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H.B. 238

             1     

CIGARETTE AND TOBACCO TAX

             2     
AMENDMENTS

             3     
2002 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Sponsor: Carl R. Saunders

             6      This act modifies the Cigarette and Tobacco Tax and Licensing Act. This act increases the
             7      rates of tax levied on cigarettes and other tobacco products and specifies how a portion of
             8      any increase in cigarette tax revenues will be used.
             9      This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
             10      AMENDS:
             11          59-14-204, as last amended by Chapter 190, Laws of Utah 2000
             12          59-14-302, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 2, Laws of Utah 1987
             13      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             14          Section 1. Section 59-14-204 is amended to read:
             15           59-14-204. Tax basis -- Rate -- Future increase -- Restricted account -- Use of
             16      revenues.
             17          (1) Except for cigarettes described under Section 59-14-210 , there is levied a tax upon the
             18      sale, use, or storage of cigarettes in the state.
             19          (2) The rates of the tax levied under Subsection (1) are:
             20          (a) [2.575] 4.075 cents on each cigarette, for all cigarettes weighing not more than three
             21      pounds per thousand cigarettes; and
             22          (b) [3.175] 4.675 cents on each cigarette, for all cigarettes weighing in excess of three
             23      pounds per thousand cigarettes.
             24          (3) The tax levied under Subsection (1) shall be paid by the manufacturer, jobber,
             25      distributor, wholesaler, retailer, user, or consumer.
             26          (4) The tax rates specified in this section shall be increased by the commission by the same
             27      amount as any future reduction in the federal excise tax on cigarettes.


             28          (5) (a) There is created within the General Fund a restricted account known as the
             29      "Cigarette Tax Restricted Account."
             30          (b) Beginning on July 1, 1998, $250,000 of the revenues generated by the increase in the
             31      cigarette tax under this section enacted during the 1997 Annual General Session shall be annually
             32      deposited into the account.
             33          (c) The Department of Health shall expend the funds in the account for a tobacco
             34      prevention and control media campaign targeted towards children.
             35          (d) The following amounts of tax levied under Subsection (1) shall be deposited in the
             36      Cigarette Tax Restricted Account:
             37          (i) an amount equal to a tax of 0.5 cents on each cigarette taxed under Subsection (1), to
             38      be annually appropriated to the Department of Health for tobacco prevention, reduction, cessation,
             39      and control programs;
             40          (ii) an amount equal to a tax of 0.25 cents on each cigarette taxed under Subsection (1),
             41      to be annually appropriated to the University of Utah Health Sciences Center for the Huntsman
             42      Cancer Institute for cancer research; and
             43          (iii) an amount equal to a tax of 0.25 cents on each cigarette taxed under Subsection (1),
             44      to be annually appropriated to the Medical Education Council for medical education at the
             45      University of Utah School of Medicine.
             46          (e) Any balance remaining in the Cigarette Tax Restricted Account at the end of the fiscal
             47      year shall be appropriated during the next fiscal year for the purposes set forth in Subsections
             48      (5)(d)(i) through (5)(d)(iii) in proportion to the amount of revenue deposited into the account for
             49      each purpose.
             50          (f) The Legislature shall give particular consideration to appropriating any revenues
             51      resulting from the change in tax rates under Subsection (2) adopted during the 2002 Annual
             52      General Session and not otherwise appropriated pursuant to Subsection (5)(d) to enhance Medicaid
             53      provider reimbursement rates and medical coverage for the uninsured.
             54          Section 2. Section 59-14-302 is amended to read:
             55           59-14-302. Tax basis -- Rate.
             56          (1) There is levied a tax upon the sale, use, or storage of tobacco products in the state. The
             57      rate of the tax is [35%] 55% of the manufacturer's sales price. The sales price is the amount
             58      charged by the manufacturer less all discounts, and includes original Utah destination freight


             59      charges, whether the product is shipped f.o.b. origin or f.o.b. destination and regardless of who
             60      pays the freight charge.
             61          (2) The tax levied under Subsection (1) shall be paid by the manufacturer, jobber,
             62      distributor, wholesaler, retailer, user, or consumer.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 1-8-02 9:04 AM


A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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