House of Representatives

SB 1259

health care facility tax

Sponsors: Senator Bundgaard

 

dp

Committee on Health

DP

Caucus and COW

 

X

As Transmitted To The Governor

 

SB 1259 expands definitions under the transaction privilege tax (TPT) statute to allow a non-profit health care facility under construction to qualify for a TPT exemption.

 

History

Legislation was passed in 1993 to allow non-profit health care facilities to make purchases that were exempt from TPT.  Recently, the Department of Revenue (DOR) has reinterpreted the legislation to include only facilities that hold a valid certification with the Department of Health Services (DHS).  In order to be certified by DHS, a facility must be operational, therefore DOR interprets that a facility under construction does not qualify for the TPT exemption. 

 

Current statute only allows an organization to qualify for the exemption if it spends at least 80% of the monies it receives on health and medical related education or charitable services. If an organization sells off an investment that was donated, and then chooses to reinvest it, the organization may not qualify under the TPT exemption.  In addition, an organization that sells off an investment and uses it to purchase, construct or lease a health care facility may also not qualify under current statute.

 

Provisions

·                      Expands the definition of a "qualifying community health center" to include clinics being constructed.

·                      Expands the definition of a "qualifying hospital" to include any facility under construction that will qualify upon completion.

·                      Expands the definition of a "qualifying health care organization" so that an organization that chooses to save or invest monies, in addition to using them for health or medical related services, falls under the definition of a qualifying health care organization.

·                      Requires the organization to establish within a reasonable amount of time, proof of completion of the project.  If the project is not completed in a time frame sufficient to DOR's satisfaction, it may require the organization to pay back the amount of the exemption.

·                      Makes conforming changes.

 

 

 

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44th Legislature                                                                                                                                   

Second Regular Session                                   2                                                             April 30, 2001

 

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