AMEND by inserting the following new paragraph after line 51:

From and after July 1, 1999, retail sales of food items for human consumption which are not purchased with food stamps issued by the United States Department of Agriculture or other federal agency, but which would be exempt under Section 27-65-111(o) from the taxes imposed by this chapter if the food items were purchased with food stamps, shall be taxed as follows: from and after July 1, 1999, through June 30, 2000, at the rate of six percent (6%), and from and after July 1, 2000, at the rate of five percent (5%).

AMEND FURTHER the title by inserting the following after the semicolon on line 10:

TO REDUCE THE SALES TAX ON SALES OF FOOD ITEMS FROM SEVEN PERCENT TO FIVE PERCENT;