First Regular Session Seventieth General Assembly STATE OF COLORADO INTRODUCED LLS NO. 15-0134.01 Jennifer Berman x3286HOUSE BILL 15-1093 HOUSE SPONSORSHIP Dore, Klingenschmitt, Buck, Van Winkle SENATE SPONSORSHIP (None), Hill House Committees Senate Committees State, Veterans, & Military Affairs A BILL FOR AN ACT Concerning limitations on requirements for the use of water-efficient plumbing fixtures. Bill Summary (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://www.leg.state.co.us/billsummaries.) Section 1 of the bill repeals a prohibition that would go into effect on September 1, 2016, that disallows the sale of certain plumbing fixtures unless they are water-efficient plumbing fixtures. The prohibition would apply to lavatory faucets, shower heads, flushing urinals, tank-type toilets, and tank-type water closets. Sections 2, 3, and 4 maintain prior legislative enactments concerning water-efficient indoor plumbing fixtures that would otherwise be repealed on September 1, 2016. These prior enactments concern water-efficient indoor plumbing fixtures in 3 contexts: Builders of new single-family detached residences must offer the buyers toilets, faucets, and shower heads that meet the current standards of the federal environmental protection agency's WaterSense program; New construction or renovation of state-owned buildings must include the installation of water-efficient plumbing devices; except that tank-type water closets and flushometer toilets need not meet water efficiency standards as stringent as the current WaterSense standards. Section 3 adds an exception for the installation of water-efficient plumbing devices in new construction or renovation of state-owned buildings where the public entity responsible for the new construction or renovation determines that installation of water-efficient plumbing devices would be detrimental to public health or safety. New construction and renovation of residential structures and office, commercial, or industrial buildings must meet water-efficiency standards; except that a waiver from the water-efficiency requirements may be obtained if the local administrative authority issuing a building permit determines either that compliance with the water efficiency standards would be detrimental to public health or safety or that water-efficient fixtures and fittings would cause a sewer hydraulic gradient insufficient to handle reduced water flows. Section 5 makes a conforming amendment. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado: SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, repeal article 7.5 of title 6 as follows: ARTICLE 7.5 Water Efficiency 6-7.5-101. Definitions. As used in this article, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) "Low-efficiency plumbing fixture" means any of the following plumbing fixtures that is not a watersense-listed plumbing fixture: (a) A lavatory faucet; (b) A shower head; (c) A flushing urinal; or (d) A tank-type toilet or tank-type water closet. (2) "Watersense-listed plumbing fixture" means a plumbing fixture or plumbing fixture fitting that has been: (a) Tested by an accredited third-party certifying body or laboratory in accordance with the federal environmental protection agency's WaterSense program or an analogous successor program; (b) Certified by the body or laboratory as meeting the performance and efficiency requirements of the program; and (c) Authorized by the program to use its label. 6-7.5-102. Low-efficiency plumbing fixtures. (1) Effective September 1, 2016, a person shall not sell a new low-efficiency plumbing fixture in Colorado. (2) This section does not preempt any action of a city, county, or city and county that prescribes additional or more restrictive water conservation requirements affecting the sale, installation, or use of plumbing fixtures if the requirements comply with the standard specified in subsection (1) of this section. 6-7.5-103. Reports - repeal. (1) By March 1, 2017, each manufacturer that sells lavatory faucets, shower heads, flushing urinals, tank-type toilets, or tank-type water closets in Colorado shall file a report with the Colorado water conservation board created in section 37-60-102, C.R.S., the senate agriculture, natural resources, and energy committee, and the house of representatives committee on agriculture, livestock, and natural resources, or their successor committees, that states the percentage, by category, of its sales in Colorado during 2016 of each category of such plumbing fixtures: (a) That are low-efficiency plumbing fixtures; and (b) That are watersense-listed plumbing fixtures. (2) This section is repealed, effective September 1, 2017. SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, repeal 9-1.3-106 as follows: 9-1.3-106. Repeal of article. This article is repealed, effective September 1, 2016. SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 37-96-103, repeal (7.1); and add (7) (c) as follows: 37-96-103. Requirement of water conservation in landscaping for certain public projects. (7) In all state-owned buildings the construction or renovation of which commences after January 1, 1992, water-efficient plumbing devices shall be installed in accordance with article 1.3 of title 9, C.R.S.; except that: (c) Plumbing devices need not be water-efficient plumbing devices if the public entity responsible for the construction or renovation determines that installation of water-efficient plumbing devices would be detrimental to public health and safety. (7.1) Subsection (7) of this section and this subsection (7.1) are repealed, effective September 1, 2016. SECTION 4. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 38-35.7-107, amend (1) (a) (I) as follows: 38-35.7-107. Water-smart homes option. (1) (a) Every person that builds a new single-family detached residence for which a buyer is under contract shall offer the buyer the opportunity to select one or more of the following water-smart home options for the residence: (I) (A) Installation of water-efficient toilets, lavatory faucets, and showerheads that meet or exceed the following water-efficient standards: Toilets shall use no more than one and twenty-eight one-hundredths of a gallon per flush, lavatory faucets no more than one and one-half gallons per minute, and showerheads no more than two gallons per minute. (B) This subparagraph (I) is repealed, effective September 1, 2016. SECTION 5. In Colorado Revised Statutes, repeal as it will become effective September 1, 2016, 37-60-127 as follows: 37-60-127. Applicability of provisions requiring funding by political subdivisions of the state. No provision of section 37-60-124, 37-60-125, 37-60-126, or 37-96-103 (4) to (6) that requires funding by any political subdivision of the state that is a covered entity as defined in section 37-60-126 (1) (b) applies to any such political subdivision if the entity submits the applicable provision and its requirements, including all costs to the inhabitants of the respective jurisdiction, to the qualified electors of any such political subdivision, and a majority of the qualified electors do not approve the applicable provision and its requirements. SECTION 6. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly (August 5, 2015, if adjournment sine die is on May 6, 2015); except that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in November 2016 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.