South Carolina General Assembly
114th Session, 2001-2002

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Bill 3121


Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter


                    Current Status

Bill Number:                      3121
Type of Legislation:              General Bill GB
Introducing Body:                 House
Introduced Date:                  20010109
Primary Sponsor:                  Kirsh
All Sponsors:                     Kirsh, Walker, Simrill, Altman, Barrett, 
                                  Moody-Lawrence, Meacham-Richardson, Robinson, 
                                  Gilham
Drafted Document Number:          l:\council\bills\pt\1056htc01.doc
Companion Bill Number:            27
Residing Body:                    House
Current Committee:                Ways and Means Committee 30 HWM
Subject:                          Food items lawfully purchased with 
                                  Agriculture coupons, sales tax exemption, 
                                  reduction rate provisions; Taxation


                        History

Body    Date      Action Description                     Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  ______________________________________ _______ ____________
House   20010118  Co-Sponsor added (Rule 5.2) by Rep.            Gilham
------  20010112  Companion Bill No. 27
House   20010110  Co-Sponsor added (Rule 5.2) by Rep.            Robinson
House   20010109  Introduced, read first time,           30 HWM
                  referred to Committee
House   20001213  Prefiled, referred to Committee        30 HWM


              Versions of This Bill

View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.


(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A BILL

TO AMEND SECTION 12-36-2120, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO SALES AND USE TAX EXEMPTIONS, SO AS TO REDUCE AT THE RATE OF ONE PERCENT A YEAR THE FOUR PERCENT STATE SALES TAX ON FOOD ITEMS WHICH LAWFULLY MAY BE PURCHASED WITH UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOOD COUPONS, TO EXEMPT COMPLETELY FROM THE STATE PORTION OF THE TAX ALL SUCH FOOD AND MEALS EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2004, TO PROVIDE FOR THE USE OF THE REVENUE FROM THE REDUCED RATES OF TAX DURING THE PHASE-IN PERIOD, AND TO AMEND AN ACT OF 2000 BEARING RATIFICATION NUMBER 453, RELATING TO SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS, SO AS TO DELETE A SALES TAX EXEMPTION FOR FOOD ITEMS MADE OBSOLETE BY THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    Section 12-36-2120 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding an appropriately numbered item at the end to read:

        "( )    effective July 1, 2004, food items eligible for purchase with United States Department of Agriculture food coupons, but this exemption does not apply for local sales and use taxes except where such taxes specifically exempt these items;"

SECTION    2.    Part IB, of an act of 2000 bearing ratification number 453, 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."

SECTION    3.    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 three percent for sales from July 1, 2001, through June 30, 2002, two percent for such sales from July 1, 2002, through June 30, 2003, and one percent for such sales from July 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004. Eighty percent of the revenues from sales taxes raised by the special 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. 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.

SECTION    4.    This act takes effect July 1, 2001.

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