Florida Senate - 2010                                     SB 6-A
       
       
       
       By Senator Bennett
       
       
       
       
       21-00006-10A                                            20106A__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to energy efficiency rebate programs;
    3         authorizing the Florida Energy and Climate Commission
    4         to pay certain rebates pursuant to the Florida ENERGY
    5         STAR Residential HVAC Rebate Program; authorizing the
    6         Florida Energy and Climate Commission to pay certain
    7         rebates pursuant to the Solar Energy System Incentives
    8         Program; providing appropriations; providing a
    9         penalty; providing an effective date.
   10  
   11  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   12  
   13         Section 1. (1) As provided in this section and section 2, a
   14  portion of the total amount appropriated in this act shall be
   15  utilized by the Florida Energy and Climate Commission to pay
   16  rebates to eligible applicants who submit an application
   17  pursuant to the Florida ENERGY STAR Residential HVAC Rebate
   18  Program administered by the commission, as approved by the
   19  United States Department of Energy. An applicant is eligible for
   20  a rebate under this section if:
   21         (a) A complete application is submitted to the commission
   22  on or before November 30, 2010.
   23         (b) The central air conditioner, air source heat pump, or
   24  geothermal heat pump system replacement for which the applicant
   25  is seeking a rebate was purchased from or contracted for
   26  purchase with a Florida-licensed contractor after August 29,
   27  2010, but before September 15, 2010, and fully installed prior
   28  to submission of the application for a rebate.
   29         (c) The commission determines that the application complies
   30  with this section and any existing agreement with the United
   31  States Department of Energy governing the Florida ENERGY STAR
   32  Residential HVAC Rebate Program.
   33         (d) The applicant provides the following information to the
   34  commission on or before November 30, 2010:
   35         1.a. A copy of the sales receipt indicating a date of
   36  purchase after August 29, 2010, but before September 15, 2010,
   37  with the make and model number identified and circled along with
   38  the name and address of the Florida-licensed contractor who
   39  installed the system; or
   40         b. A copy of the contract for the purchase and installation
   41  of the system indicating a contract date after August 29, 2010,
   42  but before September 15, 2010, and a copy of the sales receipt
   43  indicating a date of purchase after August 29, 2010, but on or
   44  before November 30, 2010, with the make and model number
   45  identified and circled along with the name and address of the
   46  Florida-licensed contractor who installed the system.
   47         2. A copy of the mechanical building permit issued by the
   48  county or municipality and pulled by the Florida-licensed
   49  contractor who installed the system for the residence.
   50         3. A copy of the Air Distribution System Test Report
   51  results from a Florida-certified Class 1 energy gauge rater, a
   52  Florida-licensed mechanical contractor, or a recognized test and
   53  balance agent. The results from the test must indicate the home
   54  has no more than 15 percent leakage to the outside as measured
   55  by 0.10 Qn.out or less.
   56         4. A copy of the summary of the Manual J program completed
   57  for the residence to indicate that the proper methodology for
   58  sizing the new system was completed.
   59         (2) The Florida Energy and Climate Commission shall pay a
   60  $1,500 rebate to each consumer who submits an application
   61  pursuant to the Florida ENERGY STAR Residential HVAC Rebate
   62  Program if the application is approved by the commission in
   63  accordance with this act. The commission shall pay all rebates
   64  authorized in this section prior to paying any rebates
   65  authorized in section 2.
   66         Section 2. Notwithstanding s. 377.806(6), Florida Statutes,
   67  the Florida Energy and Climate Commission shall utilize up to
   68  $28,902,623, less any amount in excess of $2,467,244 used to pay
   69  rebates pursuant to section 1, to pay a percentage of each
   70  unpaid and approved rebate application submitted pursuant to the
   71  Solar Energy System Incentives Program established in s.
   72  377.806, Florida Statutes. An applicant is eligible for a rebate
   73  under this section if the application submitted complies with s.
   74  377.806, Florida Statutes. The percentage of each approved
   75  rebate to be paid shall be derived by dividing the remaining
   76  appropriation by the total dollar value of the backlog of final
   77  approved solar rebates, pursuant to the authorized limits
   78  provided in s. 377.806, Florida Statutes.
   79         Section 3. For the 2010-2011 fiscal year, and to
   80  exclusively implement section 1, the sum of $2,467,244 in
   81  nonrecurring funds is appropriated from the Grants and Donations
   82  Trust Fund to the Florida Energy and Climate Commission. In
   83  addition, the sum of $28,902,623 from the Grants and Donations
   84  Trust Fund, from Specific Appropriation 2561A, chapter 2009-81,
   85  Laws of Florida, is immediately reverted and reappropriated to
   86  the Florida Energy and Climate Commission for the 2010-2011
   87  fiscal year to implement section 1, if actual rebates paid
   88  exceed $2,467,244, and section 2.
   89         Section 4. Any applicant who obtains a rebate pursuant to
   90  this act based on the submission of information that the
   91  applicant knows to be false commits a theft, punishable as
   92  provided in s. 812.014, Florida Statutes.
   93         Section 5. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.