05 LC 19
6631S
House
Resolution 428 (RULES COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE)
By:
Representatives Hill of the
21st,
Scheid of the
22nd,
Ralston of the
7th,
Byrd of the
20th,
and Setzler of the
35th
A
RESOLUTION
Creating
the House Study Committee on Tobacco Tax Evasion; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS,
there is a growing problem in Georgia with untaxed cigars and smokeless tobacco
being brought into the state; and
WHEREAS,
an infrastructure exists which is importing cigars from Florida, which has no
tax on cigars; and
WHEREAS,
legitimate Georgia wholesalers are losing millions of dollars in sales to such
operations, causing a loss of jobs in this state; and
WHEREAS,
the State of Georgia is losing tobacco tax revenue because the tax is not being
paid as required on products being imported into this state; and
WHEREAS,
this loss has increased following the tax increase on cigars and the imposition
of the tax on smokeless tobacco; and
WHEREAS,
current policy and procedure makes the identification of imported products
difficult to spot since, unlike cigarettes, neither cigars nor smokeless tobacco
products are stamped.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that there is created
the House Study Committee on Tobacco Tax Evasion to be composed of not more than
five members. The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint not more
than five members of the House of Representatives as members of the committee
and shall designate one of such members as chairperson. The chairperson shall
call all meetings of the committee.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall undertake a study of the
conditions, needs, issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and
recommend any actions or legislation which the committee deems necessary or
appropriate. The committee may conduct such meetings at such places and at such
times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and
effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and
purposes of this resolution. The members of the committee shall receive the
allowances provided for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated. All funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution
shall come from funds appropriated to the House of Representatives. The expenses
and allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member
of the committee for more than three days unless additional days are authorized.
In the event the committee makes a report of its findings and recommendations,
with suggestions for proposed legislation, if any, such report shall be made on
or before December 31, 2006. The committee shall stand abolished on December 31,
2006.