HOUSE BILL No. 6504


     November 7, 2002, Introduced by Rep. Gosselin and referred to the Committee on Tax Policy.


        A bill to amend 1933 PA 167, entitled

   "General sales tax act,"

   by amending section 4g (MCL 205.54g), as amended by 2000 PA 417.

               THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

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             Sec. 4g.  (1) A person subject to tax under this act may

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        exclude from the amount of the gross proceeds used for the compu-

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        tation of the tax 1 or more of the following:

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             (a) Sales of prescription drugs for human use or food for

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        human consumption.  , except prepared food intended for immediate

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        consumption.

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             (b) The deposit on a returnable container for a beverage or

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        the deposit on a carton or case that is used for returnable

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        containers.

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             (c) Food or tangible personal property purchased with

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        federal food stamps.


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             (d) Fruit or vegetable seeds and fruit or vegetable plants

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        if purchased at a place of business authorized to accept food

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        stamps by the food and nutrition service of the United States

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        department of agriculture or a place of business that has made a

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        complete and proper application for authorization to accept food

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        stamps but has been denied authorization and provides proof of

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        denial to the department of treasury.

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             (2) "Prescription drugs for human use" means insulin or a

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        drug dispensed by a licensed pharmacist pursuant to a written

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        prescription prescribed by a licensed physician or other health

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        professional as defined by section 21005 of the public health

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        code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.21005, for the use of a designated

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        person, or oxygen dispensed pursuant to a written prescription or

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        order issued by a licensed physician or other health professional

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        as defined in section  21005 of the public health code, 1978

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        PA 368, MCL 333.21005  3501 OF THE INSURANCE CODE OF 1956, 1956

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        PA 218, MCL 500.3501.

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             (3) "Food for human consumption" means all food and drink

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        items, including bottled water, intended primarily for human con-

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        sumption except beverages with an alcohol content of 1/2 of 1% or

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        more by volume, tobacco and tobacco products.  , and prepared

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        food intended for immediate consumption.  Food for human consump-

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        tion includes live animals purchased with the intent to be

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        slaughtered for human consumption.

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              (4) "Prepared food intended for immediate consumption"

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        means a retail sale of 1 or more of the following:





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             (a) Food or drink prepared and served for immediate

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        consumption at or near the premises or ordinarily sold on a

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        takeout basis for immediate consumption either on or off the

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        premises.  For the purposes of this section premises includes the

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        total space and facilities in or on which a retailer conducts his

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        or her business, including, but not limited to, parking areas for

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        the convenience of in-car consumption, outdoor tables, benches,

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        chairs, and similar conveniences.

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             (b) Food or drink furnished, prepared, or served for immedi-

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        ate consumption at a table, chair, or counter or from a tray,

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        glass, dish, container, or other tableware.

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             (c) Food or drink arranged on a plate or platter, whether

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        intended for individual or multiple servings and whether sold by

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        the pound or by the serving; a sandwich, either hot or cold; or a

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        combination of taxable and nontaxable items when sold as a plate

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        or packaged as a meal, even though intended for more than 1

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        serving.

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             (d) Food that is cooked to the order of the purchaser, or

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        that is cooked and maintained at a temperature higher than the

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        surrounding air temperature before sale, or prepared food that is

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        sold by the piece rather than by weight or measure.

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             (e) Food or drink heated or cooled mechanically, electrical-

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        ly, or by other artificial means to an average temperature above

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        75 degrees Fahrenheit or below 65 degrees Farenheit before sale

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        and sold from a mobile facility or vending machine, except milk,

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        nonalcoholic beverages in a sealed container, and fresh fruit.  A

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        refund shall not be made for any taxes paid after December 31,



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        1994 and before January 16, 1997 for food or drink otherwise

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        exempt under this subdivision.  The tax due under this act on the

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        sale of food or drink from a vending machine selling both taxable

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        items and items exempt under this subsection shall be calculated

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        under this act after December 31, 1994 based on 1 of the follow-

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        ing as determined by the taxpayer:

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             (i) Actual gross proceeds from sales at retail.

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             (ii) Forty-five percent of proceeds from the sale of items

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        subject to tax under this act or exempt from the tax levied under

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        this act, other than from the sale of carbonated beverages.

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             (5) Prepared food intended for immediate consumption does

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        not include bakery products for off-premises consumption, such as

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        doughnuts, pastry, bread, and cakes; meals eligible to be pur-

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        chased with federal food stamps; or nonalcoholic beverages and

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        prepared food intended for immediate consumption provided during

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        work hours for free or at a reduced rate to employees of food

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        service establishments licensed by the Michigan department of

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        agriculture.  As used in this subsection, "food service

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        establishment" means that term as defined in section 1107 of the

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        food law of 2000, 2000 PA 92, MCL 289.1107.

















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