By:  Ogden                                            S.J.R. No. 40
         Line and page numbers may not match official copy.
         Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E.
                               SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION
 1-1     proposing a constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature
 1-2     to exempt from ad valorem taxation certain property of certain
 1-3     fraternal organizations which were chartered by the Congress of the
 1-4     Republic of Texas or were organized for the mutual benefit of its
 1-5     members and their beneficiaries.
 1-6           BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-7           SECTION 1.  Article VIII, Section 2, of the Texas
 1-8     Constitution is amended by adding Subsections (e) and (f) to read
 1-9     as follows:
1-10           (e)  The legislature by general law may exempt from ad
1-11     valorem taxation the property of a fraternal organization which was
1-12     chartered by the Congress of the Republic of Texas that has been in
1-13     continuous existence since the date it was chartered if the
1-14     property is used primarily for the charitable, benevolent,
1-15     fraternal, or public service activities of the organization as
1-16     defined by general law.  The legislature may provide for the
1-17     administration of an exemption authorized by this subsection and
1-18     may provide additional qualifications and limitations for an
1-19     exemption authorized by this subsection.
1-20           (f)  The legislature by general law may exempt from ad
1-21     valorem taxation the property of a fraternal organization organized
 2-1     as a corporation, society, order or voluntary association intended
 2-2     for the mutual benefit of its members and their beneficiaries which
 2-3     has the mutual benefit of its members and their beneficiaries which
 2-4     has a lodge system and representative form of government if the
 2-5     property is used primarily for the charitable, benevolent,
 2-6     fraternal, or public service activities of the organization as
 2-7     defined by general law.  The legislature may provide for the
 2-8     administration of an exemption authorized by this subsection and
 2-9     may provide additional qualifications and limitations for an
2-10     exemption authorized by this subsection.
2-11           SECTION 2.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
2-12     submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 2, 1999.
2-13     The ballot shall be printed to provide for voting for or against
2-14     the proposition:  "The constitutional amendment to authorize the
2-15     legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation property of
2-16     fraternal organizations that is used primarily for the charitable,
2-17     benevolent, or public service activities of the organization."