80R8985 MXM-F

By: Keffer H.B. No. 3319

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to updating and clarifying the state sales and use tax.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Sections 151.313(a) and (c), Tax Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) The following items are exempted from the taxes imposed by this chapter:

(1) a drug or medicine, other than insulin, if prescribed or dispensed for a human or animal by a licensed practitioner of the healing arts;

(2) insulin;

(3) [subject to Subsection (c),] a drug or medicine that is labeled or required to be labeled with a "Drug Facts" panel in accordance with regulations of the federal Food and Drug Administration, without regard to whether it is prescribed or dispensed by a licensed practitioner of the healing arts;

(4) a hypodermic syringe or needle;

(5) a brace; hearing aid or audio loop; orthopedic, dental, or prosthetic device; ileostomy, colostomy, or ileal bladder appliance; or supplies or replacement parts for the listed items;

(6) a therapeutic appliance, device, and any related supplies specifically designed for those products, if dispensed or prescribed by a licensed practitioner of the healing arts, when those items are purchased and used by an individual for whom the items listed in this subdivision were dispensed or prescribed;

(7) corrective lens and necessary and related supplies, if dispensed or prescribed by an ophthalmologist or optometrist;

(8) specialized printing or signalling equipment used by the deaf for the purpose of enabling the deaf to communicate through the use of an ordinary telephone and all materials, paper, and printing ribbons used in that equipment;

(9) a braille wristwatch, braille writer, braille paper and braille electronic equipment that connects to computer equipment, and the necessary adaptive devices and adaptive computer software;

(10) each of the following items if purchased for use by the blind to enable them to function more independently: a slate and stylus, print enlarger, light probe, magnifier, white cane, talking clock, large print terminal, talking terminal, or harness for guide dog;

(11) hospital beds;

(12) blood glucose monitoring test strips;

(13) an adjustable eating utensil used to facilitate independent eating if purchased for use by a person, including a person who is elderly or physically disabled, has had a stroke, or is a burn victim, who does not have full use or control of the person's hands or arms;

(14) subject to Subsection (d), a dietary supplement; and

(15) intravenous systems, supplies, and replacement parts used in the treatment of humans.

(c) A product is a drug or medicine for purposes of this section if[:

[(1)] the product:

(1) [(A)] is intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, illness, injury, or pain;

(2) [(B)] is applied to the human body or is a product that a human ingests or inhales;

(3) [(C)] is not an appliance or device; and

(4) [(D)] is not food[; or

[(2) the product is labeled or required to be labeled with a "Drug Facts" panel in accordance with regulations of the federal Food and Drug Administration].

SECTION 2. Section 151.3162(b), Tax Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b) The following items are exempted from the tax imposed by this chapter:

(1) seedlings of trees [commonly] grown for commercial timber;

(2) defoliants, desiccants, equipment, fertilizers, fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, and machinery exclusively used in the production of timber to be sold in the regular course of business;

(3) machinery and equipment used in, and pollution control equipment required as a result of, the processing, packing, or marketing of timber products by an original producer if:

(A) the processing, packing, or marketing occurs at or from a location operated by the original producer;

(B) at least 50 percent of the value of the timber products processed, packed, or marketed at or from the location is attributable to products produced by the original producer and not purchased or acquired from others; and

(C) the original producer does not process, pack, or market for consideration timber products that belong to another person with a value greater than five percent of the total value of the timber products processed, packed, or marketed by the producer; and

(4) tangible personal property sold or used to be installed as a component of an underground irrigation system exclusively used in the production of timber to be sold in the regular course of business.

SECTION 3. Sections 151.328(a) and (c), Tax Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) Aircraft are exempted from the taxes imposed by this chapter if:

(1) sold to a person using the aircraft as a certificated or licensed carrier of persons or property;

(2) sold to a person who:

(A) has a sales tax permit issued under this chapter; and

(B) uses the aircraft for the purpose of providing flight instruction that is:

(i) recognized by the Federal Aviation Administration;

(ii) under the direct or general supervision of a flight instructor certified by the Federal Aviation Administration; and

(iii) designed to lead to a pilot certificate or rating issued by the Federal Aviation Administration or otherwise required by a rule or regulation of the Federal Aviation Administration;

(3) sold to a foreign government; or

(4) sold to a person in this state for use and registration in another state or nation before any use in this state other than flight training in the aircraft and the transportation of the aircraft out of this state.

(c) In this section, "aircraft" does not include a rocket or missile, but does include:

(1) a fixed wing, heavier-than-air craft that is driven by propeller or jet and supported by the dynamic reaction of the air against its wings;

(2) a helicopter; and

(3) an airplane flight simulator approved by the Federal Aviation Administration for use as a Level C [Phase II] or higher flight simulator under Appendix A [H], 14 C.F.R. Part 60 [121].

SECTION 4. Section 151.0232, Tax Code, is repealed.

SECTION 5. The change in law made by this Act does not affect tax liability accruing before the effective date of this Act. That liability continues in effect as if this Act had not been enacted, and the former law is continued in effect for the collection of taxes due and for civil and criminal enforcement of the liability for those taxes.

SECTION 6. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2007.