H.B. No. 1558

	AN ACT
	relating to the authority of a municipality to regulate churches
	that provide overnight shelter for children.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 215, Local Government
	Code, is amended by adding Section 215.006 to read as follows:
	Sec. 215.006.  CHURCH PROVIDING OVERNIGHT SHELTER. (a) In
	this section:
	(1)  "Church" means a facility that is owned by a
	religious organization and that is used primarily for religious
	services.
	(2)  "Religious organization" means an organization
	that meets the standards for qualification as a religious
	organization under Section 11.20, Tax Code.
	(b)  A municipality may not adopt an ordinance, or enforce
	an existing ordinance, that prohibits a church from providing
	overnight shelter for children 17 years of age and younger.
	(c)  A municipal ordinance or regulation that relates to the
	safe and sanitary operation of a homeless shelter for children
	applies to a church that provides overnight shelter for children.
	(d)  A municipality may adopt or enforce an ordinance
	establishing limits on the number of nights a child may use an
	overnight shelter provided by a church or on the number of children
	that can be housed in the shelter per night.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.B. No. 1558 was passed by the House on May 5,
	2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 142, Nays 3, 2 present, not
	voting.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House
	I certify that H.B. No. 1558 was passed by the Senate on May
	22, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	APPROVED:  _____________________
	Date
	_____________________
	Governor