- Perfected -

SCS/SBs 915, 710 & 907 - This act raises various fees to fund transportation projects.

MOTOR FUEL TAX - The act repeals the gas tax sunset clause and increases the tax by 6 cents.

SALES TAX - The act raises the general sales tax by 3/8 percent. Twenty percent of the revenue derived from the 3/8 sales tax shall be credited to the state transportation fund for multimodal purposes. Four percent of the increased sales tax will be deposited in Missouri Qualified Fuel Ethanol Producer Incentive Fund and the Missouri Qualified Biodiesel Producer Incentive Fund. Beginning July 1, 2005, 15% of the sales tax will be deposited in the State Road. This amount increases every fiscal year by 15% until the state road fund receives 76% of the increased sales tax.

AVIATION FUEL TAX - This act removes the cap on the amount of aviation jet tax revenues which may be deposited in the Aviation Trust Fund. Current law only permits $5 million of the aviation jet fuel tax revenues to be placed in the fund. This act also extends the sunset on the aviation jet fuel tax section to December 31, 2008 (Section 144.805). This act also modifies the language regarding the deposit of unclaimed aviation fuel refunds. The current law states that "If any person fails to apply for a refund as provided in Chapter 142, RSMo, he makes a gift of his refund to the Aviation Trust Fund." The new language simply states that the refund amount will be deposited in such fund (section 155.080). These provisions are similar to ones contained in SB 970 et al (2002).

AGENCY DIVERSION - The act eliminates revenues that currently go to other agencies from the state highways and transportation department fund. The Highway Patrol and the Division of Motor Carrier and Railroad Safety will continue to receive funding from this fund. This section will take effect the first fiscal year following voter approval of the act.

MOTOR VEHICLE SALES TAX - Under current law, half of the sales tax on motor vehicles goes to fund transportation projects and the other half is deposited in the general revenue fund. This act diverts the portion going to general revenue to the state road fund.

REFERENDUM - This act must be submitted to a vote of the people on the first Tuesday of August 2002. If approved this act will become effective on January 1, 2003. Additional revenues not subject to Hancock restrictions. This act also requires another election in 2012 to determine whether voters want the new taxes to continue. If not, the rates will return to the level existing on January 1, 2002.

STEPHEN WITTE