MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2010 Regular Session

To: Ways and Means

By: Representative Bondurant

House Bill 315

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 27-65-105, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT PROPERTY OR PRODUCTS SOLD TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND USED IN FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES FOR OR ON BEHALF OF THE SCHOOLS SHALL BE CONSIDERED TO BE USED IN THE ORDINARY OPERATION OF THE SCHOOLS AND EXEMPT FROM SALES TAXATION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

     BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

     SECTION 1.  Section 27-65-105, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     27-65-105.  The exemption from the provisions of this chapter which are of a governmental nature or which are more properly classified as governmental exemptions than any other exemption classification of this chapter shall be confined to those persons or property exempted by this section or by provisions of the Constitutions of the United States or the State of Mississippi.  No governmental exemption as now provided by any other section shall be valid as against the tax herein levied.  Any subsequent governmental exemption from the tax levied hereunder shall be provided by amendment to this section.

     No exemption provided in this section shall apply to taxes levied by Section 27-65-15 or 27-65-21, Mississippi Code of 1972, except as provided by paragraph (f) of this section.

     The tax levied by this chapter shall not apply to the following:

          (a)  Sales of property, labor, services or products taxable under Sections 27-65-17, 27-65-19, 27-65-23 and 27-19-26, when sold to and billed directly to and payment therefor is made directly by the United States government, the State of Mississippi and its departments, institutions, counties and municipalities or departments or school districts of said counties and municipalities.

     The exemption from the tax imposed under this chapter shall not apply to sales of tangible personal property or specified digital products, labor or services to contractors purchasing in the performance of contracts with the United States, the State of Mississippi, counties and municipalities.

          (b)  Sales to schools, when such schools are supported wholly or in part by funds provided by the State of Mississippi, provided that this exemption does not apply to sales of property which is not to be used in the ordinary operation of the school, or which is to be resold to the students or the public.  For the purposes of this paragraph (b), property or products sold to a school and used in fundraising activities for or on behalf of the school shall be considered to be used in the ordinary operation of the school and shall be exempt from the taxes imposed under this chapter. 

          (c)  Amounts received from the sale of school textbooks to students.

          (d)  Sales to the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, but not to Indians individually.

          (e)  Sales of fire fighting equipment to governmental fire departments or volunteer fire departments for their use.

          (f)  Sales of any gas from any project, as defined in the Municipal Gas Authority of Mississippi Law, to any municipality shall not be subject to sales, use or other tax.

          (g)  Sales of home medical equipment and home medical supplies listed as eligible for payment under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act or under the state plan for medical assistance under Title XIX of the Social Security Act, prosthetics, orthotics, hearing aids, hearing devices, prescription eyeglasses, oxygen and oxygen equipment, when ordered or prescribed by a licensed physician for medical purposes of a patient, and when payment for such equipment or supplies, or both, is made in part or in whole under the provisions of the Medicare or Medicaid program, then the entire sale shall be exempt from the taxes imposed by this chapter.

          (h)  Sales to regional educational service agencies established under Section 37-7-345. 

     SECTION 2.  Nothing in this act shall affect or defeat any claim, assessment, appeal, suit, right or cause of action for taxes due or accrued under the sales tax laws before the date on which this act becomes effective, whether such claims, assessments, appeals, suits or actions have been begun before the date on which this act becomes effective or are begun thereafter; and the provisions of the sales tax laws are expressly continued in full force, effect and operation for the purpose of the assessment, collection and enrollment of liens for any taxes due or accrued and the execution of any warrant under such laws before the date on which this act becomes effective, and for the imposition of any penalties, forfeitures or claims for failure to comply with such laws.

     SECTION 3.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2010.