By Duncan                                              S.B. No. 408
         76R1706 JD-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the fee for registration of certain vehicles used for
 1-3     charitable purposes.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter E, Chapter 502, Transportation Code,
 1-6     is amended by adding Section 502.2035 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 502.2035.  TRAILERS AND SEMITRAILERS OWNED BY RELIGIOUS
 1-8     ORGANIZATIONS.  (a)  A trailer or semitrailer may be registered
 1-9     without payment if the trailer or semitrailer is:
1-10                 (1)  owned by an organization that qualifies as a
1-11     religious organization under Section 11.20, Tax Code; and
1-12                 (2)  used primarily for the purpose of transporting
1-13     property in connection with the charitable activities and functions
1-14     of the organization.
1-15           (b)  An application for registration under this section must
1-16     include a statement signed by an officer of the religious
1-17     organization stating that the trailer or semitrailer qualifies for
1-18     registration under this section.
1-19           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
1-20           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-21     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-22     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-23     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-24     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.