By Davis of Harris H.B. No. 2444
2001S0525/1
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to national fraternal organizations that are exempt from
1-3 certain requirements of the Alcoholic Beverage Code.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Subdivision (1), Subsection (a), Section 32.11,
1-6 Alcoholic Beverage Code, is amended to read as follows:
1-7 (1) "Fraternal organization" means:
1-8 (A) any chapter, aerie, parlor, lodge, or other
1-9 local unit of an American national fraternal organization or Texas
1-10 state fraternal organization that, as the owner, lessee, or
1-11 occupant, has operated an establishment for fraternal purposes for
1-12 at least one year. If an American national fraternal organization,
1-13 it must actively operate in not fewer than 31 states and have at
1-14 least 300 local units in those 31 states, and must have been in
1-15 active, continuous existence for at least 20 years. If a Texas
1-16 state fraternal organization, it must actively operate in at least
1-17 two counties of the state and have at least 10 local units in those
1-18 two counties, and must have been in active, continuous existence
1-19 for at least five years;
1-20 (B) a hall association or building association
1-21 of a local unit described in Paragraph (A), all the capital stock
1-22 of which is owned by the local unit or the members of the local
1-23 unit, and which operates the clubroom facilities of the local unit;
1-24 (C) a building association not owned by a local
2-1 unit described in Paragraph (A) but one that is composed wholly of
2-2 members appointed by a county commissioners court to administer,
2-3 manage, and control an exposition center containing an exhibition
2-4 area of not less than 100,000 square feet and an arena with not
2-5 less than 6,000 fixed seats, situated on property with an area of
2-6 not less than 50 acres that is owned, together with all buildings,
2-7 appurtenances, and parking areas, by a county; [or]
2-8 (D) a chapter or other local unit of an American
2-9 national fraternal organization that promotes physical fitness and
2-10 provides classes in athletics to children and that, as owner,
2-11 lessee, or occupant, has operated an establishment for fraternal
2-12 purposes for at least one year. The fraternal organization must:
2-13 (i) actively operate in not fewer than 12
2-14 states;
2-15 (ii) have at least six local units in this
2-16 state; and
2-17 (iii) have at least one unit in this state
2-18 that has been in active, continuous existence for at least 75
2-19 years; or
2-20 (E) a chapter, member, or other local unit of an
2-21 American national fraternal organization that promotes the moral,
2-22 educational, social, and recreational welfare of merchant seafarers
2-23 and that, as owner, lessee, or occupant, has operated an
2-24 establishment for such fraternal purposes for at least one year.
2-25 The fraternal organization must:
2-26 (i) actively operate in not fewer than 12
3-1 states;
3-2 (ii) have at least six local units in this
3-3 state; and
3-4 (iii) have at least one unit in this state
3-5 that has been in active, continuous existence for at least 15
3-6 years.
3-7 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
3-8 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
3-9 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
3-10 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
3-11 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.