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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment and use of a columbarium on the  | 
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campuses of certain institutions of higher education. | 
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       BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | 
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       SECTION 1.  Section 711.008(b), Health and Safety Code, is  | 
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amended to read as follows: | 
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       (b)  Subsection (a) does not apply to: | 
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             (1)  a cemetery heretofore established and operating; | 
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             (2)  the establishment and use of a columbarium by an  | 
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organized religious society or sect that is exempt from income  | 
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taxation under Section 501(a), Internal Revenue Code of 1986, by  | 
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being listed under Section 501(c)(3) of that code, as part of or  | 
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attached to the principal church building owned by the society or  | 
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sect;  [or] | 
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             (3)  the establishment and use of a columbarium: | 
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                   (A)  in a municipality with a population of at  | 
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least 1.8 million;  and | 
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                   (B)  by an organized religious society or sect,  | 
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that is exempt from income taxation under Section 501(a), Internal  | 
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Revenue Code of 1986, by being listed under Section 501(c)(3) of  | 
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that code,  on land that: | 
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                         (i)  is owned by the society or sect;  and | 
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                         (ii)  is part of the campus on which an  | 
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existing principal church building is located; or | 
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             (4)  the establishment and use of a columbarium on the  | 
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campus of a private or independent institution of higher education,  | 
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as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code, that is wholly or  | 
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substantially controlled, managed, owned, or supported by or  | 
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otherwise affiliated with an organized religious society or sect  | 
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that is exempt from income taxation under Section 501(a), Internal  | 
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Revenue Code of 1986, by being listed under Section 501(c)(3) of  | 
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that code, if a place of worship is located on the campus. | 
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       SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. | 
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______________________________ | 
______________________________ | 
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   President of the Senate | 
Speaker of the House      | 
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       I certify that H.B. No. 1614 was passed by the House on May 8,  | 
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2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 146, Nays 0, 2 present, not  | 
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voting. | 
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______________________________ | 
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Chief Clerk of the House    | 
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       I certify that H.B. No. 1614 was passed by the Senate on May  | 
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23, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0. | 
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______________________________ | 
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Secretary of the Senate     | 
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APPROVED:  _____________________ | 
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                   Date           | 
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          _____________________ | 
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                 Governor        |