S.B. 935 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS S.B. 935 By: Jackson Licensing & Administrative Procedures Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, the Lou Lawler Seafarers' Center is not allowed to serve alcoholic beverages because the city of Morgan's Point voted to become a dry municipality. As proposed, S.B. 935 amends the definition of a fraternal organization to include a chapter or other local unit of an American national fraternal organization that promotes the welfare of merchant seafarers and meets certain other requirements. This bill allows such an organization to obtain a private alcoholic beverage license without having to pay extra costs associated with a private club. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS Amends Section 32.11(a) (1), Alcoholic Beverage Code, to include in the definition of "fraternal organization," a chapter or other local unit of an American national fraternal organization that promotes the moral, educational, social, and recreational welfare of merchant seafarers and that, as owner, lessee, or occupant, has operated an establishment for fraternal purposes for at least one year. Requires the fraternal organization to meet certain requirements including: the organization must be operate in no less than 12 states; have a minimum of four local units in Texas; and have one unit that has been active for a minimum of 15 years continuously. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2003.