By Eckels H.B. No. 2221
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the rate of the state sales and use tax and the
1-3 dedication of a portion thereof to criminal justice purposes.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 151.051, Tax Code, is amended by amending
1-6 Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
1-7 (b) The sales tax rate is 6 3/4 <6 1/4> percent of the sales
1-8 price of the taxable item sold.
1-9 (c) A portion of the sales tax imposed equal to one half of
1-10 one percent of the sales price of the taxable item sold shall be
1-11 dedicated to the following criminal justice purposes: Prison
1-12 operations; new prison construction; parole special programs and
1-13 operations including the funding of intermediate sanction
1-14 facilities for parole violators; and alternative community
1-15 corrections programs. The Legislature may not use this additional
1-16 revenue to supplant funds currently being spent for criminal
1-17 justice purposes. The funds shall be used for additional
1-18 facilities and programs.
1-19 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect on the date on which the
1-20 constitutional amendment proposed by the 73rd Legislature,
1-21 dedicating a portion of the sales tax to criminal justice purposes,
1-22 takes effect.
1-23 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
2-1 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-2 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-3 constitutional rule requiring bill to be read on three several days
2-4 in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.