SENATE BILL 612

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2015

INTRODUCED BY

Craig W. Brandt and Jason C. Harper

AN ACT

RELATING TO TAXATION; PROVIDING AN INCOME TAX DEDUCTION FOR SCHOOL SUPPLIES PURCHASED BY A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. A new section of the Income Tax Act is enacted

to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] DEDUCTION--SCHOOL SUPPLIES PURCHASED BY A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER.--

          A. A taxpayer who is not a dependent of another individual and is a public school teacher may claim a deduction from net income in an amount equal to the costs of school supplies purchased by the public school teacher in a taxable year, not to exceed:

                (1) for a taxable year beginning on January 1, 2015 and prior to January 1, 2016, five hundred dollars ($500); and

                (2) for a taxable year beginning on or after January 1, 2016, one thousand dollars ($1,000).

          B. To claim a deduction pursuant to this section, a taxpayer shall submit to the department information required by the secretary establishing that the taxpayer is eligible to claim a deduction pursuant to this section.

          C. As used in this section:

                (1) "public school teacher" means a person who is licensed as a teacher pursuant to the Public School Code and who teaches at a public school; and

                (2) "school supplies" means items purchased by a public school teacher and used by the students of the teacher in the teacher's classroom for educational purposes, including notebooks, paper, writing instruments, crayons, art supplies, rulers, maps and globes, but not including computers or other similar digital devices, watches, radios, digital music players, headphones, sporting equipment, portable or desktop telephones, cellular telephones or other electronic communication devices, copiers, office equipment, furniture or fixtures."

     SECTION 2. APPLICABILITY.--The provisions of this act apply to taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2015.

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