Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB216 Compare Versions

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11 87R2175 SRA-D
22 By: Johnson S.B. No. 216
33
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55 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
66 AN ACT
77 relating to the regulation of, and taxes imposed on the sale or use
88 of, cigarettes, tobacco products, and e-cigarettes; imposing
99 taxes; requiring a permit; imposing a fee; providing administrative
1010 penalties.
1111 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1212 SECTION 1. Sections 161.081(1-a), (2), and (4), Health and
1313 Safety Code, are amended to read as follows:
1414 (1-a) "E-cigarette" means an electronic cigarette or
1515 any other device that simulates smoking by using a mechanical
1616 heating element, battery, or electronic circuit to deliver nicotine
1717 or other substances to the individual inhaling from the device or a
1818 consumable liquid solution or other material aerosolized or
1919 vaporized during the use of an electronic cigarette or other device
2020 described by this subdivision, regardless of whether the liquid or
2121 other material contains nicotine. The term does not include a
2222 prescription medical device unrelated to the cessation of smoking.
2323 The term includes:
2424 (A) a device described by this subdivision
2525 regardless of whether the device is manufactured, distributed, or
2626 sold as an e-cigarette, e-cigar, or e-pipe or under another product
2727 name or description; and
2828 (B) a component, part, or accessory for the
2929 device, regardless of whether the component, part, or accessory is
3030 sold separately from the device.
3131 (2) "Permit holder" has the meaning assigned by
3232 Section 154.001, [or] 155.001, or 164.0001, Tax Code, as
3333 applicable.
3434 (4) "Retailer" means a person who engages in the
3535 practice of selling cigarettes, e-cigarettes, or tobacco products
3636 to consumers and includes the owner of a coin-operated cigarette,
3737 e-cigarette, or tobacco product vending machine. The term includes
3838 a retailer as that term is defined by Section 154.001, [or] 155.001,
3939 or 164.0001, Tax Code, as applicable.
4040 SECTION 2. Section 161.083(d), Health and Safety Code, is
4141 amended to read as follows:
4242 (d) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a violation
4343 of this section is not a violation of this subchapter for purposes
4444 of Section 161.0901 [154.1142 or 155.0592, Tax Code].
4545 SECTION 3. Subchapter H, Chapter 161, Health and Safety
4646 Code, is amended by adding Section 161.0901 to read as follows:
4747 Sec. 161.0901. DISCIPLINARY ACTION AGAINST CIGARETTE,
4848 E-CIGARETTE, AND TOBACCO PRODUCTS RETAILERS. (a) A retailer is
4949 subject to disciplinary action as provided by this section if an
5050 agent or employee of the retailer commits an offense under this
5151 subchapter or Subchapter K.
5252 (b) If the comptroller finds, after notice and an
5353 opportunity for a hearing as provided by Chapter 2001, Government
5454 Code, that a permit holder has violated this subchapter or
5555 Subchapter K at a place of business for which a permit is issued,
5656 the comptroller may suspend the permit for that place of business
5757 and administratively assess a fine as follows:
5858 (1) if the permit holder has not been found to have
5959 violated this subchapter or Subchapter K at that place of business
6060 during the 24-month period preceding the violation, the comptroller
6161 may require the permit holder to pay a fine in an amount not to
6262 exceed $1,000;
6363 (2) if the permit holder has been found to have
6464 violated this subchapter or Subchapter K at that place of business
6565 once during the 24-month period preceding the violation, the
6666 comptroller may require the permit holder to pay a fine in an amount
6767 not to exceed $2,000; and
6868 (3) if the permit holder has been found to have
6969 violated this subchapter or Subchapter K at that place of business
7070 at least twice during the 24-month period preceding the violation,
7171 the comptroller may:
7272 (A) require the permit holder to pay a fine in an
7373 amount not to exceed $3,000; and
7474 (B) suspend the permit for that place of business
7575 for not more than five days.
7676 (c) Except as provided by Subsection (e), if the permit
7777 holder has been found to have violated this subchapter or
7878 Subchapter K on four or more previous and separate occasions at the
7979 same place of business during the 24-month period preceding the
8080 violation, the comptroller shall revoke the permit issued under
8181 Chapter 154, 155, or 164, Tax Code, as applicable. If the permit
8282 holder does not hold a permit under Chapter 154, 155, or 164, Tax
8383 Code, the comptroller shall revoke the permit issued under Section
8484 151.201, Tax Code.
8585 (d) A permit holder whose permit has been revoked under this
8686 section may not apply for a permit for the same place of business
8787 before the expiration of six months after the effective date of the
8888 revocation.
8989 (e) For purposes of this section, the comptroller may
9090 suspend a permit but may not revoke the permit under Subsection (c)
9191 if the comptroller finds that:
9292 (1) the employer has not violated this subchapter or
9393 Subchapter K more than seven times at the place of business for
9494 which the permit is issued in the 48-month period preceding the
9595 violation in question;
9696 (2) the employer requires its employees to attend a
9797 comptroller-approved seller training program;
9898 (3) the employees have actually attended a
9999 comptroller-approved seller training program; and
100100 (4) the employer has not directly or indirectly
101101 encouraged the employees to violate the law.
102102 (f) The comptroller may adopt rules to implement this
103103 section.
104104 SECTION 4. Section 111.00455(b), Tax Code, is amended to
105105 read as follows:
106106 (b) The following are not contested cases under Subsection
107107 (a) and Section 2003.101, Government Code:
108108 (1) a show cause hearing or any hearing not related to
109109 the collection, receipt, administration, or enforcement of the
110110 amount of a tax or fee imposed, or the penalty or interest
111111 associated with that amount, except for a hearing under Section
112112 151.157(f), 151.1575(c), or 151.712(g) of this code or Section
113113 161.0901, Health and Safety Code [, 154.1142, or 155.0592];
114114 (2) a property value study hearing under Subchapter M,
115115 Chapter 403, Government Code;
116116 (3) a hearing in which the issue relates to:
117117 (A) Chapters 72-75, Property Code;
118118 (B) forfeiture of a right to do business;
119119 (C) a certificate of authority;
120120 (D) articles of incorporation;
121121 (E) a penalty imposed under Section 151.703(d);
122122 (F) the refusal or failure to settle under
123123 Section 111.101; or
124124 (G) a request for or revocation of an exemption
125125 from taxation; and
126126 (4) any other hearing not related to the collection,
127127 receipt, administration, or enforcement of the amount of a tax or
128128 fee imposed, or the penalty or interest associated with that
129129 amount.
130130 SECTION 5. Section 154.1135(b), Tax Code, is amended to
131131 read as follows:
132132 (b) The payment must be made in cash or by money order, [or]
133133 check, or credit card.
134134 SECTION 6. Section 154.121(b), Tax Code, is amended to read
135135 as follows:
136136 (b) Revenue from the sale of retailer's permits shall be
137137 deposited to the general revenue fund and may be appropriated only
138138 as provided by this section. The money may be appropriated first to
139139 the comptroller for administering:
140140 (1) permitting [administration of licensing] of
141141 retailers under this chapter and Chapters [or Chapter] 155 and 164;
142142 and
143143 (2) disciplinary actions taken under Section
144144 161.0901, Health and Safety Code.
145145 SECTION 7. Section 155.050(b), Tax Code, is amended to read
146146 as follows:
147147 (b) The payment must be made in cash or by money order, [or]
148148 check, or credit card.
149149 SECTION 8. Section 155.058(b), Tax Code, is amended to read
150150 as follows:
151151 (b) Revenue from the sale of retailer's permits shall be
152152 deposited to the general revenue fund and may be appropriated only
153153 as provided by this section. The money may be appropriated first to
154154 the comptroller for administering:
155155 (1) permitting [administration of licensing] of
156156 retailers under this chapter and Chapters [or Chapter] 154 and 164;
157157 and
158158 (2) disciplinary actions taken under Section
159159 161.0901, Health and Safety Code.
160160 SECTION 9. Subtitle E, Title 2, Tax Code, is amended by
161161 adding Chapter 164 to read as follows:
162162 CHAPTER 164. TAX ON E-CIGARETTES
163163 SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
164164 Sec. 164.0001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
165165 (1) "E-cigarette" has the meaning assigned by Section
166166 161.081, Health and Safety Code.
167167 (2) "Marketplace" has the meaning assigned by Section
168168 151.0242.
169169 (3) "Permit holder" means a person who obtains a
170170 permit under Section 164.0102.
171171 (4) "Retailer" means a person who engages in the
172172 business of selling e-cigarettes to consumers, including a person
173173 who sells e-cigarettes to consumers through a marketplace.
174174 Sec. 164.0002. INAPPLICABILITY TO CERTAIN PRODUCTS. This
175175 chapter does not apply to a product described by Section 161.0815,
176176 Health and Safety Code.
177177 Sec. 164.0003. RULES. The comptroller may adopt rules to
178178 implement this chapter, including rules exempting a person who
179179 sells e-cigarettes to consumers through a marketplace from the
180180 requirements of this chapter.
181181 SUBCHAPTER B. IMPOSITION AND ADMINISTRATION OF E-CIGARETTE SALES
182182 AND USE TAXES
183183 Sec. 164.0051. E-CIGARETTE SALES TAX. (a) A tax is imposed
184184 on each sale of an e-cigarette in this state, including a sale made
185185 through a marketplace, except that the tax does not apply to a sale
186186 unless the tax imposed under Subchapter C, Chapter 151, applies to
187187 the sale.
188188 (b) The tax under this section is imposed at the rate
189189 determined under Section 164.0053.
190190 (c) The tax imposed under this section is in addition to the
191191 tax imposed under Subchapter C, Chapter 151.
192192 Sec. 164.0052. E-CIGARETTE USE TAX. (a) A tax is imposed
193193 on the storage, use, or other consumption in this state of an
194194 e-cigarette purchased from a retailer for storage, use, or other
195195 consumption in this state, except that the tax does not apply to the
196196 storage, use, or other consumption unless the tax imposed under
197197 Subchapter D, Chapter 151, applies to the storage, use, or other
198198 consumption.
199199 (b) The tax under this section is imposed at the rate
200200 determined under Section 164.0053.
201201 (c) The tax imposed under this section is in addition to the
202202 tax imposed under Subchapter D, Chapter 151.
203203 Sec. 164.0053. TAX RATE. (a) In this section:
204204 (1) "Cigarette" means a roll for smoking described by
205205 Section 154.001(2) weighing three pounds or less per thousand.
206206 (2) "Federal excise tax rate on cigarettes" means the
207207 tax rate imposed on cigarettes under 26 U.S.C Section 5701(b)(1).
208208 (3) "First sale" has the meaning assigned by Section
209209 154.001.
210210 (4) "State excise tax rate on cigarettes" means the
211211 tax rate imposed on cigarettes under Section 154.021(b)(1).
212212 (b) The rate of the taxes imposed under this chapter in a
213213 calendar year is the rate the comptroller computes and publishes in
214214 the Texas Register not later than December 1 of the preceding
215215 calendar year as required by Subsection (c).
216216 (c) As soon as practicable after the end of each state
217217 fiscal year but not later than December 1 of each year, the
218218 comptroller shall:
219219 (1) determine the tax rate to be imposed under this
220220 chapter in the subsequent calendar year that is proportionate to
221221 the state excise tax rate imposed on cigarettes in this state during
222222 the preceding state fiscal year by:
223223 (A) determining the estimated mean price of 1,000
224224 cigarettes on first sale in this state during the preceding state
225225 fiscal year, including the amount of the federal excise tax imposed
226226 on cigarettes and excluding the amount of the state excise tax
227227 imposed on cigarettes, using available data and generally accepted
228228 statistical methods in making that determination as necessary;
229229 (B) dividing the state excise tax rate on
230230 cigarettes by the estimated mean price of 1,000 cigarettes on first
231231 sale in this state as determined under Paragraph (A); and
232232 (C) converting the amount computed under
233233 Paragraph (B) into a percentage and rounding that percentage down
234234 to the nearest quarter percentage point; and
235235 (2) publish the tax rate determined under Subdivision
236236 (1) in the Texas Register.
237237 Sec. 164.0054. APPLICATION OF OTHER PROVISIONS OF CODE.
238238 (a) Except as provided by this chapter:
239239 (1) the taxes imposed under this chapter are
240240 administered, imposed, collected, and enforced in the same manner
241241 as the taxes under Chapter 151 are administered, imposed,
242242 collected, and enforced; and
243243 (2) the provisions of Chapter 151 applicable to the
244244 sales tax imposed under Subchapter C, Chapter 151, and the use tax
245245 imposed under Subchapter D, Chapter 151, apply to the sales and use
246246 taxes imposed under this chapter.
247247 (b) A change in law relating to the taxation of the sale or
248248 use of an e-cigarette under Chapter 151 also applies to the sales or
249249 use tax imposed under this chapter.
250250 Sec. 164.0055. REPORTS. (a) A person required to file a
251251 report under Section 151.403 who is also required to collect or pay
252252 a tax under this chapter shall file with the comptroller a report
253253 stating:
254254 (1) for e-cigarette sales tax purposes, the amount of
255255 total receipts from e-cigarettes sold by the retailer during the
256256 reporting period, if the person is a retailer;
257257 (2) for e-cigarette use tax purposes, the amount of
258258 total receipts from e-cigarettes sold by the retailer during the
259259 reporting period for storage, use, or other consumption in this
260260 state, if the person is a retailer described by Section 151.403(b);
261261 (3) the amount of the total sales prices of
262262 e-cigarettes subject to the e-cigarette use tax that were acquired
263263 during the reporting period for storage, use, or other consumption
264264 in this state, if the person is a purchaser who did not pay the tax
265265 to a retailer;
266266 (4) the amount of the taxes due under this chapter for
267267 the reporting period; and
268268 (5) any other information the comptroller requires.
269269 (b) The report required by this section for a reporting
270270 period is due on the same date the tax payment for the period is due.
271271 Sec. 164.0056. RECORDS. (a) A person required to file a
272272 report under Section 151.403 who is also required to collect or pay
273273 a tax under this chapter shall keep a complete record of:
274274 (1) all gross receipts from each sale to which this
275275 chapter applies occurring during each reporting period, along with
276276 documentation relating to those receipts;
277277 (2) all purchases of e-cigarettes, including the
278278 constituent parts of e-cigarettes, from every source during each
279279 reporting period, along with documentation relating to those
280280 purchases;
281281 (3) all sales and use taxes, and any money represented
282282 to be sales or use tax, collected under this chapter during each
283283 reporting period; and
284284 (4) any other information the comptroller requires.
285285 (b) A person shall keep the records required by Subsection
286286 (a) for the period required by Section 151.025(b).
287287 SUBCHAPTER C. E-CIGARETTE RETAILER PERMITS
288288 Sec. 164.0101. PERMITS REQUIRED. (a) A person may not
289289 engage in business as a retailer in this state unless the person has
290290 been issued a permit from the comptroller. A person shall obtain a
291291 permit for each place of business the person owns or operates at
292292 which sales of e-cigarettes are made.
293293 (b) The comptroller shall prescribe the form and content of
294294 an application for a permit and provide the form on request.
295295 (c) The applicant shall accurately complete all information
296296 required by the application and provide the comptroller with
297297 additional information the comptroller considers necessary.
298298 (d) The comptroller may require each corporation,
299299 association, joint venture, syndicate, partnership, or
300300 proprietorship to provide:
301301 (1) financial information regarding the applicant;
302302 and
303303 (2) the identity of each officer, director,
304304 stockholder owning 10 percent or more of the outstanding stock,
305305 partner, member, owner, or managing employee.
306306 (e) Each applicant that applies for a permit to sell
307307 e-cigarettes from a vehicle must provide the make, model, vehicle
308308 identification number, registration number, and any other
309309 information concerning the vehicle the comptroller requires.
310310 (f) All financial information provided under this section
311311 is confidential and not subject to Chapter 552, Government Code.
312312 (g) Permits for engaging in business as an e-cigarette
313313 retailer are governed exclusively by the provisions of this code.
314314 Sec. 164.0102. ISSUANCE OF PERMIT. (a) The comptroller
315315 shall issue a permit to an applicant if the comptroller:
316316 (1) has received an application and fee, if required;
317317 (2) does not reject the application and deny the
318318 permit under Section 164.0103; and
319319 (3) determines that issuing the permit will not
320320 jeopardize the administration and enforcement of this chapter.
321321 (b) The permit shall be issued for a designated place of
322322 business, except as provided by Section 164.0106.
323323 (c) The permits are nonassignable.
324324 (d) The permit must indicate the type of permit that it is
325325 and authorize the sale of e-cigarettes in this state. The permit
326326 must show that it is revocable and shall be forfeited or suspended
327327 if the conditions of issuance, provisions of this chapter, or rules
328328 of the comptroller are violated.
329329 Sec. 164.0103. DENIAL OF PERMIT. The comptroller may
330330 reject an application and deny a permit if the comptroller finds,
331331 after notice and opportunity for hearing, any of the following:
332332 (1) the premises where business will be conducted are
333333 not adequate to protect the e-cigarettes; or
334334 (2) the applicant or managing employee, or if the
335335 applicant is a corporation, an officer, director, manager, or any
336336 stockholder who holds directly or through family or partner
337337 relationship 10 percent or more of the corporation's stock, or, if
338338 the applicant is a partnership, a partner or manager:
339339 (A) has failed to disclose any information
340340 required by Sections 164.0101(c), (d), and (e), including previous
341341 business experience, financial condition of the applicant, present
342342 or previous business affiliations, previous employment, and any
343343 conviction of a felony, or has made a false statement in the
344344 application; or
345345 (B) has previously violated provisions of this
346346 chapter.
347347 Sec. 164.0104. PERMIT YEAR; FEES. (a) A permit required
348348 by this chapter expires on the last day of May of each even-numbered
349349 year.
350350 (b) An application for a permit required by this chapter
351351 must be accompanied by a fee of:
352352 (1) one-half of the amount of the fee for a retailer's
353353 permit required by Section 154.111(b) if the applicant holds a
354354 valid retailer's permit under Section 154.101, 154.102, or 155.041;
355355 or
356356 (2) the amount of the fee for a retailer's permit
357357 required by Section 154.111(b).
358358 (c) For a new or renewal permit required by Section
359359 164.0101, the comptroller shall prorate the fee according to the
360360 number of months remaining during the calendar year that the permit
361361 is to be in effect.
362362 (d) A person who does not obtain a permit each year in a
363363 timely manner must pay a late fee of $50 in addition to the
364364 application fee for the permit.
365365 (e) If on the date of issuance a permit will expire within
366366 three months, the comptroller may collect the prorated permit fee
367367 or the fee for the current year and, with the consent of the permit
368368 holder, may collect the fee for the next permit year and issue a
369369 permit or permits for both periods, as applicable.
370370 (f) A person issued a permit for a place of business that
371371 permanently closes before the permit expiration date is not
372372 entitled to a refund of the permit fee.
373373 Sec. 164.0105. PAYMENT FOR PERMITS. (a) An applicant for a
374374 permit required by Section 164.0101 shall send the required fee
375375 with the application.
376376 (b) The payment must be made in cash or by money order,
377377 check, or credit card.
378378 (c) The comptroller may not issue a permit in exchange for a
379379 check until after the comptroller receives full payment on the
380380 check.
381381 Sec. 164.0106. DISPLAY OF PERMIT. (a) A permit holder
382382 shall keep the permit on public display at the place of business for
383383 which the permit was issued.
384384 (b) A permit holder who has a permit assigned to a vehicle
385385 shall post the permit in a conspicuous place on the vehicle.
386386 Sec. 164.0107. REVENUE. Revenue from the sale of
387387 retailer's permits shall be deposited to the general revenue fund
388388 and may be appropriated only as provided by this section. The money
389389 may be appropriated first to the comptroller for administering:
390390 (1) permitting of retailers under this chapter and
391391 Chapters 154 and 155; and
392392 (2) disciplinary actions taken under Section
393393 161.0901, Health and Safety Code.
394394 Sec. 164.0108. FINAL SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION OF PERMIT.
395395 (a) The comptroller may revoke or suspend a permit holder's permit
396396 if the comptroller finds, after notice and hearing as provided by
397397 this section, that the permit holder violated this chapter or a rule
398398 adopted under this chapter.
399399 (b) If the comptroller intends to suspend or revoke a
400400 permit, the comptroller shall provide the permit holder with
401401 written notice that includes a statement:
402402 (1) of the reason for the intended revocation or
403403 suspension;
404404 (2) that the permit holder is entitled to a hearing by
405405 the comptroller on the proposed suspension or revocation; and
406406 (3) of the date, time, and place of the hearing.
407407 (c) The comptroller shall deliver the written notice by
408408 personal service or by mail to the permit holder's mailing address
409409 as it appears in the comptroller's records. Service by mail is
410410 complete when the notice is deposited with the United States Postal
411411 Service.
412412 (d) The comptroller shall give the permit holder notice
413413 before the 10th day before the final hearing.
414414 (e) A permit holder may appeal the comptroller's decision to
415415 a district court in Travis County not later than the 30th day after
416416 the date the comptroller's decision becomes final.
417417 (f) A person whose permit is suspended or revoked may not
418418 sell, offer for sale, or distribute e-cigarettes from the place of
419419 business to which the permit applied until a new permit is granted
420420 or the suspension is removed.
421421 Sec. 164.0109. SUMMARY SUSPENSION OF PERMIT. (a) The
422422 comptroller may suspend a permit holder's permit without notice or
423423 a hearing for the permit holder's failure to comply with this
424424 chapter or a rule adopted under this chapter if the permit holder's
425425 continued operation constitutes an immediate and substantial
426426 threat to the collection of taxes imposed by this chapter and
427427 attributable to the permit holder's operation.
428428 (b) If the comptroller summarily suspends a permit holder's
429429 permit, proceedings for a preliminary hearing before the
430430 comptroller or the comptroller's representative must be initiated
431431 simultaneously with the summary suspension. The preliminary
432432 hearing shall be set for a date not later than the 10th day after the
433433 date of the summary suspension, unless the parties agree to a later
434434 date.
435435 (c) At the preliminary hearing, the permit holder must show
436436 cause why the permit should not remain suspended pending a final
437437 hearing on suspension or revocation.
438438 (d) Chapter 2001, Government Code, does not apply to a
439439 summary suspension under this section.
440440 (e) To initiate a proceeding to suspend summarily a permit
441441 holder's permit, the comptroller shall serve notice on the permit
442442 holder informing the permit holder of the right to a preliminary
443443 hearing before the comptroller or the comptroller's representative
444444 and of the time and place of the preliminary hearing. The notice
445445 must be personally served on the permit holder or an officer,
446446 employee, or agent of the permit holder or sent by certified or
447447 registered mail, return receipt requested, to the permit holder's
448448 mailing address as it appears in the comptroller's records. The
449449 notice must state the alleged violations that constitute the
450450 grounds for summary suspension. The suspension is effective at the
451451 time the notice is served. If notice is served in person, the
452452 permit holder shall immediately surrender the permit to the
453453 comptroller. If notice is served by mail, the permit holder shall
454454 immediately return the permit to the comptroller.
455455 (f) Section 164.0108, governing hearings for final
456456 suspension or revocation of a permit under this subchapter, governs
457457 a final administrative hearing.
458458 Sec. 164.0110. HEARINGS. Unless otherwise provided by this
459459 chapter, the comptroller shall conduct all hearings required by
460460 this subchapter in accordance with Chapter 2001, Government Code.
461461 The comptroller may designate one or more representatives to
462462 conduct the hearings and may prescribe the rules of procedure
463463 governing the hearings.
464464 SUBCHAPTER D. DISPOSITION OF PROCEEDS
465465 Sec. 164.0151. DEPOSIT AND USE OF PROCEEDS. The
466466 comptroller shall deposit the proceeds from taxes imposed under
467467 this chapter as follows:
468468 (1) 25 percent to the credit of an account in the
469469 general revenue fund that may be appropriated only to the
470470 Department of State Health Services for the purposes of tobacco and
471471 e-cigarette use prevention, control, and enforcement; and
472472 (2) the remainder to the credit of the general revenue
473473 fund.
474474 SECTION 10. The following provisions of the Tax Code are
475475 repealed:
476476 (1) Section 154.1142;
477477 (2) Section 154.1143;
478478 (3) Section 155.0592; and
479479 (4) Section 155.0593.
480480 SECTION 11. Section 161.0901, Health and Safety Code, as
481481 added by this Act, applies only to a violation that occurs on or
482482 after the effective date of this Act. A violation that occurs
483483 before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in
484484 effect on the date the violation occurred, and the former law is
485485 continued in effect for that purpose.
486486 SECTION 12. (a) Notwithstanding Sections 164.0051 and
487487 164.0052, Tax Code, as added by this Act, the taxes imposed under
488488 those sections apply only to a sale, storage, use, or other
489489 consumption of e-cigarettes that occurs on or after January 1,
490490 2022.
491491 (b) The comptroller of public accounts shall determine and
492492 publish the initial tax rate for the taxes imposed under Sections
493493 164.0051 and 164.0052, Tax Code, as added by this Act, in the manner
494494 required by Section 164.0053, Tax Code, as added by this Act, not
495495 later than December 1, 2021. The initial tax rate applies beginning
496496 January 1, 2022.
497497 SECTION 13. (a) Notwithstanding Section 164.0101, Tax
498498 Code, as added by this Act, a person is not required to hold a permit
499499 under that section to engage in business as a retailer of
500500 e-cigarettes in this state until January 1, 2022.
501501 (b) The comptroller of public accounts shall prescribe the
502502 form and content of an application for a permit under Section
503503 164.0101, Tax Code, as added by this Act, and begin accepting
504504 applications for the permit not later than October 1, 2021.
505505 SECTION 14. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.