2023 -- S 0855 SUBSTITUTE A

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LC002306/SUB A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE

     Introduced By: Senator Victoria Gu

     Date Introduced: March 30, 2023

     Referred To: Senate Commerce

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 23-27.3-100.1.5.4 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-27.3 entitled

"State Building Code" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     23-27.3-100.1.5.4. State energy conservation code.

     (a) The state building code standards committee ("committee") shall adopt, an energy

conservation code, which shall be based on appropriate nationally and internationally recognized

models, and shall promulgate and administer the energy conservation code. The energy

conservation code shall contain provisions pertaining to, but not limited to, the construction of

buildings, the use of renewable energy resources in buildings, the efficient use of energy within

buildings, and the orientation of buildings on their sites. The state energy conservation code shall

at a minimum:

     (1) For residential or commercial buildings, meet or exceed the most recently published

International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), or achieve equivalent or greater energy savings.

The state building code standards committee shall revise the state energy conservation code to

comply with this requirement within one year of any update to the International Energy

Conservation Code; provided, however, that the 2021 IECC published by the International Code

Council shall not be adopted and the 2024 IECC published by the International Code Council shall

be adopted within (3) three months of its release.

     (2) For commercial buildings, meet or exceed the ANSI/ASHRAE/IESN A Standard 90.1-

2007, or achieve equivalent or greater energy savings.

     Within one year of the release of the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code, the

state building code standards committee shall revise the state energy conservation code to meet or

exceed the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code's electric readiness provisions.

     (b) No later than six (6) months after the adoption of the building code(s) described in

subsection (a) of this section, The the state building code standards committee shall develop a plan

to achieve compliance with the building code(s) described in subdivisions (1) and (2) no later than

February 17, 2017 described in subsection (a) of this section in at least ninety percent (90%) of new

and renovated residential and commercial building space in the state. Such plan shall include active

training and enforcement programs and measurement of the rate of compliance each year.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE

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     This act would require the state building code standards committee to revise the state

energy conservation code to meet or exceed the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code

electric readiness provisions.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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