Sec. 2001.101.  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.