85R4766 TJB-D
 
  By: Garcia S.B. No. 1159
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to exempting course materials purchased, used, or consumed
  by certain students from the sales and use tax.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.   Subchapter H, Chapter 151, Tax Code, is amended
  by adding Section 151.3213 to read as follows:
         Sec. 151.3213.  COURSE MATERIALS PURCHASED, USED, OR
  CONSUMED BY UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE STUDENTS.  (a)  In this section:
               (1)  "Course materials" means tangible personal
  property required for a course at a university or college,
  including textbooks, books, magazines, and other materials.
               (2)  "University or college" means:
                     (A)  an institution of higher education as defined
  by Section 61.003, Education Code;
                     (B)  a private or independent college or
  university that is located in this state and that is accredited by a
  recognized accrediting agency as defined by Section 61.003,
  Education Code; and
                     (C)  a career school or college as defined by
  Section 132.001, Education Code.
         (b)  The sale, use, or consumption of course materials is
  exempted from the taxes imposed by this chapter if the course
  materials are:
               (1)  purchased by a full-time or part-time student
  enrolled at a university or college; and
               (2)  specifically required by the instructor of a
  course in which the student is enrolled at the university or
  college.
         (c)  The comptroller shall prescribe a course materials
  sales tax exemption certificate to be used by a person to establish
  that the person is qualified to receive the exemption authorized by
  this section.  In addition to any other requirement prescribed by
  the comptroller, the certificate must require the person claiming
  the exemption to:
               (1)  affirm that:
                     (A)  the person is a full-time or part-time
  student enrolled at a university or college; and
                     (B)  the course materials for which the exemption
  is claimed are specifically required by the instructor of a course
  in which the student is enrolled at the university or college; and
               (2)  list the course materials for which the exemption
  is claimed.
         (d)  The comptroller shall make the course materials sales
  tax exemption certificate available to the public on the
  comptroller's Internet website.
         (e)  Each university or college shall provide a copy of the
  course materials sales tax exemption certificate to each person
  enrolled at the university or college not later than the 21st day
  before the date classes are scheduled to begin each semester or
  term.
         (f)  A person making an in-person purchase of course
  materials must present valid student identification and a completed
  course materials sales tax exemption certificate at the time of the
  purchase in order to receive the exemption authorized by this
  section.
         (g)  The comptroller by rule shall prescribe the manner by
  which a person making an online purchase of course materials may
  electronically establish that the person is qualified to receive
  the exemption authorized by this section.
         SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to the sale, use, or consumption of course materials on or after
  January 1, 2018.
         SECTION 3.  The change in law made by this Act does not
  affect tax liability accruing before January 1, 2018. 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 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.