1-1     By:  Duncan                                            S.B. No. 408
 1-2           (In the Senate - Filed February 5, 1999; February 8, 1999,
 1-3     read first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs;
 1-4     February 22, 1999, reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas
 1-5     8, Nays 0; February 22, 1999, sent to printer.)
 1-6                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-7                                   AN ACT
 1-8     relating to the fee for registration of certain vehicles used for
 1-9     charitable purposes.
1-10           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-11           SECTION 1.  Subchapter E, Chapter 502, Transportation Code,
1-12     is amended by adding Section 502.2035 to read as follows:
1-13           Sec. 502.2035.  TRAILERS AND SEMITRAILERS OWNED BY RELIGIOUS
1-14     ORGANIZATIONS.  (a)  A trailer or semitrailer may be registered
1-15     without payment if the trailer or semitrailer is:
1-16                 (1)  owned by an organization that qualifies as a
1-17     religious organization under Section 11.20, Tax Code; and
1-18                 (2)  used primarily for the purpose of transporting
1-19     property in connection with the charitable activities and functions
1-20     of the organization.
1-21           (b)  An application for registration under this section must
1-22     include a statement signed by an officer of the religious
1-23     organization stating that the trailer or semitrailer qualifies for
1-24     registration under this section.
1-25           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
1-26           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-27     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-28     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-29     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-30     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
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