Untitled Texas Attorney General Opinion

Honorable Ben Atwell, Chairman Opinion No. C-412 Revenue and Taxation Committee House of Representatives Re: Constitutionality of Austin, Texas House Bill 309, 59th Legislature, Regular Dear Mr. Atwell: Session. You ask the opinion of the Attorney General as to whether .HouseBill 309i .59th Legislature, Regular Session, is constitutional, Our opinion is that H. B. No. 309 is constitutional. Rouse Bill No. 309, in effect, merely adds to the present motor fuel tax statutes (Chapter 9 of Title 122A, Taxation- General, Reviced Civil Statutes) provisions allocating unclaimed tax refunds on motor fuel used in motor boats in the same manner in which these statutes now allocate unclaimed tax refunds on motor fuel used in aircraft. The unclaimed refunds on such fuel used in aircraft remain unaffected by this Rill; the unclaimed refunds on fuel used in motor boats are allocated to the Water Recreation Safety Fund. In opinion WW-11&l (1961) the then Attorney General held that the amendments of Section (6a), (13), and (14) of Article 9.13 (Acts 1961) which made allocation of unclaimed refunds of motor fuel used in aircraft were constitutional. By virtue of the holding in Attorney General's opinion WX-1140 it is our opinion that House Bill No. 309 is constitutional. -1943- Honorable Ben Atwell, Page 2 Opinion No. C-412 SUMMARY ------- House Bill No. 309 pending before the 59th Legislature, Regular Session, is constitutional. Yours very truly, WAGGONER CARR Attorney General of Texas WEA:dl APPROVED: OPINION COMMITTEE W. V. Geppert, Chairman Pat Bailey John Reeves Paul Phy Milton Richardson APPROVED FOR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL BY: Stanton Stone -1944-