BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 65

By: Zaffirini

Ways & Means

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Public universities are currently not required to collect sales tax on the issuance of academic transcripts. However, when a private university furnishes an academic transcript for a fee, this service falls under the definition of an "information service" for purposes of the Limited Sales, Excise, and Use Tax Act. Therefore, private universities are required to collect sales tax when imposing a fee for the furnishing of an academic transcript. In an effort to ensure that students and graduates from all universities are treated equally when requesting their transcripts, S.B. 65 exempts the furnishing of academic transcripts from sales and use taxes.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 65 amends the Tax Code to exclude the furnishing of an academic transcript from the information services subject to taxation under the Limited Sales, Excise, and Use Tax Act. This change does not affect tax liability accruing before the bill's effective date.

EFFECTIVE DATE

October 1, 2023.