By Reyna of Bexar                                     H.B. No. 1557
         77R6123 GJH-F                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the exemption from ad valorem taxation of property of
 1-3     certain retirement communities that qualify as charitable
 1-4     organizations.
 1-5           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-6           SECTION 1.  Section 11.18, Tax Code, is amended by adding
 1-7     Subsection (o) to read as follows:
 1-8           (o)  To qualify as a charitable organization under Subsection
 1-9     (d)(19), a retirement community must have an admissions policy that
1-10     requires that admission be open to the public on a
1-11     nondiscriminatory basis, subject only to reasonable restrictions
1-12     relating to the availability of facilities or services, an
1-13     applicant's age, or the financial or medical needs of an applicant.
1-14           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2002, and
1-15     applies only to ad valorem taxes imposed for a tax year beginning
1-16     on or after that date.