Second Substitute H.B. 238

Representative Carl R. Saunders proposes the following substitute bill:

1 CIGARETTE AND TOBACCO TAX
2 AMENDMENTS
3 2002 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Sponsor: Carl R. Saunders
6 Martin R. Stephens
7 Brent D. Parker
8 Peggy Wallace
9 David N. Cox
10 Michael R. Styler
11 Kory M. Holdaway
Bradley T. Johnson
Neil A. Hansen
LaWanna Lou Shurtliff
Afton B. Bradshaw
Patricia W. Jones
Paul Ray
Carol Spackman Moss
David L. Hogue
Douglas C. Aagard
Patrice M. Arent

12 This act modifies the Cigarette and Tobacco Tax and Licensing Act. This act increases the
13 rates of tax levied on cigarettes and other tobacco products and specifies how a portion of
14 any increase in cigarette tax revenues will be used.
15 This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
16 AMENDS:
17 59-14-204, as last amended by Chapter 190, Laws of Utah 2000
18 59-14-302, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 2, Laws of Utah 1987
19 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
20 Section 1. Section 59-14-204 is amended to read:
21 59-14-204. Tax basis -- Rate -- Future increase -- Restricted account -- Use of
22 revenues.
23 (1) Except for cigarettes described under Section 59-14-210 , there is levied a tax upon the
24 sale, use, or storage of cigarettes in the state.
25 (2) The rates of the tax levied under Subsection (1) are:
26 (a) [2.575] 4.075 cents on each cigarette, for all cigarettes weighing not more than three

27 pounds per thousand cigarettes; and
28 (b) [3.175] 4.675 cents on each cigarette, for all cigarettes weighing in excess of three
29 pounds per thousand cigarettes.
30 (3) The tax levied under Subsection (1) shall be paid by the manufacturer, jobber,
31 distributor, wholesaler, retailer, user, or consumer.
32 (4) The tax rates specified in this section shall be increased by the commission by the same
33 amount as any future reduction in the federal excise tax on cigarettes.
34 (5) (a) There is created within the General Fund a restricted account known as the
35 "Cigarette Tax Restricted Account."
36 (b) Beginning on July 1, 1998, $250,000 of the revenues generated by the increase in the
37 cigarette tax under this section enacted during the 1997 Annual General Session shall be annually
38 deposited into the account.
39 (c) The Department of Health shall expend the funds deposited in the account under
40 Subsection (5)(b) for a tobacco prevention and control media campaign targeted towards children.
41 (d) The following amounts of tax levied under Subsection (1) shall be deposited in the
42 Cigarette Tax Restricted Account:
43 (i) an amount equal to a tax of 0.5 cents on each cigarette taxed under Subsection (1), to
44 be annually appropriated to the Department of Health for tobacco prevention, reduction, cessation,
45 and control programs;
46 (ii) an amount equal to a tax of 0.25 cents on each cigarette taxed under Subsection (1),
47 to be annually appropriated to the University of Utah Health Sciences Center for the Huntsman
48 Cancer Institute for cancer research; and
49 (iii) an amount equal to a tax of 0.25 cents on each cigarette taxed under Subsection (1),
50 to be annually appropriated to the Medical Education Council for medical education at the
51 University of Utah School of Medicine.
52 (e) Any balance remaining in the Cigarette Tax Restricted Account at the end of the fiscal
53 year shall be appropriated during the next fiscal year for the purposes set forth in Subsections
54 (5)(d)(i) through (5)(d)(iii) in proportion to the amount of revenue deposited into the account for
55 each purpose.
56 (f) The Legislature shall give particular consideration to appropriating any revenues
57 resulting from the change in tax rates under Subsection (2) adopted during the 2002 Annual

58 General Session and not otherwise appropriated pursuant to Subsection (5)(d) to enhance Medicaid
59 provider reimbursement rates and medical coverage for the uninsured.
60 Section 2. Section 59-14-302 is amended to read:
61 59-14-302. Tax basis -- Rate.
62 (1) There is levied a tax upon the sale, use, or storage of tobacco products in the state. The
63 rate of the tax is [35%] 55% of the manufacturer's sales price. The sales price is the amount
64 charged by the manufacturer less all discounts, and includes original Utah destination freight
65 charges, whether the product is shipped f.o.b. origin or f.o.b. destination and regardless of who
66 pays the freight charge.
67 (2) The tax levied under Subsection (1) shall be paid by the manufacturer, jobber,
68 distributor, wholesaler, retailer, user, or consumer.