LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 78TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
March 24, 2003

TO:
Honorable Ron Wilson, Chair, House Committee on Ways & Means
 
FROM:
John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB308 by Denny (Relating to exempting school supplies, textbooks, books, and other instructional materials from the sales tax for a limited period.), As Introduced



Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB308, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($42,640,000) through the biennium ending August 31, 2005, if the effective date of the bill is July 1, 2003; or a negative impact of ($25,350,000) through the biennium ending August 31, 2005, if the effective date of the bill is October 1, 2003.

The following table assumes an effective date of July 1, 2003.




Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2003 ($6,003,000)
2004 ($17,727,000)
2005 ($18,910,000)
2006 ($20,164,000)
2007 ($21,482,000)
2008 ($22,911,000)




Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2004 ($6,440,000)
2005 ($18,910,000)
2006 ($20,164,000)
2007 ($21,482,000)
2008 ($22,911,000)




Fiscal Year Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from
GENERAL REVENUE FUND
1 		Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from
Cities		 Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from
Transit Authorities		 Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from
Counties/Special Districts
2003 ($6,003,000) $0 $0 $0
2004 ($17,727,000) ($3,261,000) ($1,175,000) ($408,000)
2005 ($18,910,000) ($3,480,000) ($1,254,000) ($434,000)
2006 ($20,164,000) ($3,711,000) ($1,337,000) ($463,000)
2007 ($21,482,000) ($3,953,000) ($1,424,000) ($494,000)
2008 ($22,911,000) ($4,216,000) ($1,520,000) ($527,000)

The following table assumes an effective date of October 1, 2003.




Fiscal Year Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from
GENERAL REVENUE FUND
1 		Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from
Cities		 Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from
Transit Authorities		 Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from
Counties/Special Districts
2004 ($6,440,000) $0 $0 $0
2005 ($18,910,000) ($3,480,000) ($1,254,000) ($434,000)
2006 ($20,164,000) ($3,711,000) ($1,337,000) ($463,000)
2007 ($21,482,000) ($3,953,000) ($1,424,000) ($494,000)
2008 ($22,911,000) ($4,216,000) ($1,520,000) ($527,000)

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would amend Chapter 151 of the Tax Code to exempt certain school supplies from the limited sales and use tax if the items were required for classroom use by a student in a public or private elementary or secondary school, had a value of less than $100, and were purchased during the three-day sales tax holiday on clothing and footwear each August.

A retailer would not have to obtain an exemption certificate except in instances where the quantity purchased would indicate a non-school usage.

The bill would take effect July 1, 2003, assuming that it received the requisite two-thirds majority votes in both houses of the Legislature. Otherwise, it would take effect October 1, 2003.


Methodology

Data on the sale of school supplies (including backpacks) and textbooks were obtained from a variety of sources, both public and private, including the U.S. Census Bureau. The data were adjusted for the appropriate price range and time period, multiplied by the state sales tax rate, adjusted for the potential effective dates of July 1, 2003 and October 1, 2003, and extrapolated through fiscal 2008. The fiscal impacts on units of local government were estimated proportionally.

Note: This analysis assumes that a portion of the sale tax generated by college textbooks would be exempted by this bill, as well as a portion of the sales tax collected on books sold at non-college, public bookstores.


Local Government Impact

Local units of government would have a corresponding fiscal impact from sales tax revenues, as indicated in the above table.


Source Agencies:
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts
LBB Staff:
JK, JO, SD, WP, SM