Texas § OC.2001.101 - AUTHORIZED ORGANIZATION

§ OC.2001.101. AUTHORIZED ORGANIZATION

AUTHORIZED ORGANIZATION. (a) The commission may license a person who is an authorized organization eligible for a license to conduct bingo if the person is: (1) a religious society that has existed in this state for at least three years; (2) a nonprofit organization: (A) whose predominant activities are for the support of medical research or treatment programs; and (B) that for at least three years: (i) must have had a governing body or officers elected by a vote of members or by a vote of delegates elected by the members; or (ii) must have been affiliated with a state or national organization organized to perform the same purposes as the nonprofit organization; (3) a fraternal organization; (4) a veterans organization that has existed in this state for at least three years; (5) a volunteer fire department that has existed in this state for at least three years; or (6) a volunteer emergency medical services provider that has existed in this state for at least three years. (b) A fraternal organization: (1) must have been organized in this state for at least three years; (2) must have had during the three-year period a bona fide membership actively and continuously engaged as an organization in furthering its authorized purposes; and (3) may not have authorized a person on behalf of its membership, governing body, or officers to support or oppose a particular candidate for public office by: (A) making political speeches; (B) passing out cards or other political literature; (C) writing letters; (D) signing or circulating petitions; (E) making campaign contributions; or (F) soliciting votes. Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Amended by: Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 636 (H.B. 1474 ), Sec. 4, eff. October 1, 2009.