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Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
AMENDED
May 17, 2001
S. 559
S. Printed 5/17/01--H. [SEC 5/18/01 2:30 PM]
Read the first time April 17, 2001.
TO AMEND SECTION 12-36-90, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE DEFINITION OF "GROSS PROCEEDS OF SALES" FOR PURPOSES OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA SALES TAX ACT, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT GROSS PROCEEDS OF SALES DO NOT INCLUDE INTEREST, FEES, OR CHARGES IMPOSED ON A CUSTOMER FOR LATE PAYMENT OF A BILL FOR ELECTRICITY OR NATURAL GAS, OR BOTH, WHETHER OR NOT SALES TAX IS REQUIRED TO BE PAID ON THE UNDERLYING BILL.
Amend Title To Conform
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. A. Section 12-36-90(2) of the 1976 Code is amended by adding an appropriately lettered subitem at the end to read:
"( ) interest, fees, or charges however described, imposed on a customer for late payment of a bill for electricity or natural gas, or both, whether or not sales tax is required to be paid on the underlying electricity or natural gas bill."
B. Notwithstanding the general effective date of this act, this section takes effect upon approval by this act by the Governor and applies with respect to retail sales occurring on or after that date and sales before that date for all periods remaining open for the assessment of taxes by agreement or by operation of law. However, a refund is not due a taxpayer of sales and use tax paid on interest, fees, or charges, however described, imposed on a customer for late payment of a bill for electricity or natural gas, or both, before the effective date of this section.
SECTION 2. Section 12-36-2120(28)(a) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 399 of 2000, is further amended to read:
"(a) medicine and prosthetic devices sold by prescription, prescription medicines used in the treatment of renal disease, prescription medicines and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals used in the treatment of cancer, lymphoma, leukemia, or related diseases, including prescription medicines used to relieve the effects of any such treatment, and free samples of prescription medicine distributed by its manufacturer and any use of these free samples."
SECTION 3. Section 12-36-2120(32) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(32) natural, propane, and liquefied petroleum gas and electricity used exclusively in the production of poultry, livestock, swine, and milk and to produce agricultural plants in greenhouses that subsequently will be replanted;"
SECTION 4. Section 12-36-2120 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding two appropriately numbered items at the end to read:
"( ) wheelchairs;
( ) prosthetic devices and replacement parts for such devices not exempted pursuant to item (28) of this section."
SECTION 5. A. Section 12-36-2120 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding an appropriately numbered item at the end to read:
( ) effective January 1, 2005, food items eligible for purchase with United States Department of Agriculture food coupons. The exemption allowed by this item does not extend to a local sales and use tax imposed pursuant to a referendum held before July 1, 2001, except where a local sales and use tax specifically exempts these items. The exemption allowed by this item applies to a local sales and use tax imposed pursuant to a referendum held after June 30, 2001. An amount of general fund revenue not derived from the state sales and use tax equal to the amount of state sales and use tax revenue not collected because of the exemption allowed by this item is deemed state sales and use tax revenue and must be used as provided in Section 59-21-1010(A) and (B), including the appropriate amount required to be credited to the Education Act Improvement Fund;
B. Part IB of Act 1 of 2001 is amended by deleting Section 32(a) which reads:
"(32)(a) The General Assembly finds that it is appropriate to provide certain forms and levels of tax reduction when at the same time it has determined that every reasonable effort has been made and accomplished to fund, to the fullest extent possible, adequate and comprehensive programs in education and health care which are fundamental to progress, growth, and economic development. The General Assembly herein provides for a twenty percent reduction in the rate of sales tax imposed on the gross proceeds of sales, or the sale price of food items eligible for purchase with United States Department of Agriculture food coupons, beginning in January 1, 2001. Eighty percent of the revenues from sales taxes raised subsequent to imposition of the special sales tax rates provided by this section must be credited to the general fund of this State and used as sales taxes are used, and the remainder must be credited to the Education Improvement Act Fund. It is the further intent of the General Assembly that, provided the funds are authorized for the fiscal year in which the following schedule is eligible to be implemented, and notwithstanding the rate of tax imposed pursuant to Chapter 36, Title 12 of the 1976 Code, the rate of tax imposed pursuant to that chapter on the gross proceeds of sales, or the sale price of food items eligible for purchase with United States Department of Agriculture food coupons, is four percent for sales from January 1, 2001, through December 31, 2001; three percent for such sales from January 1, 2002, through December 31, 2002; two percent for such sales from January 1, 2003, through December 31, 2003; one percent for such sales from January 1, 2004, through December 31, 2004; and on and after January 1, 2005, the gross proceeds of sales, or the sale price of food items eligible for purchase with United States Department of Agriculture food coupons shall be exempt from the tax imposed pursuant to Chapter 36, Title 12 of the 1976 Code."
C. Notwithstanding the rates of tax imposed pursuant to Chapter 36, Title 12 of the 1976 Code, the rate of tax imposed pursuant to that chapter on the gross proceeds of sales, or the sale price of food items eligible for purchase with United States Department of Agriculture food coupons, is four percent for sales from July 1, 2001, through December 31, 2001, three percent for such sales from January 1, 2002, through December 31, 2002, two percent for such sales from January 1, 2003, through December 31, 2003, and one percent for such sales from January 1, 2004, through December 31, 2004. An amount of general fund revenue not derived from the state sales and use tax equal to the state sales and use tax not collected because of the reduced state sales tax rate allowed by this section is deemed state sales and use tax revenue and must be used as provided in Section 59-21-1010(A) and (B) of the 1976 Code, including whatever amount is necessary to be credited to the Education Act Improvement Fund so that the total in that fund is not reduced by the reduced rates allowed by this section. Except where otherwise exempt, the local sales and use taxes authorized by law continue to apply to those sales subject to the reduced state rate of tax provided in this section, but such a tax imposed pursuant to a referendum held after June 30, 2001, does not apply to those sales subject to the reduced state rate of tax provided in this section.
D. Notwithstanding the general effective date of this act, this section takes effect July 1, 2001.
SECTION 6. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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