the GEO Group, Inc. v. Glenn Hegar, Comptroller of Public Accounts of the State of Texas And Ken Paxton, Attorney General of the State of Texas ( 2015 )

ACCEPTED
03-15-00726-CV
8417364
THIRD COURT OF APPEALS
AUSTIN, TEXAS
12/31/2015 7:31:31 AM
JEFFREY D. KYLE
CLERK
No. 03-15-00726-CV
______________________________________________
FILED IN
3rd COURT OF APPEALS
IN THE THIRD COURT OF APPEALS AUSTIN, TEXAS
AUSTIN, TEXAS 12/31/2015 7:31:31 AM
JEFFREY D. KYLE
______________________________________________
Clerk
The GEO Group, Inc.
Appellant
v.
Glenn Hegar,
Comptroller of Public Accounts of the State of Texas
and
Ken Paxton,
Attorney General of the State of Texas
Appellees
___________________________________________
Brief of Appellant
___________________________________________
Ray Langenberg
State Bar No. 11911200
rlangenberg@scottdoug.com
Eric Hagenswold
State Bar No. 24002205
ehagenswold@scottdoug.com
Scott Douglass & McConnico LLP
303 Colorado, Suite 2400
Austin, Texas 78701
(512) 495-6300
(512) 495-6399 Fax
ORAL ARGUMENT REQUESTED
IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL
Plaintiff-Appellant
The GEO Group, Inc.
Counsel for Appellants
Ray Langenberg
State Bar No. 11911200
rlangenberg@scottdoug.com
Eric Hagenswold
State Bar No. 24002205
ehagenswold@scottdoug.com
Scott Douglass & McConnico LLP
303 Colorado, Suite 2400
Austin, Texas 78701
(512) 495-6300
(512) 495-6399 Fax
Defendants-Appellees
Glenn Hegar, Comptroller of Public Accounts of the State of Texas
and
Ken Paxton, Attorney General of the State of Texas
Counsel for Defendant-Appellee
Ken Paxton, Attorney General of the State of Texas
Charles E. Roy, First Assistant Attorney General
James Davis, Deputy Attorney General for Civil Litigation
Robert O’Keefe, Chief, Tax Division
Charles Eldred, Assistant Attorney General
Attorney-In-Charge
State Bar No. 00793681
P.O. Box 12548
Austin, TX 78711-2548
512 475-1743
charles.eldred@texasattorneygeneral.gov
Appellant’s Brief – Page ii
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL.................................................................. ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................... iii
INDEX OF AUTHORITIES ........................................................................................... v
STATEMENT OF THE CASE ....................................................................................... 1
STATEMENT OF JURISDICTION ............................................................................... 1
RECORD AND APPENDIX .......................................................................................... 1
ISSUE ON APPEAL ....................................................................................................... 2
STATEMENT OF FACTS ............................................................................................. 2
SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT ...................................................................................... 4
ARGUMENT .................................................................................................................. 5
I. The authorities...................................................................................................... 5
A. The statute. ................................................................................................ 5
B. The Comptroller rule................................................................................. 7
C. Comptroller rulings. .................................................................................. 7
II. Application of the rules of statutory construction lead to the conclusion
that a detention facility is a “home” or “residence.” ............................................ 8
A. Introduction. .............................................................................................. 8
B. Limits on the rule of strict construction. ................................................... 8
C. The ordinary meaning rule supports GEO. ............................................... 8
D. The conjunction “or” indicates that the Legislature intended a
broad construction. .................................................................................. 10
E. Uniform and consistent application of the Comptroller rule
supports GEO. ......................................................................................... 11
Appellant’s Brief – Page iii
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III. The Comptroller’s interpretation is unworkable and unreasonable. .................. 13
A. The Comptroller offers no clear, positive definition. ............................. 13
B. The Comptroller’s negative definition fails to provide meaningful
guidance. ................................................................................................. 13
C. The Comptroller’s negative attributes cannot be uniformly and
consistently applied. ................................................................................ 14
1. Search and seisure. ....................................................................... 14
2. Involuntary confinement. ............................................................. 17
3. The right to exclude others. ......................................................... 18
D. The residence does not have to be occupied by the owner or
tenant. ...................................................................................................... 18
Conclusion..................................................................................................................... 21
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE ..................................................................................... 23
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE ............................................................................ 24
APPENDIX ................................................................................................................... 24
Appellant’s Brief – Page iv
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INDEX OF AUTHORITIES
Constitutional Provisions
Tex. Const. art. 1, § 9 ...........................................................................................15
U.S. Const. amend. IV .........................................................................................15
Statutes
Tex. Fam. Code § 51.02 (13) (West 2014) ..........................................................16
Tex. Fam. Code § 51.02 (14) (West 2014) ..........................................................16
Tex. Gov’t Code § 22.220 (West Supp. 2015) ......................................................1
Tex. Health & Safety Code Ch. 322 (West 2005) ........................................ 17, 18
Tex. Human Res. Code § 63.001 (West 2009) ................................................9, 15
Tex. Tax Code § 11.111 (West 2008)....................................................................9
Tex. Tax Code § 112.054 (West 2015)..................................................................7
Tex. Tax Code § 112.154 (West 2015)..................................................................7
Tex. Tax Code § 151.317 (West 2015)................................................................22
Tex. Tax Code § 151.317(a)(1) (West 2015) ....................................................4, 5
Tex. Tax Code § 151.317(c) (West 2015) .........................................................4, 6
Tex. Tax Code § 151.317(c)(1) (West 2015) ..................................................6, 19
Cases
Board of Insurance Commissioners v. Guardian Life Ins. Co., 180 S.W.2d
906 (Tex. 1944) .........................................................................................10
Entergy Gulf States, Inc. v. Summers, 282 S.W.3d 433 (Tex. 2009) ....................9
Flores v. Melo-Palacios, 921 S.W.2d 399 (Tex. App. - Corpus Christi
1996, writ denied) ......................................................................................10
Greater New Braunfels Home Builders Ass'n v. City of New Braunfels,
240 S.W.3d 302 (Tex. App. - Austin 2007, pet. denied) ..........................22
In re Estate of Steed, 152 S.W.3d 797 (Tex. App. - Texarkana 2004, pet.
denied) .........................................................................................................9
Appellant’s Brief – Page v
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Jaster v. Comet II Constr., Inc., 438 S.W.3d 556 (Tex. 2014)..............................9
Key Western Life Ins. Co. v. State Bd. of Ins., 350 S.W.2d 839 (Tex. 1961) ........7
Monsanto Co. v. Cornerstones Municipal Utility District, 865 S.W.2d 937
(Tex. 1993) ..................................................................................................8
Muniz v. State, 852 S.W.2d 520 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993) ...................................16
North Alamo Water Supply Corp. v. Willacy County Appraisal Dist., 804
S.W.2d 894 (Tex. 1991) ..............................................................................8
Sharp v. Tyler Pipe Industries, Inc., 919 S.W.2d 157 (Tex. App. - Austin
1996, writ denied) ........................................................................... 8, 11, 21
Southwestern Bell Telephone Company Co. v. Public Utility Commission,
31 S.W.3d 631 (Tex. App. - Austin 2000, aff’d, 92 S.W.3d 424
(2002).........................................................................................................17
Texas Citrus Exch. v. Sharp, 955 S.W.2d 164 (Tex. App. - Austin 1997,
no pet.) ...................................................................................... 8, 11, 14, 21
United States v. Knights, 534 U.S. 112 (2001) ....................................................17
Zimmer US, Inc. v. Combs, 368 S.W.3d 579 (Tex. App. - Austin 2012, no
pet.) ..................................................................................................... 19, 21
Other Authorities
34 Tex. Admin. Code §3.295 (West 2015) ......................................................7, 12
34 Tex. Admin. Code §3.295(a)(6) (West 2015) ................................................19
Black’s Law Dictionary (10th Ed. 2014) “Home” and “Residence” .....................9
Appellant’s Brief – Page vi
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STATEMENT OF THE CASE
Nature of the Case: Appellant/Plaintiff is seeking a refund of sales tax paid
on gas and electricity consumed for residential
purposes at detention facilities housing government
prisoners.
Trial Court: 261st Civil District Court of Travis County, Texas;
Judge Laura Livingston presiding.
Course of Proceedings: The parties filed cross-motions for summary judgment
and responses. CR 27, 243, 269, and 278. The trial
court issued an order granting Defendants’ motion and
rendering a take-nothing judgment.
STATEMENT OF JURISDICTION
This Court has jurisdiction of this appeal from a final judgment of a
district court pursuant to Texas Government Code § 22.220 (West Supp. 2015).
RECORD AND APPENDIX
There is no Reporter’s Record – this is a summary judgment case. The
Clerk’s Record (“CR”) includes the pleadings, motions, responses, and order.
The Appendix consists of the following items:
App. 1 November 12, 2015 Order granting Defendant’s Motion for
Summary Judgment and rendering take-nothing judgment for
Defendant. CR 286.
App. 2 Texas Tax Code § 151.317 (Gas and Electricity)
App. 3 34 Texas Administrative Code § 3.295 (Natural Gas and
Electricity)
App. 4 Black’s Law Dictionary (10th ed. 2014) definitions of “home” and
“residence”
Appellant’s Brief – Page 1
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ISSUE ON APPEAL
Whether electricity and gas used at detention facilities for government
prisoners qualify for the Texas sales tax exemption for residential use.
STATEMENT OF FACTS
Appellant The GEO Group, Inc. (“GEO”) is a private enterprise operating
facilities that house government detainees. As will be explained, the issue is
whether these facilities were residential facilities, comparable to other
residential facilities such as nursing homes and dormitories, so that the
purchases of gas and electricity for the facilities were exempt from the Texas
sales tax. GEO operates two types of facilities: government-owned facilities
and contractor-owned facilities.
Government-owned facilities – These facilities involve a service
agreement in which GEO operates the government facility. For example, Smith
Affidavit Exhibit A-1 is the service agreement with the Texas Department of
Corrections to operate the State’s Lockhart Correctional Facility. CR 44. The
agreement describes the services:
Appellant’s Brief – Page 2
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CR 56. GEO is not a tenant -- it is not leasing the facility from the government.
Rather GEO is providing services for the government at the government’s
facility.
Contractor-owned facilities – GEO uses its own or affiliate-owned
facilities to house government detainees. For example, Smith Exhibit A-2 is a
Service Agreement between Karnes County and Wackenhut Corrections
Corporation1 to operate a privately owned facility:
CR 160. Under this Services Agreement, the county is not a tenant – it is not
leasing the facility from GEO. Rather, GEO retains possession of the facility
and provides the housing of detainees and services. As will be shown in Section
I.A of the Argument, the distinction between use by the owner and use by a
tenant becomes significant in determining the applicable subsection.
1
GEO was formerly known as Wackenhut Corrections Corporation.
Appellant’s Brief – Page 3
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The Comptroller audited GEO for sales and use tax and a dispute arose
over whether GEO’s purchases of gas and electricity were taxable or exempt.
Because the gas and electricity were being used for lighting, heating, cooling,
food preparation, recreation, and other activities in the living quarters of the
facilities, GEO contended that the gas and electricity qualified for the residential
use exemption. However, the Comptroller decided otherwise and assessed sales
tax on transactions in which GEO had purchased gas and electricity without
paying the tax. GEO paid the assessment under protest.
During the audit period, GEO had paid sales tax on some purchases of gas
and electricity. So GEO filed a refund claim for those tax payments, claiming
the residential use exemption. The Comptroller denied the refund claim. In this
litigation, GEO is seeking a refund of its audit protest payment and a refund of
the taxes that it paid tax during the audit period. These facts are supported by
the Affidavit of Reed Smith. CR 40.
SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT
The sales tax statute exempts the “residential” use of gas and electricity,
which is defined as gas and electricity used in a building occupied as a “home”
or “residence.” Tex. Tax Code § 151.317(a)(1) and (c) (West 2015). “Home”
and “residence” are undefined terms that should be given their common
dictionary definitions as “a dwelling place” and “the act or fact of living in a
Appellant’s Brief – Page 4
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given place for some time.” The detention facilities satisfy these definitions
since they provided lodging for the detainees.
Furthermore, the terms should be consistently and uniformly applied. The
Comptroller has recognized that nursing homes and school dormitories qualify
as residences, even though the occupant may not own the facility, the occupant
may have a permanent residence elsewhere, and the occupant may be there
involuntarily. In all relevant respects, GEO’s detention facilities are comparable
to nursing homes and dormitories, and should qualify for the residential use
exemption.
ARGUMENT
I. The authorities.
A. The statute.
The sale of gas and electricity for residential use is exempt from the sales
and use tax under Texas Tax Code § 151.317(a)(1) (West 2015) (Appendix 2):
(a) Subject to Sections 151.359 and 151.1551 and Subsection (d) of this
section, gas and electricity are exempted from the taxes imposed by this
chapter when sold for:
(1) residential use; …
The references to Section 151.359 (Property Used In Certain Data Centers;
Temporary Exemption), Section 151.1551 (Registration Number Required For
Timber And Certain Agricultural Items) and Subsection (d) are irrelevant to the
residential use exemption and this litigation.
Appellant’s Brief – Page 5
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Texas Tax Code § 151.317(c) has separate definitions of “residential use”
when “use is by the owner” and when “use is by a tenant”:
(c) In this section, “residential use” means use:
(1) in a family dwelling or in a multifamily apartment or housing
complex or building or in a part of a building occupied as a home or residence
when the use is by the owner of the dwelling, apartment, complex, or building
or part of the building occupied; or
(2) in a dwelling, apartment, house, or building or part of a building
occupied as a home or residence when the use is by a tenant who occupies the
dwelling, apartment, home, or building or part of a building under a contract
for an express initial term for longer than 29 consecutive days.
Id. §151.317(c) (emphasis added).
As previously explained, this case involves two types of agreements (1)
service agreements for government-owned facilities and (2) service agreements
for contractor-owned facilities. Neither type of agreement involves the lease of
the facility to the other party, so no tenancy is involved. See CR 206 (Black’s
Law Dictionary definition of “tenant”). Rather, in both instances, use is by the
owner of the facility – the government uses its facilities to house government
prisoners and the contractor uses its facilities to house government prisoners.
Accordingly, subsection (c)(1), covering use “by the owner,” is the relevant
definition. Furthermore, as will be explained in Section III of this Brief, the
statute does not require that the owner be the resident in order to qualify for
residential use.
Appellant’s Brief – Page 6
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B. The Comptroller rule
The definition of “residential use” in Comptroller Rule 3.295 largely
tracks the statute, but adds a nursing home as an example of use by the owner:
(6) Residential use--Use in a family dwelling or in a multifamily apartment
complex or housing complex or nursing home or in a building or portion of a
building occupied as a home or residence when the use is by the owner of the
dwelling, apartment, complex, home, or building or part of the building
occupied. Residential use also includes use in a dwelling, apartment, complex,
house, or building or part of a building occupied as a home or residence when
the use is by a tenant who occupies the dwelling, apartment, complex, house,
or building or part of a building under a contract for an express initial term of
more than 29 consecutive days. Absent a contract, only the period exceeding
29 consecutive days will be considered residential use, when supported by
valid documentation (i.e., receipts, canceled checks, etc.). For purposes of the
exemption for residential use of natural gas and electricity, nursing homes
qualify for exemption only for periods beginning after December 31, 1987.
34 Tex. Admin. Code §3.295 (West 2015) (emphasis added) (Appendix 3).
C. Comptroller rulings.
There are no prior Comptroller decisions on detention facilities, so this a
case of first impression subject to trial de novo. See Tex. Tax Code §§ 112.054
(trial de novo for suit after protest payment) and 112.154 (trial de novo for suit
for tax refund) (West 2015). “Trial de novo has been defined as ‘A new trial or
retrial had in an appellate court in which the whole case is gone into as if no trial
whatever had been had in the court below.’” Key Western Life Ins. Co. v. State
Bd. of Ins., 350 S.W.2d 839, 846 (Tex. 1961), quoting Black’s Law Dictionary.
Appellant’s Brief – Page 7
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II. Application of the rules of statutory construction lead to the conclusion
that a detention facility is a “home” or “residence.”
A. Introduction.
By dictionary definition, by common usage, and by analogy to other
examples, a detention facility is a “home” or “residence.”
B. Limits on the rule of strict construction.
It has been said that tax exemptions should be strictly construed. North
Alamo Water Supply Corp. v. Willacy County Appraisal Dist., 804 S.W.2d 894,
899 (Tex. 1991). However, “the rule of strict construction cannot be used as an
excuse to stray from reasonableness.” Sharp v. Tyler Pipe Industries, Inc., 919
S.W.2d 157, 161 (Tex. App. - Austin 1996, writ denied). Thus, for example, in
the Texas Citrus Exchange case, this Court rejected the Comptroller’s
interpretation of the tax exemption for electricity because the interpretation was
unreasonable. Texas Citrus Exch. v. Sharp, 955 S.W.2d 164 (Tex. App. - Austin
1997, no pet.).
C. The ordinary meaning rule supports GEO.
“When the legislature has failed to define a word or term, courts will
apply its ordinary meaning.” Monsanto Co. v. Cornerstones Municipal Utility
District, 865 S.W.2d 937, 939 (Tex. 1993). One method of determining
ordinary meaning is Black’s Law Dictionary. E.g., Entergy Gulf States, Inc. v.
Appellant’s Brief – Page 8
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Summers, 282 S.W.3d 433, 437-38 (Tex. 2009). Black’s Law Dictionary
defines the terms as follows:
home (bef. 12c) A dwelling place.
residence (14c) 1. The act or fact of living in a given place for some time . — Also termed residency. 2. The place where one actually lives, as
distinguished from a domicile . • Residence usu. just
means bodily presence as an inhabitant in a given place; domicile usu. requires bodily presence
plus an intention to make the place one’s home. A person thus may have more than one
residence at a time but only one domicile. Sometimes, though, the two terms are used
synonymously. Cf. DOMICILE (2). 3. A house or other fixed abode; a dwelling . 4. The place where a corporation or other enterprise does business or is registered
to do business .
Black’s Law Dictionary (10th Ed. 2014) “Home” and “Residence” (Appendix 4).
GEO’s detention facilities meet both definitions.
Another source of ordinary meaning may be “the use and definitions of
the word in other statutes and ordinances, and the use of the words in our rules
of evidence and procedure.” Jaster v. Comet II Constr., Inc., 438 S.W.3d 556,
563 (Tex. 2014).
 Under Texas law, a juvenile can be housed in a “residential facility for the
placement of juveniles for periods up to one year in length.” Tex. Human
Res. Code § 63.001 (West 2009).
 Public property used to provide transitional housing for indigents can be
“residential property.” Tex. Tax Code § 11.111 (West 2008).
 For venue purposes, “[a] person may establish only one domicile, whereas
he or she may have several residences.” In re Estate of Steed, 152 S.W.3d
797, 803 (Tex. App. - Texarkana 2004, pet. denied).
Appellant’s Brief – Page 9
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 And for personal jurisdiction, “[r]esidence simply requires bodily
presence as an inhabitant in a given place.” Flores v. Melo-Palacios, 921
S.W.2d 399, 401 (Tex. App. - Corpus Christi 1996, writ denied).
All of these uses of the term “residence” are consistent with GEO’s construction
of the term.
D. The conjunction “or” indicates that the Legislature intended a broad
construction.
In this case, the Legislature provided that the building may be occupied as
a “home or residence,” indicating that the building qualifies if it is either a home
or a residence. It does not have to be both because “or” is disjunctive:
"Ordinarily the words ‘and’ and ‘or,’ are in no sense interchangeable terms,
but, on the contrary, are used in the structure of language for purposes entirely
variant, the former being strictly of a conjunctive, the latter, of a disjunctive,
nature.”
Board of Insurance Commissioners v. Guardian Life Ins. Co., 180 S.W.2d 906,
908 (Tex. 1944), quoting 3 C.J.S., And § 1068.
As explained in the preceding subsection, a detention facility meets the
ordinary dictionary definition of “home” in that it is a “dwelling place” for
detainees. To some however, the term “home” may have an emotional
connotation that would be lacking in a detention facility. Nevertheless, by
using the disjunctive “or” between “home” and “residence,” such that a mere
“residence” will suffice, the Legislature made clear that an emotional
Appellant’s Brief – Page 10
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component is not required. Even if a “home” might be where the heart is, a
“residence” is simply a place where one lives for some time.
E. Uniform and consistent application of the Comptroller rule supports
GEO.
Statutes and rules must be given a “consistent and harmonious meaning”
and have a “uniform application.” Texas Citrus Exch. v. Sharp, 955 S.W.2d
164, 169, 170 (Tex. App. - Austin 1997, no pet.). A case in point is Tyler Pipe,
in which this Court determined the scope of the undefined requirement of
“actual” manufacturing. Sharp v. Tyler Pipe Industries, Inc., 919 S.W.2d 157
(Tex. App. - Austin 1996, writ denied). First, this Court reviewed the dictionary
definition of the term:
"Actual" is defined simply as "existing in fact or reality: really acted ... or
carried out ... [as] distinguished from apparent and nominal.... Something that
... exists in fact: reality." Webster's Third New International Dictionary 22
(Philip B. Gove ed., 1986).
Id. at 160. Second, this Court reviewed analogous applications of the term:
The way Tyler Pipe uses its mold-making equipment is analogous to the way a
camera produces a photograph and the way a printing press produces a written
publication.
Id. at 161. From this analysis, the Court concluded that the Comptroller’s
application of “actual” manufacturing to mold-making equipment was
unreasonable and inconsistent with the Comptroller’s treatment of other
comparable equipment. Hence, the Court was not constrained by the rule of
strict construction. Id. at 161.
Appellant’s Brief – Page 11
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The Court should apply a similar comparative analysis in this case. One
analogous situation is a nursing home, which is acknowledged in the
Comptroller’s own Rule 3.295:
(6) Residential use--Use in a family dwelling or in a multifamily apartment
complex or housing complex or nursing home or in a building or portion of a
building occupied as a home or residence when the use is by the owner of the
dwelling, apartment, complex, home, or building or part of the building
occupied…
34 Tex. Admin. Code § 3.295(a)(6) (West 2015) (emphasis added). The
Comptroller’s determination that residential use occurs in nursing homes is
significant because nursing homes can be like detention facilities in that the
residents may be involuntarily committed:
CR 218 (Plaintiff’s Motion Exhibit C - McAnnally Deposition at 92).
Another example of a residence is a dormatory:
CR 221 (Plaintiff’s Motion Exhibit C - McAnnally Deposition at 101). These
examples illustrate that a detention facility is a “home” or “residence.”
Appellant’s Brief – Page 12
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III. The Comptroller’s interpretation is unworkable and unreasonable.
A. The Comptroller offers no clear, positive definition.
The Comptroller’s interpretation is unworkable and unreasonable in part
because the Comptroller’s pleadings never state a clear, positive definition of
what constitutes a “home or residence.” The Comptroller only tells the Court
what a “home or residence” is not – it is not a detention facility. The closest the
Comptroller comes to a definition is the final statement in its Motion for
Summary Judgment:
Instead, “home or residence” is more naturally a collection of near-synonyms
describing the general idea of one’s castle, whether it be a house, duplex,
apartment, condominium, etc. where one enjoys the rights that prisoners lack.
CR 250 (Defendants’ Motion at 8).
It almost goes without saying that the “general idea of one’s castle” is so
vague as to be useless. A general idea based on an ancient adage is no way to
provide meaningful guidance to taxpayers. What is the idea and how generally
should it be applied? Presumably, a moat is not required, but what is required?
B. The Comptroller’s negative definition fails to provide meaningful
guidance.
And the negative part of the definition, “where one enjoys the rights that
prisoners lack,” also fails to provide meaningful guidance to taxpayers. For
example, in an office building, one may enjoy the rights that prisoners lack, but
that does not make an office building a home or residence. The Comptroller
Appellant’s Brief – Page 13
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provides no definitive positive attributes to determine whether a building is a
home or residence.
C. The Comptroller’s negative attributes cannot be uniformly and
consistently applied.
The ultimate test is whether the Comptroller’s justifications for excluding
detention facilities can be uniformly and consistently applied. If they cannot,
they must be rejected as unreasonable. See Texas Citrus Exch. v. Sharp, 955
S.W.2d 164, 169, 170 (Tex. App. - Austin 1997, no pet.). The Comptroller lists
three negative attributes:
 “If you don’t have that right [against unreasonable search and seizure],
you don’t live in a home or residence.”
 “If you can’t leave, you don’t live in a home or residence.”
 “If you can’t exclude others, you don’t live in a home or residence.”
CR 248-49 (Plaintiff’s Motion at 6-7). Each of these negative attributes proves
to be unsatisfactory.
1. Search and seisure.
The notion that residence should be determined by prohibitions in the
Fourth Amendment and in the Texas Constitution against unreasonable search
and seizure is a novel one. There is no precedent and no legislative history to
support the argument that terms used in this statutory sales tax exemption should
Appellant’s Brief – Page 14
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be based on constitutional doctrines, particularly when the statutory terms are
not even used in the constitutional texts. The constitutional provisions state:
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and
effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and
no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or
affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the
persons or things to be seized.
U.S. Const. amend. IV.
The people shall be secure in their persons, houses, papers and possessions,
from all unreasonable seizures or searches, and no warrant to search any place,
or to seize any person or thing, shall issue without describing them as near as
may be, nor without probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation.
Tex. Const. art. 1, § 9.
Neither of these constitutional restrictions on governmental intrusion use
the terms “home” or “residence,” and there is no indication that the Legislature
had the prohibitions on governmental intrusion in mind when it drafted the sales
tax exemption.
In other contexts, the Texas Legislature has recognized that detention
facilities can be residential in nature. So, if the Comptroller’s interpretation
were to be adopted by this Court, the notions of “residential” use and
“residence” would not be consistently applied in the statutes:
(2) "Facility" means a residential facility for the placement of juveniles for
periods up to one year in length.
Tex. Human Res. Code § 63.001 (West 2009) (emphasis added).
(13) "Secure correctional facility" means any public or private residential
facility, including an alcohol or other drug treatment facility, that:
Appellant’s Brief – Page 15
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(A) includes construction fixtures designed to physically restrict the
movements and activities of juveniles or other individuals held in lawful
custody in the facility; and
(B) is used for the placement of any juvenile who has been adjudicated
as having committed an offense, any nonoffender, or any other individual
convicted of a criminal offense.
(14) "Secure detention facility" means any public or private residential facility
that:
(A) includes construction fixtures designed to physically restrict the
movements and activities of juveniles or other individuals held in lawful
custody in the facility; and
(B) is used for the temporary placement of any juvenile who is accused
of having committed an offense, any nonoffender, or any other individual
accused of having committed a criminal offense.
Tex. Fam. Code § 51.02 (13) and (14) (West 2014) (emphasis added).
The Comptroller’s reliance on search and seisure law is also unreasonable
because its application would be impractical. For example, the Comptroller has
offered no authority that prisoners lack search and seizure rights under Texas
constitional standards, which may be different than federal standards. See
Muniz v. State, 852 S.W.2d 520, 521 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993) (“analysis of
search issues under the State Constitution may well be different than one
conducted pursuant to federal constitutional law”). Thus, if the Court were to
adopt the Comptroller’s methodology, the Court would have to initially decide
as a matter of first impression whether the detainees, some of whom have not
been convicted of crimes, have any search and seisure rights under the Texas
Appellant’s Brief – Page 16
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Constitution. Only after the Court determined constitutional search and seisure
law could it apply tax law.
Furthermore, absurd results are to be avoided. Southwestern Bell
Telephone Company Co. v. Public Utility Commission, 31 S.W.3d 631, 640
(Tex. App. - Austin 2000, aff’d, 92 S.W.3d 424 (2002). A convicted criminal
serving a sentence under house arrest, and a probationer who agreed to
warrantless searches, would be unable to claim the electricity exemption, even
though they would be occupying buildings that by all other accounts would be
their home or residence. See United States v. Knights, 534 U.S. 112 (2001)
(warrantless search of probationer’s apartment upheld). This cannot be the law.
2. Involuntary confinement.
The Comptroller says: “If you can’t leave, you don’t live in a home or
residence.” CR 248 (Plaintiff’s Motion at 6). This standard cannot be
consistently applied because the Comptroller’s own rule recognizes nursing
homes as residences, but the residents of a nursing home may be involuntarily
committed. The Texas Health and Safety Code even authorizes the use of
restraints and seclusion, which may be the ultimate form of involuntary
confinement. See Tex. Health & Safety Code Ch. 322 (West 2005).
Nevertheless, nursing homes qualify for the residential use exemption:
Appellant’s Brief – Page 17
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CR 218 (Plaintiff’s Motion Exhibit C - McAnnally Deposition at 92).
3. The right to exclude others.
The Comptroller says “If you can’t exclude others, you don’t live in a
home or residence.” CR 249 (Plaintiff’s Motion at 7). However, nursing
homes may provide the occupant no right to exclude others. Needless to say, if
the occupant of the nursing home is being legally restrained, the occupant has no
right to exclude others. See Tex. Health & Safety Code Ch. 322 (West 2005).
Yet Comptroller’s own rule recognizes nursing homes as residences. So this
distinction cannot be consistently applied.
D. The residence does not have to be occupied by the owner or tenant.
Finally, the Comptroller makes a statutory construction argument that the
residence has to be occupied by the owner or tenant:
In any event, the text of the statute specifies that the user and occupier are the
same person – in this case, the prisoner, not the warden or the manager or the
owner of the prison.
CR 282 (Defendants’ Response at 5). However, the Comptroller has to delete
words from the statute in order to limit the exemption to direct occupancy:
(c) In this section, “residential use” means use:
Appellant’s Brief – Page 18
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(1) in a family dwelling or in a multifamily apartment or housing
complex or building or in a part of a building occupied as a home or residence
when the use is by the owner of the dwelling, apartment, complex, or building
or part of the building occupied; or
Tex. Tax Code §151.317(c)(1) (West 2015) (emphasis added).
In addition, the Comptroller’s direct occupancy argument is invalid
because it contradicts the Comptroller’s own administrative rule. See Zimmer
US, Inc. v. Combs, 368 S.W.3d 579, 586 (Tex. App. – Austin 2012, no pet.)
(holding that if an agency does not follow its own regulation, the Court must
reverse its action as arbitrary and capricious). Comptroller Rule 3.295(a)(6)
specifically identifies the use of utilities in a nursing home as a residential use
by the owner. See 34 Tex. Admin. Code 3.295(a)(6) (defining “residential use”
to include “use in a … nursing home … when the use is by the owner”). But the
owner of a nursing home is not the occupier of the nursing home. Clearly, under
the Comptroller’s adopted interpretation of the statute, residential use of a space
by the owner of the space includes allowing others to reside in the space. And
such use may be pursuant to a business arrangement:
CR 204 (Plaintiff’s Motion Exhibit C - McAnnally Deposition at 36).
Appellant’s Brief – Page 19
1264111
Several other examples illustrate the fallacy of the Comptroller’s
interpretation. Suppose, for example, a parent buys a West Campus
condominium for a child attending the University of Texas. The condominium
is a residence used by the owner even though the owner does not occupy the
condominium. The Comptroller counters that the child is a tenant of the parent
and thus occupancy is by the tenant. CR. 282-83 (Defendant’s Reply at 5-6).
However, there is no tenancy because there is no contract between the parent
and child giving the child the right to occupy the condominium. See CR 206
(Black’s Law Dictionary definition of “tenant”).
And if a tenancy could be created without a right of possession, the
Comptroller’s explanation would still be unworkable. Suppose a person has a
second home on the lake and allows friends to stay at the home for a weekend.
This scenario does not create a tenancy, but if it did, the tenancy would be for
less than 29 days. So under the Comptroller’s twisted reasoning, the second
home would not qualify for the residential use exemption. The only reasonable
interpretation of the statute is that “use” extends beyond to direct occupancy.
An owner can “use” a building by residing there or authorizing anyone else to
reside there.
Appellant’s Brief – Page 20
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CONCLUSION
Because the statute does not define “home or residence,” the Comptroller
may have had some initial flexibility in choosing a different, reasonable
interpretation of the statute. See Zimmer US, Inc. v. Combs, 368 S.W.3d 579,
586 (Tex. App. - Austin 2012, no pet.). However, having exercised its
discretion by adopting a rule designating nursing homes as examples of
residences, “the Comptroller is obliged to follow that interpretation.” Id. And
the Comptroller must adopt a “uniform application” of its rules. Texas Citrus
Exch. v. Sharp, 955 S.W.2d 164, 170 (Tex. App. - Austin 1997, no pet.).
Detention facilities are not identical to nursing homes. But they do not
have to be identical to be comparable for sales tax purposes. E.g., Sharp v. Tyler
Pipe Industries, Inc., 919 S.W.2d 157, 160 (Tex. App. - Austin 1996, writ
denied) (mold making equipment compared to cameras and printing presses).
The Comptroller cannot deny the exemption for detention facilities based on
characteristics that also apply to nursing homes. Because the relevant
characteristics of GEO’s detention facilities are comparable to nursing homes,
the detention facilities must also be characterized as residences as a matter of
law. See, e.g., Zimmer US, Inc. v. Combs, 368 S.W.3d 579, 587 (Tex. App. -
Austin 2012, no pet.) (reversed and rendered as a matter of law).
Appellant’s Brief – Page 21
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Ironically, the Comptroller’s Motion for Summary Judgment states: “But
although prisoners reside in prisons, they do not occupy prisons as a home or
residence.” CR 248 (State’s Motion at 6). “This argument presents us with the
age-old challenge of determining whether something that looks like a duck,
quacks like a duck, and walks like a duck is nevertheless a chicken.” Greater
New Braunfels Home Builders Ass'n v. City of New Braunfels, 240 S.W.3d 302,
308 at n. 6 (Tex. App. - Austin 2007, pet. denied) (finding that a duck was a
duck). Common usage has seeped into the Comptroller’s pleading, revealing
that the Comptroller is swimming against the current of common sense. Most
people would say that the place where one resides is one’s residence. So should
the Court.
For these reasons, the Court should reverse the Order of the District
Court, find as a matter of law that the use of electricity and gas at the detention
facilities operated by Plaintiff during the relevant period included residential use
under Texas Tax Code Section 151.317, and remand to the District Court for a
determination of the amount of tax remitted on the gas and electricity used for
residential purposes and any other proof needed to validate Plaintiff’s claim for
relief. See CR 277 (Proposed Order).
Appellant’s Brief – Page 22
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Respectfully submitted,
Scott Douglass & McConnico LLP
303 Colorado Street, Suite 2400
Austin, Texas 78701-2589
(512) 495-6300
(512) 495-6399 Fax
By /s/ Ray Langenberg
Ray Langenberg
State Bar No. 11911200
rlangenberg@scottdoug.com
Eric Hagenswold
State Bar No. 24002205
ehagenswold@scottdoug.com
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I certify that a true and correct copy of the foregoing has been served on
all counsel of record, as listed below, through the electronic filing system and
e-mail on December 29, 2015:
Charles Eldred
P.O. Box 12548
Austin, TX 78711-2548
512 475-1743
charles.eldred@texasattorneygeneral.gov
/s/ Ray Langenberg
Ray Langenberg
Appellant’s Brief – Page 23
1264111
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
I certify that the foregoing instrument was prepared using Microsoft Word
2010, and that, according to its word-count function, the sections of the
foregoing pleading covered by TRAP 9.4(i)(1) contain 4,826 words.
/s/ Ray Langenberg
Ray Langenberg
APPENDIX
Appellant’s Brief – Page 24
1264111
DC BK15320 PG653
Filed in The District Court
of Travis County, Texas
"¥'V f l• . l';'~''~
~\Ur
4 1 . . !JHJ
At ·J.; 7,-il p M.
No. D-1-GN-09-002855 Velva L. Price, District Clerk
The GEO Group, Inc., In the District Court of
Plaintiff,
v.
Travis County, Texas
Glenn Hegar, Comptroller of
Public Accounts ofthe State of
Texas, and Ken Paxton, Attorney
General ofthe State ofTexas, I 26th Judicial District
Defendants.
Order
On October 21, 2015, the Court heard Plaintiffs M[otion for Partial Summary
Judgment and Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment. After considering the
pleadings, evidence, and arguments of counsel, the Court grants Defendants' Motion
for Summary Judgment and denies Plaintiffs Motion for Partial Summary Judgment.
This is a final, appealable order. This case is dismissed. Plaintiff shall take
nothing by this suit.
Date: tJO\/~rvtbu~ IL 1 WIG
Lora J. Livingston
Judge, 261st District Court
11\\111 \\Ill \\Ill \1\\\ IIIII \\II\ \11\111\1\1\11\ \Ill 1\\1
004306196
Plaintiff's Appendix 1
286
DC BK15320 PG654
Approved as to form:
Attorney for Defendants
287
Texas Statutes
Tax Code
Title 2. State Taxation
Subtitle E. Sales, Excise, And Use Taxes
Chapter 151. Limited Sales, Excise, And Use Tax
Subchapter H. Exemptions
Current with legislation passed during the 2015 Regular Session effective through 1/1/2016
§ 151.317. Gas And Electricity
(a)
Subject to Sections 151.1551, 151.359, and 151.3595 and Subsection (d) of this section, gas and electricity are exempted from
the taxes imposed by this chapter when sold for:
(1)
residential use;
(2)
use in powering equipment exempt under Section 151.318 or 151.3185 by a person processing tangible personal property for sale
as tangible personal property, other than preparation or storage of prepared food described by Section 151.314(c-2);
(3)
use in lighting, cooling, and heating in the manufacturing area during the actual manufacturing or processing of tangible personal
property for sale as tangible personal property, other than preparation or storage of prepared food described by Section
151.314(c-2);
(4)
use directly in exploring for, producing, or transporting, a material extracted from the earth;
(5)
use in agriculture, including dairy or poultry operations and pumping for farm or ranch irrigation;
(6)
use directly in electrical processes, such as electroplating, electrolysis, and cathodic protection;
(7)
use directly in the off-wing processing, overhaul, or repair of a jet turbine engine or its parts for a certificated or licensed carrier
of persons or property;
(8)
use directly in providing, under contracts with or on behalf of the United States government or foreign governments, defense or
national security-related electronics, classified intelligence data processing and handling systems, or defense-related platform
Plaintiff's Appendix 2
modifications or upgrades;
(9)
use directly by a data center or large data center project that is certified by the comptroller as a qualifying data center under
Section 151.359 or a qualifying large data center project under Section 151.3595 in the processing, storage, and distribution of
data;
(10)
a direct or indirect use, consumption, or loss of electricity by an electric utility engaged in the purchase of electricity for resale;
or
(11)
use in timber operations, including pumping for irrigation of timberland.
(b)
The sale, production, distribution, lease, or rental of, and the use, storage, or other consumption in this state of, gas and electricity
sold for the uses listed in Subsection (a), are exempted from the taxes imposed by a municipality under Chapter 321 except as
provided by Sections 151.359(j) and 321.105.
(c)
In this section, "residential use" means use:
(1)
in a family dwelling or in a multifamily apartment or housing complex or building or in a part of a building occupied as a home
or residence when the use is by the owner of the dwelling, apartment, complex, or building or part of the building occupied; or
(2)
in a dwelling, apartment, house, or building or part of a building occupied as a home or residence when the use is by a tenant
who occupies the dwelling, apartment, house, or building or part of a building under a contract for an express initial term for
longer than 29 consecutive days.
(d)
To qualify for the exemptions in Subsections (a)(2)-(9), the gas or electricity must be sold to the person using the gas or
electricity in the exempt manner. For purposes of this subsection, the use of gas or electricity in an exempt manner by an
independent contractor engaged by the purchaser of the gas or electricity to perform one or more of the exempt activities
identified in Subsections (a)(2)-(9) is considered use by the purchaser of the gas or electricity.
(e)
Natural gas or electricity used during a regular monthly billing period for both exempt and taxable purposes under a single meter
is totally exempt or taxable based on the predominant use of the natural gas or electricity measured by that meter. The comptroller
may prescribe by rule the procedures by which a purchaser must establish the predominant use of the natural gas or electricity.
Cite as Tex. Tax Code § 151.317
History. Amended by Acts 2015, Texas Acts of the 84th Leg. - Regular Session, ch. TBD, Sec. 2, eff. 6/10/2015.
Amended by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg. - Regular Session, ch. 1274, Sec. 2, eff. 9/1/2013.
Amended By Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 225, Sec. 6, eff. September 1, 2011.
Amended By Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1310, Sec. 104, 105, eff. Oct. 1, 2003.
Amended By Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 631, Sec. 15, eff. Oct. 1, 2001
Amended By Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1263, Sec. 21, eff. Oct. 1, 2001
Amended By Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1467, Sec. 2.18, eff. Oct. 1, 1999
Amended By Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1040, Sec. 21, eff. Sept. 1, 1997
Amended By Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 1000, Sec. 16, eff. Oct. 1, 1995
Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 411, Sec. 1, eff. Oct. 1, 1987
Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 1563, ch. 389, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1982.
Amended By Acts 1987, 70th Leg., 2nd C.S., ch. 5, art. 1, pt. 4, Sec. 25
Related Legislative Provision: See Acts 2013, 83rd Leg. - Regular Session, ch. 1274, Sec. 7.
Texas Administrative Code
Title 34. PUBLIC FINANCE
Part 1. COMPTROLLER OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS
Chapter 3. TAX ADMINISTRATION
Subchapter O. STATE AND LOCAL SALES AND USE TAXES
Current through Vol. 40, Issue 49; 12/4/2015
§ 3.295. Natural Gas and Electricity
(a)
Definitions. The following words and terms, when used in this section, shall have the following meanings, unless the context
clearly indicates otherwise.
(1)
Electric utility--Any entity owning or operating for compensation in this state equipment or facilities for producing, generating,
transmitting, distributing, selling, or furnishing electricity whose rates for the sale of electric power are set by the Public Utilities
Commission under the Public Utility Regulatory Act. The term does not include:
(A)
a qualifying small power producer or qualifying co-generator, as defined in the Federal Power Act, §3(17)(D) and §3(18)(C), as
amended ( 16 United States Code § 796(17)(D) and § 796(18)(C) ); or
(B)
any person not otherwise a public utility that owns or operates in this state equipment or facilities for producing, generating,
transmitting, distributing, selling, or furnishing electric energy to an electric utility, if the equipment or facilities are used
primarily for the production and generation of electric energy for the person's own consumption.
(2)
Fabrication--To make, build, create, produce, or assemble components of tangible personal property, or to make tangible
personal property work in a new or different manner.
(3)
Manufacturing--Every operation commencing with the first stage of production of tangible personal property and ending with the
completion of tangible personal property. The first production stage means the first act of production and it does not include acts
in preparation for production. For example, a manufacturer gathering, arranging, or sorting raw material or inventory is preparing
for production. When production is completed, maintaining the life of tangible personal property or preventing its deterioration is
not a part of the manufacturing process. Tangible personal property is complete when it has the physical properties, including
packaging, if any, that it has when transferred by the manufacturer to another. Also see § 3.300 of this title (relating to
Manufacturing; Custom Manufacturing; Fabricating; Processing).
(4)
Remodeling--To make tangible personal property belonging to another over again without causing a loss of its identity, or
without causing the property to work in a new or different manner.
(5)
Plaintiff's Appendix 3
Processing--The physical application of the materials and labor necessary to modify or to change the characteristics of tangible
personal property. The property being processed may belong either to the processor or the customer, the only tests being whether
the property is processed and whether it will ultimately be sold. Direct use of natural gas or electricity in processing will be
referred to as exempt use. Processing does not include remodeling or any action taken to prolong the life of tangible personal
property or to prevent a deterioration of the tangible personal property being held for sale. The repair of tangible personal property
belonging to another by restoring it to its original condition is not considered processing of that property. The mere packing,
unpacking, or shelving of a product to be sold will not be considered to be processing of that product.
(6)
Residential use--Use in a family dwelling or in a multifamily apartment complex or housing complex or nursing home or in a
building or portion of a building occupied as a home or residence when the use is by the owner of the dwelling, apartment,
complex, home, or building or part of the building occupied. Residential use also includes use in a dwelling, apartment, complex,
house, or building or part of a building occupied as a home or residence when the use is by a tenant who occupies the dwelling,
apartment, complex, house, or building or part of a building under a contract for an express initial term of more than 29
consecutive days. Absent a contract, only the period exceeding 29 consecutive days will be considered residential use, when
supported by valid documentation (i.e., receipts, canceled checks, etc.). For purposes of the exemption for residential use of
natural gas and electricity, nursing homes qualify for exemption only for periods beginning after December 31, 1987.
(b)
Sales tax applicable. The furnishing of natural gas or electricity is a sale of tangible personal property. All the provisions in the
Tax Code, Chapter 151, applying to the sale of tangible personal property, apply to the sale of natural gas or electricity.
(c)
Gas and electricity are exempted from the taxes imposed by this chapter when sold for:
(1)
residential use;
(2)
use in agriculture, including dairy or poultry operations and pumping for farm or ranch irrigation;
(3)
direct or indirect use or consumption, including electricity lost in the lines, by an electric utility engaged in the purchase of
electricity for resale;
(4)
direct use in:
(A)
powering equipment that qualifies for exemption under Tax Code, § 151.318, (including equipment that is permanently affixed
to or incorporated into realty) to process tangible personal property for sale as tangible personal property, other than preparation
of or the storage of food for immediate consumption;
(B)
lighting, cooling and heating in the manufacturing area during the actual manufacturing or processing of tangible personal
property for sale as tangible personal property, other than preparation or storage of food for immediate consumption;
(C)
exploring for, producing, or transporting a material extracted from the earth;
(D)
electrical processes, such as electroplating, electrolysis, and cathodic protection;
(E)
the off-wing processing, overhaul, or repair of a jet turbine engine or its parts for a certificated or licensed carrier of persons or
property; or
(F)
providing, under contract with or on behalf of the United States government or foreign governments, defense or national
security-related electronics, classified intelligence data processing and handling systems, or defense-related platform
modifications or upgrades;
(G)
the repair, maintenance, or restoration of rolling stock.
(d)
Use of gas or electricity in an exempt manner by an independent contractor engaged by the purchaser of the gas or electricity to
perform one or more of the activities described in subsection (c)(4) of this section is considered use by the purchaser of the gas or
electricity.
(e)
Predominant use.
(1)
Natural gas or electricity used during a regular monthly billing period for both exempt and taxable purposes under a single meter
is totally exempt or taxable based upon the predominant use of the natural gas or electricity measured by that meter. A person who
performs a processing, manufacturing, or other exempt function continually must establish predominant use on 12 consecutive
months of use.
(2)
If, in the regular course of business, a person performs a processing, manufacturing, or other exempt function only part of the
year and a nonprocessing, nonmanufacturing, or other taxable function for the remainder of the year, the predominant use may be
established for that period of time the processing, manufacturing, or other exempt function occurs based on the predominant use
during that period.
(3)
When determining the predominant use of natural gas or electricity, utilities used to operate machinery exempt under subsection
(c)(4)(A) of this section and for lighting, cooling, and heating in the manufacturing area during actual manufacturing or
processing of tangible personal property for sale are exempt. Gas and electricity used to operate lighting, cooling, and heating in
manufacturing support areas are taxable. Manufacturing support areas include, but are not limited to, storage, engineering, office
and accounting areas, research and development, and break, eating, and restroom facilities. Utilities used in an area open to the
public for the purpose of marketing a product ready for sale are taxable. Utilities used to operate other nonproduction machinery
or equipment are taxable.
(f)
Determining predominant use: utility studies.
(1)
Persons claiming a sales tax exemption because the predominant use of natural gas and electricity through a single meter is for
processing, manufacturing, fabricating, or other nontaxable use must have performed a utility study to establish this predominant
exempt use. The study must list all uses of the utility, both exempt and taxable, the times of usage, the energy used, and whether
the use was taxable or exempt. Twelve consecutive months of utility usage must be a part of the study. The kilowatt rating or
BTU rating, duty factor, where needed for cycling equipment, and electrical or natural gas computations must be certified by a
registered engineer or a person with an engineering degree from an accredited engineering college. The owner of the business
must certify that all items using natural gas or electricity (depending on which utility is covered by the study) are listed and that
the hours of use for each item are correct. The certification of both the engineer and the owner must appear on the face of the
study. If the owner of the business appoints an agent to act on the owner's behalf, the power of attorney must clearly state that the
agent is attempting to qualify the principal for a sales tax exemption, and if a refund of sales tax is involved, the power of attorney
must also state that a sales tax refund will be made by the state through the utility company. A person in business less than 12
consecutive months may still apply for a sales tax exemption if a registered engineer or a person with an engineering degree
performs a study based upon projected uses which shows the predominant use as exempt. A person claiming an exemption based
upon estimated use must be able to support the claimed exemption with a study of actual use after 12 consecutive months of
operation if so requested by the comptroller.
(2)
The study must be completed and on file at the location of the person claiming the exemption at the time an exemption certificate
is submitted to the utility company. Without the study, the claim for exemption will be presumed to be invalid. Persons obtaining
a sales tax refund without a valid study will be assessed tax, penalty, and interest by the comptroller on the full amount of the
refund, if the exemption is not proved. If the exemption certificate is fully completed with all information required by this section
and bears an original seal of a registered engineer or is attached to a signed statement with an original signature from the owner of
the business and a person with an engineering degree from an accredited engineering college, as required by paragraph (1) of this
subsection, the utility company is not required to make any additional inquiry before honoring the exemption request.
(3)
The comptroller may request a copy of the study for review, either before or after the sales tax exemption is granted. Neither the
comptroller by reviewing a study nor the utility company by accepting an exemption certificate is confirming the study's accuracy.
Tax, penalty, and interest will be assessed on the business owner if the study is proven to be incomplete or inaccurate to the extent
that the predominant use of the natural gas or electricity is taxable.
(4)
If a sales tax refund is being claimed retroactively, the study must take into account any changes in equipment or other items
using utilities, any changes in business activities, and any changes in square footage being served by the meter.
(5)
This subsection does not apply to persons whose use of natural gas or electricity is for processing, manufacturing, or other
exempt function if an industry-wide study for that particular industry reflects that the natural gas or electricity used would always
qualify as exempt use. The industry-wide study must be submitted to the comptroller's office for review and approval. A
subsequent study may be required, in the future, if factors relative to the original study change.
(g)
Exemption certificates.
(1)
Exempt users must issue exemption certificates to the utility company to claim a sales tax exemption or to obtain a refund of
sales tax. The exemption certificate must be specific as to the reason for the claimed exemption. For example, if a person is
claiming that the predominant use of the utility is for processing, the reason for the exemption must state, "A valid and complete
study has been performed which shows that (insert the actual exempt percentage) of the natural gas or electricity is for processing
tangible personal property for sale in the regular course of business."
(2)
The exemption is valid only as long as the person continues to use natural gas and electricity in a manner which is for
predominantly exempt purposes. At the time the uses of the utilities change so that the predominant use is taxable, it is the
person's responsibility to immediately notify the utility company in writing that the exemption is no longer valid.
(3)
Persons whose use of natural gas or electricity is solely in family dwellings will not be required to furnish exemption certificates.
(4)
A person whose use of natural gas and electricity is in multifamily apartment complexes, housing complexes, nursing homes, or
other residential buildings may be required to issue an exemption certificate if one is necessary for the utility company to
distinguish exempt residential use from taxable use.
(h)
Transportation of a material extracted from the earth.
(1)
Sales or use tax is not due on natural gas or electricity used to transport a material or its components extracted from the earth.
Examples of materials or components extracted from the earth would be oil, natural gas, coal or coal slurry, crushed stone, sand
and gravel, and water.
(2)
Sales or use tax is due on natural gas or electricity used to transport a product which was manufactured from a material extracted
from the earth. Products which were manufactured from a material extracted from the earth include substances which do not exist
in nature or are not components of crude oil, natural gas, coal, or other minerals extracted from the earth.
(3)
A material will not be considered to be manufactured when an additive is combined with a material for ancillary reasons, for
example, odorant added to natural gas.
(i)
Pipeline safety fees. Sales or use tax is not due on any surcharge for pipeline safety fees added to the existing rates of each
investor-owned and municipally owned natural gas distribution company and each natural gas master meter operator pursuant to
Texas Utilities Code, § 121.211.
Cite as 34 Tex. Admin. Code § 3.295
History. The provisions of this §3.295 adopted to be effective January 1, 1976; amended to be effective October 25, 1978, 3
TexReg 3571; amended to be effective November 26, 1984, 9 TexReg 5836; amended to be effective February 9, 1987, 12
TexReg 311; amended to be effective February 1, 1988, 13 TexReg 348; amended to be effective January 1, 1990, 14 TexReg
6675; amended to be effective June 25, 1991, 16 TexReg 3195; amended to be effective March 7, 1996, 21 TexReg 1583;
amended to be effective September 20, 2000, 25 TexReg 9220; amended to be effective April 13, 2005, 30 TexReg 2082
Black’s Law Dictionary (10th ed. 2014), home
HOME
Bryan A. Garner, Editor in Chief
Preface | Guide | Legal Abbreviations
home (bef. 12c) A dwelling place.
- family home A house that was purchased during marriage and that the family has resided in, esp. before a divorce. • In
some jurisdictions, the court may award the family home to the custodial parent until (1) the youngest child reaches the
age of 18 or is otherwise emancipated, (2) the custodial parent moves, or (3) the custodial parent remarries. In making
such an award, the court typically reasons that it is in the best interests of the child to remain in the family home. — Also
termed marital home; marital residence.
- manufactured home (1973) Secured transactions. A structure, transportable in one or more sections, that when
traveling is 8 body feet or more in width or 40 body feet or more in length, or, when erected on site, is 320 or more
square feet, and that is built on a permanent chassis and designed to be used as a dwelling with or without a permanent
foundation when connected to the required utilities, and that has within it plumbing, heating, air-conditioning, and
electrical systems. UCC § 9-102(a)(53).
- matrimonial home See matrimonial domicile under DOMICILE.
- tax home See TAX HOME.
Black’s Law Dictionary (10th ed. 2014), residence
RESIDENCE
Bryan A. Garner, Editor in Chief
Preface | Guide | Legal Abbreviations
residence (14c) 1. The act or fact of living in a given place for some time . — Also
termed residency. 2. The place where one actually lives, as distinguished from a domicile . • Residence usu. just means bodily presence as an inhabitant in a given place; domicile usu. requires bodily
presence plus an intention to make the place one’s home. A person thus may have more than one residence at a time but
only one domicile. Sometimes, though, the two terms are used synonymously. Cf. DOMICILE (2). 3. A house or other fixed
abode; a dwelling . 4. The place where a corporation or other enterprise does business or is
registered to do business .
- habitual residence (18c) 1. Family law. A person’s customary place of residence; esp., a child’s customary place of
residence before being removed to some other place. • The term, which appears as an undefined term in the Hague
Convention, is used in determining the country having a presumed paramount interest in the child. 2. Copyright. An
established place, esp. a country, in which one lives for the long term, usu. without being a citizen of the place. • The
Berne Convention makes habitual residence an alternative to legal domicile in a member country to qualify for copyright
protection but leaves the exact definition of the term to member countries.
Westlaw. © 2014 Thomson Reuters. No Claim to Orig. U.S. Govt. Works.
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Plaintiff's Appendix 4
© 2015 Thomson Reuters. No claim to original U.S. Government Works.