PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 2782                      PRINTER'S NO. 2928

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


HOUSE BILL

No. 2188 Session of 1980


        INTRODUCED BY MR. LAUGHLIN, JANUARY 28, 1980

        AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, HOUSE OF
           REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, FEBRUARY 25, 1980

                                     AN ACT

     1  Amending the act of May 21, 1931 (P.L.149, No.105), entitled, as
     2     amended, "An act imposing a State tax, payable by those
     3     herein defined as distributors, on liquid fuels used or sold
     4     and delivered within the Commonwealth, which are practically,
     5     and commercially suitable for use in internal combustion
     6     engines for the generation of power; providing for the
     7     collection and lien of the tax, and the distribution and use
     8     of the proceeds thereof; requiring such distributors to
     9     secure permits, to file corporate surety bonds and reports,
    10     and to retain certain records; imposing duties on retail
    11     dealers, common carriers, county commissioners, and such
    12     distributors; providing for rewards; imposing certain costs
    13     on counties; conferring powers and imposing duties on certain
    14     State officers and departments; providing for refunds;
    15     imposing penalties; and making an appropriation," excluding
    16     public transportation vehicles operated under contract with a
    17     transit authority from the tax.

    18     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
    19  hereby enacts as follows:
    20     Section 1.  Section 4 and the second paragraph of section 17,
    21  act of May 21, 1931 (P.L.149, No.105), known as "The Liquid
    22  Fuels Tax Act," amended December 19, 1975 (P.L.556, No.156), are
    23  amended to read:
    24     Section 4.  Imposition of Tax; Exemptions and Deductions.--A


     1  permanent State tax of eight cents a gallon, or fractional part
     2  thereof, is hereby imposed and assessed upon all liquid fuels
     3  used or sold and delivered by distributors within this
     4  Commonwealth, excepting liquid fuels delivered to the United
     5  States Government on presentation of a duly authorized United
     6  States Government exemption certificate or other evidence
     7  satisfactory to the department, and such liquid fuels used or
     8  sold and delivered as are not within the taxing power of this
     9  Commonwealth under the Commerce Clause of the Constitution of
    10  the United States and excepting liquid fuels used as fuel in
    11  aircraft or aircraft engines and excepting liquid fuels used in
    12  public transportation vehicles under contract with a transit
    13  authority and excepting liquid fuels delivered to the
    14  Commonwealth, every political subdivision, any volunteer fire
    15  company, any volunteer ambulance service, any volunteer rescue
    16  squad, any second class county port authority and nonpublic
    17  schools not operated for profit on presentation of evidence
    18  satisfactory to the department. The tax herein imposed and
    19  assessed shall be collected by and paid to the Commonwealth but
    20  once in respect to any liquid fuels.
    21     In lieu of the foregoing taxes, a permanent State tax of one
    22  and one-half cents a gallon, or fractional part thereof, is
    23  hereby imposed and assessed upon all liquid fuels used or sold
    24  and delivered by distributors within this Commonwealth for use
    25  as fuel in propeller-driven piston engine aircraft or aircraft
    26  engines, and, except as hereinafter provided, one and one-half
    27  cents a gallon, or fractional part thereof, upon all liquid
    28  fuels used or sold and delivered by distributors within this
    29  Commonwealth for use as fuel in turbine propeller jet, turbo-
    30  jet, or jet driven aircraft and aircraft engines. Beginning
    19800H2188B2928                  - 2 -

     1  January 1, 1960, and thereafter, a State tax of one cent a
     2  gallon, or fractional part thereof, is hereby imposed and
     3  assessed upon all liquid fuels used or sold and delivered by
     4  distributors within this Commonwealth for use as fuel in turbine
     5  propeller jet, turbo-jet, or jet driven aircraft and aircraft
     6  engines.
     7     Distributors shall be liable to the Commonwealth for the
     8  collection and payment of the tax imposed by this act. The tax
     9  imposed by this act shall be collected by the distributor at the
    10  time the liquid fuels are used or sold and delivered by the
    11  distributor and shall be borne by the consumer.
    12     The department shall allow such handling and storage losses
    13  of liquid fuels as are substantiated to its satisfaction.
    14     Section 17.  Refunds.--* * *
    15     Any person who shall use or buy liquid fuels on which the tax
    16  imposed by this act shall have been paid and shall consume the
    17  same (i) in the operation of any nonlicensed farm tractor or
    18  licensed farm tractor when used off the highways for
    19  agricultural purposes or nonlicensed powered farm machinery for
    20  purposes relating to the actual production of farm products or
    21  (ii) in the operation of a vehicle of a volunteer fire company,
    22  volunteer ambulance service or volunteer rescue squad or (iii)
    23  in the operation of a public transportation vehicle under
    24  contract with a transit authority shall be reimbursed the full
    25  amount of such tax. REIMBURSEMENTS MADE PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (III)  <--
    26  SHALL BE MADE DIRECTLY TO THE AUTHORITY.
    27     * * *
    28     Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days. JULY 1,     <--
    29  1981 AND INITIAL REIMBURSEMENTS SHALL BE MADE ON THAT DATE FOR
    30  THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING FISCAL YEAR. REIMBURSEMENTS FOR
    19800H2188B2928                  - 3 -

     1  SUBSEQUENT FISCAL YEARS SHALL BE MADE IN LIKE MANNER.




















    A25L56RC/19800H2188B2928         - 4 -