Section 20-605 - [Effective 7/1/2024] Prince George's County - Telecommunications tax(a)(1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.(2) "Mobile Telecommunications Sourcing Act" means the federal Mobile Telecommunications Sourcing Act, 4 U.S.C. §§ 116 through 126.(3) "Service address" means: (i) except as provided in item (ii) of this paragraph, the location of the telecommunications equipment to which a call is charged, regardless of where the call is billed or paid; and(ii) in the case of mobile telecommunications service, the location of the customer's place of primary use as defined in the Mobile Telecommunications Sourcing Act.(b)(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, A tax imposed under this section applies to telecommunications service that: (i) originates and terminates in Prince George's County; or(ii) originates or terminates in Prince George's County and has a service address in Prince George's County.(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of this subsection, and except as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection, for a customer bill to which the amendment made by the Mobile Telecommunications Sourcing Act applies, a tax imposed under this section applies to mobile telecommunications service to the fullest extent authorized under § 117(b) of the Mobile Telecommunications Sourcing Act.(3) A tax imposed under this section does not apply to:(i) telecommunications service provided to a person to whom a sale of tangible personal property or a taxable service is exempt under § 11-204 or § 11-220 of the Tax - General Article;(ii) a prepaid telephone calling arrangement that is taxable under Title 11 of the Tax - General Article; or(iii) telephone lifeline service provided under § 8-201 of the Public Utilities Article.(c) By ordinance, the County Council for Prince George's County shall impose at least one of the following: (1) a sales and use tax on telecommunications service in Prince George's County at a rate not less than 5%; or(2) an excise tax on telecommunications service in Prince George's County at a rate not exceeding $3.50 monthly for each telephone line.(d)(1) A tax imposed under this section shall be itemized on each bill for telecommunications service in Prince George's County.(2) Each vendor providing telecommunications service in Prince George's County shall collect the tax on behalf of and remit the tax to the county.(e)(1) The net proceeds of the revenue from a tax imposed under this section shall be used as follows:(i) at least 90% of the net proceeds shall be used for operating expenditures for the Prince George's County school system; and(ii) the remainder shall be used for: 1. cash payments for capital expenditures for school renovation projects approved by the Prince George's County Board of Education and Prince George's County; or2. payment of debt service on bonds issued by the governing body of Prince George's County for school renovation projects approved by the Prince George's County Board of Education and Prince George's County.(2) The proceeds provided under this section for the Prince George's County school system may be used to meet the county's funding requirements under § 5-235(a) of the Education Article.
(3) Among the expenditures to be funded from the proceeds, the Prince George's County Board of Education shall consider: (i) a program to serve disruptive, delinquent, or low-performing students in grades 6 through 12 that: 1. provides proof of progress in reading and mathematics;2. is designed to include small learning communities and areas of support services provided by community-based providers; and3. is operated by an educational provider with substantial experience serving the type of student population served by the program in separate school facilities provided by the education provider, unless the public school system decides otherwise;(ii) a Spanish language immersion program to serve at least 450 students in kindergarten through grade 5 in order to address long-term labor needs for bilingual employees; and(iii) addressing any needs related to capital improvements or renovations that are the result of the deferral of maintenance or other deterioration of school facilities.(4) On or before December 31 of each year, the governing body of Prince George's County shall submit a report detailing the expenditure of revenues generated from a tax imposed under this section to the Department of Legislative Services, the Prince George's County school system, and the Prince George's County Delegation of the General Assembly. Amended by 2024 Md. Laws, Ch. 970,Sec. 1, eff. 7/1/2024.Revised and recodified by 2013 Md. Laws, Ch. 119, Sec. 2, eff. 10/1/2013.This section is set out more than once due to postponed, multiple, or conflicting amendments.