By:  Lindsay                                                      S.B. No. 350


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment and use of a columbarium by a church 
in certain municipalities.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 711.001, Health and Safety Code, is 
amended by adding Subdivision (1-a) to read as follows:
		(1-a)  "Campus" means the area:                                        
			(A)  within the boundaries of one or more adjacent 
tracts, parcels, or lots under common ownership;
			(B)  on which the principal church building and 
related structures and facilities of an organized religious society 
or sect are located; and
			(C)  that may be subject to one or more easements 
for street, utility, or pipeline purposes.
	SECTION 2.  Subsection (b), Section 711.008, Health and 
Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:
	(b)  Subsection (a) does not apply to:                                         
		(1)  a cemetery heretofore established and operating; 
[or] 
		(2)  the establishment and use of a columbarium by an 
organized religious society or sect that is exempt from income 
taxation under Section 501(a), Internal Revenue Code of 1986, by 
being listed under Section 501(c)(3) of that code, as part of or 
attached to the principal church building owned by the society or 
sect; or
		(3)  the establishment and use of a columbarium:                       
			(A)  in a municipality with a population of at 
least 1.8 million; and
			(B)  by an organized religious society or sect, 
that is exempt from income taxation under Section 501(a), Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986, by being listed under Section 501(c)(3) of 
that code, on land that:
				(i)  is owned by the society or sect; and                            
				(ii)  is part of the campus on which an 
existing principal church building is located.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.