
and
(c) Title 63J, Chapter 4, Part 7, Employability to Careers Program, is repealed.
(8) Section 
63J-4-708
 is repealed January 1, 2023.
(9) Title 63M, Chapter 4, Part 8, Voluntary Home Energy Information Pilot Program
Act, is repealed January 1, 2022.
Section 2. Section 
63M-4-801
 is enacted to read:
Part 8. Voluntary Home Energy Information Pilot Program Act
 63M-4-801.
Title.
This part is known as the "Voluntary Home Energy Information Pilot Program Act."
Section 3. Section 
63M-4-802
 is enacted to read:
 63M-4-802.
Definitions.
As used in this part:
(1) "Advisory committee" means the committee created in Subsection 
63M-4-805
(1).
(2) "Asset rating" means a representation of a residential building's energy efficiency or
energy use generated by modeling under standardized weather and occupancy conditions.
(3) "Home" means a single-family detached or single-family attached enclosed
structure created for permanent use as a residence.
(4) "Home energy assessment" means the evaluation or testing of components or
systems in a residential building for the purpose of identifying options for increasing energy
conservation and energy efficiency.
(5) "Home energy assessor" means a qualified person who:
(a) conducts home energy assessments on residential buildings;
(b) assigns residential buildings a home energy performance score; and
(c) prepares a home energy performance report for residential buildings.
(6) "Home energy performance report" means a report prepared by a home energy
assessor that identifies a residential building's home energy performance score, an explanation
of the score, an estimate of the total energy used in the home, and other information required to
be included in the report under Section 
63M-4-804
.
(7) "Home energy performance score" means a score assigned to a residential building
using the home energy performance score system created by the office pursuant to Section
63M-4-804
.
(8) "Home energy performance score system" means a technical and administrative
framework for producing and reporting metrics that describe the energy consumption,
generation, and efficiency of a building.
(9) "Program" means the voluntary home energy information pilot program for which
model rules are created in Section 
63M-4-803
.
(10) "Residential building" means a home.
Section 4. Section 
63M-4-803
 is enacted to read:
 63M-4-803.
Voluntary Home Energy Information Pilot Program.
(1) The office shall develop model rules for a voluntary home energy information pilot
program.
(2) The model rules shall be designed to:
(a) provide widespread information to home buyers and sellers about a home's energy
efficiency, cost savings, and air quality impacts; and
(b) empower consumers to ask about the energy efficiency performance of homes and
increase market demand for energy efficient homes and home energy efficiency upgrades.
(3) The office may use appropriated funds to develop model rules for a home energy
performance score system described in Section 
63M-4-804
 for homes.
(4) Model rules to implement the program may include:
(a) proposed application procedures to receive a reimbursement from the program for a
home energy assessment and home energy performance report;
(b) the criteria used by the office to determine whether a reimbursement request is
approved;
(c) the administratively best method and form for making a reimbursement;
(d) the criteria used by the office to determine the amount of a reimbursement;
(e) the information that an applicant or applicant's designee will be required to report to
the office to receive a reimbursement;
(f) specifications for the procedures and requirements for conducting a home energy
assessment;
(g) the requirements for a home energy performance report; and
(h) the qualifications for home energy assessors.
(5) The office shall administer or contract for the administration of the advisory
committee and the development of model rules.
(6) The office shall provide a report to the Legislature's Business and Labor Interim
Committee and Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Interim Committee no later than
November 30, 2020 on:
(a) the status of the model rules; and
(b) recommendations for implementing a pilot program based on the model rules.
Section 5. Section 
63M-4-804
 is enacted to read:
 63M-4-804.
Home energy performance score system.
(1) In consultation with the advisory committee, the office shall create a home energy
performance score system that shall:
(a) have the capability to generate a home energy performance score that meets the
requirements of Subsection (2);
(b) have the capability to generate a home energy performance report that meets the
requirements of Subsection (3);
(c) have the capability to incorporate building energy assessment software, the output
of which is to be used to derive the information presented on the home energy performance
report; and
(d) specify training requirements for home energy assessors.
(2) A home energy performance score under Subsection (1)(a) shall:
(a) be an asset rating that is based on physical inspection of the home or design
documents used for the home's construction; and
(b) use one or a combination of the following approaches for home energy scoring:
(i) the issuance of a home energy score by the United States Department of Energy; or
(ii) the issuance of a home energy rating system by the Residential Energy Services
Network.
(3) A home energy performance report described in Subsection (1)(b) shall include:
(a) the home energy performance score described in Subsection (1)(a) and an
explanation of the score;
(b) an estimate of the total energy used in the home in retail units of energy, by fuel
type;
(c) an estimate of the annual energy costs for operating the home;
(d) an estimate of the annual emissions resulting from energy used in the home;
(e) a list of recommended home improvements to reduce energy use in the home; and
(f) other information the office, in consultation with the advisory committee,
determines is appropriate to include in the model rules.
Section 6. Section 
63M-4-805
 is enacted to read:
 63M-4-805.
Home energy information advisory committee.
(1) There is created a home energy information advisory committee.
(2) The advisory committee shall be composed of the following 12 members:
(a) an individual who is an expert in residential real estate, as recommended by the
Utah Association of Realtors;
(b) an individual who is an expert in residential construction as recommended by the
Utah Home Builders Association;
(c) an individual who is an expert in land development for residential communities but
is not a home builder;
(d) an individual who is a nonprofit energy efficiency or air quality advocate;
(e) an individual who is an expert in residential home energy assessments;
(f) an individual who is an expert in residential home inspections;
(g) an individual who is an expert in public education and marketing;
(h) an individual who is an expert in residential appraisals, as recommended by the
Utah Association of Appraisers;
(i) an individual who is an expert in electric utility energy efficiency programs;
(j) an individual who is an expert in natural gas utility energy efficiency programs;
(k) an individual who is an expert in residential architecture, as recommended by the
Utah Chapter of the American Institute of Architects; and
(l) the director of the Governor's Office of Energy Development or the director's
designee.
(3) The director of the office shall appoint the members of the advisory committee
which shall assist the director in developing model rules for a home energy performance score
system described in Section 
63M-4-804
.
(4) The director of the office, or the director's designee, shall act as chair of the
advisory committee.
(5) An advisory committee member may not receive compensation or benefits for the
member's service on the advisory committee.
Section 7. 
Appropriation.
The following sums of money are appropriated for the fiscal year beginning July 1,
2020, and ending June 30, 2021. These are additions to amounts previously appropriated for
fiscal year 2021. Under the terms and conditions of Title 63J, Chapter 1, Budgetary Procedures
Act, the Legislature appropriates the following sums of money from the funds or accounts
indicated for the use and support of the government of the state of Utah.
ITEM 1
To the Governor's Office of Energy Development - Office of Energy Development
From General Fund, One-time
$50,000
Schedule of Programs:
Home Energy Information Pilot Program
$50,000
The Legislature intends that the money appropriated in this section be used for the
development of model rules for the voluntary home energy information pilot program under
Title 63M, Chapter 4, Part 8, Voluntary Home Energy Information Pilot Program Act.