81R3510 CBH-D
 
  By: Brown of Kaufman H.B. No. 507
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to an exemption from the sales and use tax for certain
  funding-raising sales conducted by a nonprofit organization that
  operates to benefit the patients of a state mental hospital.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 151.310, Tax Code, is amended by adding
  Subsection (c-1) and amending Subsection (d) to read as follows:
         (c-1)  Notwithstanding Subsection (c), an organization that
  qualifies for an exemption under Subsection (a)(2) and that
  operates to benefit the patients of a state mental hospital may hold
  a tax-free sale or auction under this subsection once during each
  calendar month and each tax-free sale or auction may continue for
  one day only. The sale of a taxable item the sales price of which is
  $5,000 or less by a qualified organization at a tax-free sale or
  auction is exempted from the sales tax imposed by Subchapter C,
  except that a taxable item manufactured by or donated to the
  qualified organization may be sold tax free regardless of the sales
  price to any purchaser other than the donor. The storage, use, or
  consumption of a taxable item that is acquired from a qualified
  organization at a tax-free sale or auction and that is exempted
  under this subsection from the taxes imposed by Subchapter C is
  exempted from the use tax imposed by Subchapter D until the item is
  resold or subsequently transferred.
         (d)  If two or more organizations jointly hold a tax-free
  sale or auction under Subsection (c), each organization may hold
  one additional tax-free sale or auction during the calendar year in
  which the joint sale or auction is held. The employment of and
  payment of a reasonable fee to an auctioneer to conduct a tax-free
  auction does not disqualify an otherwise qualified organization
  from receiving the exemption provided by Subsection (c) or (c-1).
         SECTION 2.  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 3.  This Act takes effect July 1, 2009, if it
  receives a vote of two-thirds of all members elected to each house,
  as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for effect on that date,
  this Act takes effect September 1, 2009.