By Bailey                                       H.J.R. No. 61

      75R3915 SMH-D                           

                                 A JOINT RESOLUTION

 1-1     proposing a constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature

 1-2     to exempt from ad valorem taxation the property of a neighborhood

 1-3     association.

 1-4           BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Article VIII, Texas Constitution, is amended by

 1-6     adding Section 1-m to read as follows:

 1-7           Sec. 1-m.  PROPERTY OF NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS; EXEMPTION

 1-8     FROM AD VALOREM TAXATION.  (a)  The legislature by general law may

 1-9     exempt from ad valorem taxation the property a neighborhood

1-10     association owns and uses exclusively for the purposes for which

1-11     the association is organized.

1-12           (b)  In this section, "neighborhood association" means a

1-13     nonprofit corporation, organization, partnership, association, or

1-14     other legal entity that is organized to preserve, protect, improve,

1-15     and monitor matters affecting a defined residential area.  The

1-16     legislature may impose additional requirements for qualification

1-17     for an exemption under this section.

1-18           SECTION 2.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be

1-19     submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 4, 1997.

1-20     The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the

1-21     proposition: "The constitutional amendment to authorize the

1-22     legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation the property of a

1-23     neighborhood association."