The consumers’ sales and service tax rate on food purchases and uses of food and food ingredients for human consumption is reduced from 3% to 2% on January 1, 2012. The rate will be further reduced to 1% on July 1, 2012. The tax will be eliminated on July 1, 2013, provided that the balance in the state’s Revenue Shortfall Reserve Fund on December 31, 2012 is at least 12.5% of the General Revenue Fund budgeted for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2012. If the tax is not eliminated on July 1, 2013, it will be eliminated on July 1 of any calendar year from 2014 forward during which the balance of the Revenue Shortfall Reserve Fund as of December 31 of the preceding fiscal year is at least 12.5% of the General Revenue Fund budgeted for the following year. Nothing in the legislation affects application of the tax exemption for food purchased by an eligible person using food stamps, electronic benefits transfer cards or vouchers issued to individuals participating in the Federal Food Stamp Program or the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program. (S.B. 1001, Laws 2011, 1st Special Session)