Purpose

• The bill aims to improve how the State Energy Code is applied by helping municipalities stay compliant through targeted support for their code enforcement officials. It focuses on education, training, and tools that aid compliance and make use of compatible technology, especially for performance-based energy code standards.

Main Provisions

• Appropriates $1,000,000 from the general fund in fiscal year 2027 to the commissioner of labor and industry.
• The money is to be used to make competitive grants to provide code enforcement officials in municipalities with a population of at least 50,000 with:
  • education and training,
  • support tools related to code compliance, and
  • technology compatibility to streamline the State Energy Code compliance process.
• Five percent of the appropriation is designated for grant administration.
• This is a one-time appropriation and remains available until June 30, 2029.
• By December 31, 2028, the commissioner must report to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over the State Energy Code on how the grants were spent and what outcomes were achieved.

Recipients and Beneficiaries

• Eligible municipalities: those with a population of at least 50,000.
• Primary beneficiaries: code enforcement officials in those municipalities.

Funding Details

• Type: Competitive grants.
• Administration: 5% set aside for grant administration.
• Source: General fund.
• Duration: One-time funding, available through June 30, 2029.

Reporting and Accountability

• Accountability requirement: The commissioner must report costs and outcomes of the grants.
• Deadline: Report due by December 31, 2028 to legislative committees overseeing the State Energy Code.

Relationship to Existing Law

• The bill does not change the State Building Code itself. Instead, it provides funding and a reporting requirement to support enforcement and compliance with the State Energy Code, particularly for performance-based standards, and to streamline the compliance process through education, training, and technology tools.

Implementation Timeline

• Fiscal Year 2027: Funds authorized and available for grants.
• Through June 30, 2029: Onetime appropriation remains available.
• December 31, 2028: Required reporting on expenditures and outcomes.

Potential Impacts

• Improved compliance with the State Energy Code in large municipalities.
• Enhanced training and resources for code enforcement officials.
• Potentially more efficient permitting and enforcement processes due to better tools and technology compatibility.
• Clear accountability through mandated reporting.

Significance

• Addresses energy code compliance challenges by investing in education, tools, and technology for large-city code enforcement agencies.

Relevant Terms - State Energy Code - code enforcement officials - municipalities - population of at least 50,000 - competitive grants - education - training - tools related to compliance - technology compatibility - performance-based energy code standards - grant administration - general fund - commissioner of labor and industry - one-time appropriation - expenditures - outcomes - legislative committees