HBA-ATS H.B. 1842 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1842 By: Burnam Business & Industry 3/25/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE It is estimated that four million Texans live with a physical disability. U.S. Census reports estimate that more than 30 million Americans will be 65 years or older by the year 2000. Physical disabilities and aging limit mobility, hindering people from enjoying life. Compounding the problem is the fact that most homes were and are not designed to accommodate people with a disability. H.B. 1842 provides that a speculative home (a single-family dwelling that is constructed for sale on the open market and not constructed for immediate occupancy) must include certain features. The home must have at least one entrance door that is on an accessible route served by a ramp or no-step entrance and has a net clear opening of at least 32 inches. This requirement may be waived if the cost of grading the terrain is prohibitively expensive. In addition, each interior door on the first floor of the building must have a net clear opening of at least 32 inches. Likewise, each hallway on the first floor of the building must have a width of at least 36 inches and must be level, with ramped or beveled changes at each door threshold. Each bathroom wall on the first floor of the building must be reinforced for potential installation of grab bars. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 16, Title 83, V.T.C.S., by adding Article 5221f-2, as follows: Art. 5221f-2. SPECULATIVE HOMES. (a) Defines "speculative home" to mean a singlefamily dwelling that is constructed for sale on the open market and not constructed for immediate occupancy. (b) Enumerates the special features that must be included in the construction of a speculative home. The home must have at least one entrance door that is on an accessible route served by a ramp or no-step entrance and has a net clear opening of at least 32 inches. In addition, each interior door on the first floor of the building must have a net clear opening of at least 32 inches, unless the door provides access only to a closet of fewer than 15 square feet in area. Likewise, each hallway on the first floor of the building must have a width of at least 36 inches and must be level, with ramped or beveled changes at each door threshold. Each bathroom wall on the first floor of the building must be reinforced for potential installation of grab bars. Each electrical panel or breaker box, light switch, or thermostat on the first floor of the building must not be higher than 48 inches above the floor. Additionally, each electrical plug or other receptacle on the first floor of the building must be at least 15 inches above the floor. Each breaker box must be located inside the building on the first floor. (c) Authorizes a person who constructs a speculative home to obtain a waiver from having to construct an accessible route served by a ramp or no-step entrance if the cost of grading the terrain to meet this requirement is prohibitively expensive. Provides that the person must request the waiver from the appropriate governmental authority authorized to issue building permits or otherwise regulate the construction of buildings in the area in which the speculative home is located. SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 4. Emergency clause.