The following beneficial orders or societies shall be exempt from the requirements of this Article, and shall not be required to pay any license tax or fees nor make any report to the Commissioner, unless the assessments collected for death benefits by the supreme lodge amount to at least three hundred dollars ($300.00) in one year:  Beneficial fraternal orders, or societies incorporated under the laws of this State, which are conducted under the lodge system which have the supreme lodge or governing body located in this State, and which are so organized that the membership consists of members of subordinate lodges; that the subordinate lodges accept for membership only residents of the county in which such subordinate lodge is located; that each subordinate lodge issues certificates, makes assessments, and collects a fund to pay benefits to the widows and orphans of its own deceased members and their families, each lodge independently of the others, for itself and independently of the supreme lodge; that each lodge controls the fund for this purpose; that in addition to the benefits paid by each subordinate lodge to its own members, the supreme lodge provides for an additional benefit for such of the members of the subordinate lodges as are qualified, at the option of the subordinate lodge members; that such organization is not conducted for profit, has no capital stock, and has been in operation for 10 years in this State.

The Commissioner may require the chief or presiding officer, or the secretary, to file annually an affidavit that such organization is entitled to this exemption. (1987, c. 483, s. 2; 1991, c. 720. s. 4.)