The sales and use taxes levied or imposed by this article shall not apply to:

(1) Sales to the United States government, this state, any county or municipality of this state, or any bona fide department of such governments when paid for directly to the seller by warrant on appropriated government funds;

(2) Transactions in which tangible personal property is furnished by the United States government or by a county or municipality of this state to any person who contracts to perform services for the governmental entity for the installation, repair, or extension of any public water, gas, or sewage system of the governmental entity when the tangible personal property is installed for general distribution purposes, notwithstanding Code Section 48-8-63 or any other provision of this article. No exemption is granted with respect to tangible personal property installed to serve a particular property site;

(3) The federal retailers' excise tax if the tax is billed to the consumer separately from the selling price of the product or from the tax imposed by Article 1 of Chapter 9 of this title relating to motor fuel taxes;

(4) Sales by counties and municipalities arising out of their operation of any public transit facility and sales by public transit authorities or charges by counties, municipalities, or public transit authorities for the transportation of passengers upon their conveyances;

(5)(A) Fares and charges, except charges for charter and sightseeing service, collected by an urban transit system for the transportation of passengers.

(B) As used in this paragraph, the term:

(i) "Public transit system primarily urban in character" shall include a transit system operated by any entity which provides passenger transportation services by means of motor vehicles having passenger-carrying capacity within or between standard metropolitan areas and urban areas, as those terms are defined in Code Section 32-2-3, of this state.

(ii) "Urban transit system" means a public transit system primarily urban in character which is operated by a street railroad company or a motor common carrier, is subject to the jurisdiction of the Georgia Public Service Commission, and whose fares and charges are regulated by the commission, or is operated pursuant to a franchise contract with a municipality of this state so that its fares and charges are regulated by or are subject to the approval of the municipality. An urban transit system certificate shall be issued by the Public Service Commission, or by the municipality which has regulatory authority, upon an affirmative showing that the applicant operates an urban transit system. The certificate shall be obtained and filed annually with the commissioner;

(6) Sales to any hospital authority created by Article 4 of Chapter 7 of Title 31;

(6.1) Sales to any housing authority created by Article 1 of Chapter 3 of Title 8, the "Housing Authorities Law";

(7) Sales of tangible personal property and services to a nonprofit licensed nursing home, nonprofit licensed in-patient hospice, or a nonprofit general or mental hospital used exclusively by such nursing home, in-patient hospice, or hospital in performing a general nursing home, in-patient hospice, hospital, or mental hospital treatment function in this state when such nursing home, in-patient hospice, or hospital is a tax exempt organization under the Internal Revenue Code and obtains an exemption determination letter from the commissioner;

(7.1) Sales of tangible personal property and services to a nonprofit organization, the primary function of which is the provision of services to mentally retarded persons, when such organization is a tax exempt organization under the Internal Revenue Code and obtains an exemption determination letter from the commissioner;

(8) Sales of tangible personal property and services to the University System of Georgia and its educational units;

(9) Sales of tangible personal property and services to be used exclusively for educational purposes by those private colleges and universities in this state whose academic credits are accepted as equivalents by the University System of Georgia and its educational units;

(10) Sales of tangible personal property and services to be used exclusively for educational purposes by those bona fide private elementary and secondary schools which have been approved by the commissioner as organizations eligible to receive tax deductible contributions if application for exemption is made to the department and proof of the exemption is established;

(11) Sales of tangible personal property or services to, and the purchase of tangible personal property or services by, any educational or cultural institute which:

(A) Is tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code;

(B) Furnishes at least 50 percent of its programs through universities and other institutions of higher education in support of their educational programs;

(C) Is paid for by government funds of a foreign country; and

(D) Is an instrumentality, agency, department, or branch of a foreign government operating through a permanent location in this state;

(12) School lunches sold and served to pupils and employees of public schools;

(13) Sales of food to be consumed on the premises by pupils and employees of bona fide private elementary and secondary schools which have been approved by the commissioner as organizations eligible to receive tax deductible contributions when application for exemption is made to the department and proof of the exemption is established;

(14) Sales of objects of art and of anthropological, archeological, geological, horticultural, or zoological objects or artifacts and other similar tangible personal property to or for the use by any museum or organization which is tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of such tangible personal property for display or exhibition in a museum within this state when the museum is open to the public and has been approved by the commissioner as an organization eligible to receive tax deductible contributions;

(15) Sales:

(A) Of any religious paper in this state when the paper is owned and operated by religious institutions or denominations and no part of the net profit from the operation of the institution or denomination inures to the benefit of any private person;

(B) By religious institutions or denominations when:

(i) The sale results from a specific charitable fund-raising activity;

(ii) The number of days upon which the fund-raising activity occurs does not exceed 30 in any calendar year;

(iii) No part of the gross sales or net profits from the sales inures to the benefit of any private person; and

(iv) The gross sales or net profits from the sales are used for the purely charitable purposes of:

(I) Relief to the aged;

(II) Church related youth activities;

(III) Religious instruction or worship; or

(IV) Construction or repair of church buildings or facilities;

(15.1) Sales of pipe organs or steeple bells to any church which is qualified as an exempt religious organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

(16) The sale or use of Holy Bibles, testaments, and similar books commonly recognized as being Holy Scripture regardless of by or to whom sold;

(17) The sale of fuel and supplies for use or consumption aboard ships plying the high seas either in intercoastal trade between ports in this state and ports in other states of the United States or its possessions or in foreign commerce between ports in this state and ports of foreign countries;

(18) Charges made for the transportation of tangible personal property including, but not limited to, charges for accessorial services such as refrigeration, switching, storage, and demurrage made in connection with interstate and intrastate transportation of the property;

(19) All tangible personal property purchased outside of this state by persons who at the time of purchase are not domiciled in this state but who subsequently become domiciled in this state and bring the property into this state for the first time as a result of the change of domicile, if the property is not brought into this state for use in a trade, business, or profession;

(20) The sale of water delivered to consumers through water mains, lines, or pipes;

(21) Sales, transfers, or exchanges of tangible personal property made as a result of a business reorganization when the owners, partners, or stockholders of the business being reorganized maintain the same proportionate interest or share in the newly formed business reorganization;

(22) Professional, insurance, or personal service transactions which involve sales as inconsequential elements for which no separate charges are made;

(23) Fees or charges for services rendered by repairmen for which a separate charge is made;

(24) The rental of videotape or motion picture film to any person who charges an admission fee to view such film or videotape;

(25) The sale of seed; fertilizers; insecticides; fungicides; rodenticides; herbicides; defoliants; soil fumigants; plant growth regulating chemicals; desiccants including, but not limited to, shavings and sawdust from wood, peanut hulls, fuller's earth, straw, and hay; and feed for livestock, fish, or poultry when used either directly in tilling the soil or in animal, fish, or poultry husbandry;

(26) The sale to persons engaged primarily in producing farm crops for sale of machinery and equipment which is used exclusively for irrigation of farm crops including, but not limited to, fruit, vegetable, and nut crops;

(27) The sale of sugar used as food for honeybees kept for the commercial production of honey, beeswax, and honeybees when the commissioner's prior approval is obtained;

(28) The sale of cattle, hogs, sheep, horses, poultry, or bees when sold for breeding purposes;

(29) The sale of the following types of agricultural machinery:

(A) Machinery and equipment for use on a farm in the production of poultry and eggs for sale;

(B) Machinery and equipment used in the hatching and breeding of poultry and the breeding of livestock;

(C) Machinery and equipment for use on a farm in the production, processing, and storage of fluid milk for sale;

(D) Machinery and equipment for use on a farm in the production of livestock for sale;

(E) Machinery and equipment which is used by a producer of poultry, eggs, fluid milk, or livestock for sale for the purpose of harvesting farm crops to be used on the farm by that producer as feed for poultry or livestock;

(F) Machinery which is used directly in tilling the soil or in animal husbandry when the machinery is incorporated for the first time into a new farm unit engaged in tilling the soil or in animal husbandry in this state;

(G) Machinery which is used directly in tilling the soil or in animal husbandry when the machinery is incorporated as additional machinery for the first time into an existing farm unit already engaged in tilling the soil or in animal husbandry in this state;

(H) Machinery which is used directly in tilling the soil or in animal husbandry when the machinery is bought to replace machinery in an existing farm unit already engaged in tilling the soil or in animal husbandry in this state;

(I) Rubber-tired farm tractors and attachments to the tractors which are sold to persons engaged primarily in producing farm crops for sale and which are used exclusively in tilling, planting, cultivating, and harvesting farm crops, and equipment used exclusively in harvesting farm crops or in processing onion crops which are sold to persons engaged primarily in producing farm crops for sale. For the purposes of this subparagraph, the term "farm crops" includes only those crops which are planted and harvested within a 12 month period; and

(J) Pecan sprayers, pecan shakers, and other equipment used in harvesting pecans which is sold to persons engaged in the growing, harvesting, and production of pecans;

(29.1) The sale or use of any off-road equipment and related attachments which are sold to or used by persons engaged primarily in the growing or harvesting of timber and which are used exclusively in site preparation, planting, cultivating, or harvesting timber. Equipment used in harvesting shall include all off-road equipment and related attachments used in every forestry procedure starting with the severing of a tree from the ground until and including the point at which the tree or its parts in any form has been loaded in the field in or on a truck or other vehicle for transport to the place of use. Such off-road equipment shall include, but not be limited to, skidders, feller bunchers, debarkers, delimbers, chip harvestors, tub-grinders, woods cutters, chippers of all types, loaders of all types, dozers, and motor graders and the related attachments;

(30) The sale of a vehicle to a service-connected disabled veteran when the veteran received a grant from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to purchase and specially adapt the vehicle to his disability; (31) The sale of tangible personal property manufactured or assembled in this state for export when delivery is taken outside this state;

(32) Aircraft, watercraft, motor vehicles, and other transportation equipment manufactured or assembled in this state when sold by the manufacturer or assembler for use exclusively outside this state and when possession is taken from the manufacturer or assembler by the purchaser within this state for the sole purpose of removing the property from this state under its own power when the equipment does not lend itself more reasonably to removal by other means;

(33)(A) The sale of aircraft, watercraft, railroad locomotives and rolling stock, motor vehicles, and major components of each, which will be used principally to cross the borders of this state in the service of transporting passengers or cargo by common carriers and by carriers who hold common carrier and contract carrier authority in interstate or foreign commerce under authority granted by the United States government. Replacement parts installed by carriers in such aircraft, watercraft, railroad locomotives and rolling stock, and motor vehicles which become an integral part of the craft, equipment, or vehicle shall also be exempt from all taxes under this article;

(B) In lieu of any tax under this article which would apply to the purchase, sale, use, storage, or consumption of the tangible personal property described in this paragraph but for this exemption, the tax under this article shall apply with respect to all fuel purchased and delivered within this state by or to any common carrier and with respect to all fuel purchased outside this state and stored in this state irrespective, in either case, of the place of its subsequent use;

(34) The sale of the following types of manufacturing machinery:

(A) Machinery which is used directly in the manufacture of tangible personal property when the machinery is bought to replace or upgrade machinery in a manufacturing plant presently existing in this state and machinery components which are purchased to upgrade machinery used directly in the manufacture of tangible personal property in a manufacturing plant;

(B) Machinery which is used directly in the manufacture of tangible personal property when the machinery is incorporated for the first time into a new manufacturing plant located in this state;

(C) Machinery which is used directly in the manufacture of tangible personal property when the machinery is incorporated as additional machinery for the first time into a manufacturing plant presently existing in this state; and

(D) Any person making a sale of machinery for the purpose specified in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph shall collect the tax imposed on the sale by this article unless the purchaser furnishes him with a certificate issued by the commissioner certifying that the purchaser is entitled to purchase the machinery without paying the tax. As a condition precedent to the issuance of the certificate, the commissioner, at his discretion, may require a good and valid bond with a surety company authorized to do business in this state as surety or may require legal securities, in an amount fixed by the commissioner, conditioned upon payment by the purchaser of all taxes due under this article in the event it should be determined that the sale fails to meet the requirements of this subparagraph;

(34.1)(A) The sale of primary material handling equipment which is used directly for the handling and movement of tangible personal property and racking systems used for the conveyance and storage of tangible personal property in a warehouse or distribution facility located in this state when such equipment is either part of an expansion worth $5 million or more of an existing warehouse or distribution facility or part of the construction of a new warehouse or distribution facility where the total value of all real and personal property purchased or acquired by the taxpayer for use in the warehouse or distribution facility is worth $5 million or more.

(B) In order to qualify for the exemption provided for in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, a warehouse or distribution facility may not make retail sales from such facility to the general public if the total of the retail sales equals or exceeds 15 percent of the total revenues of the warehouse or distribution facility. If retail sales are made to the general public by a warehouse or distribution facility and at any time the total of the retail sales equals or exceeds 15 percent of the total revenues of the facility, the taxpayer will be disqualified from receiving such exemption as of the date such 15 percent limitation is met or exceeded. The taxpayer may be required to repay any tax benefits received under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph on or after that date plus penalty and interest as may be allowed by law.

(34.2)(A) The sale or use of machinery or equipment, or both, which is used directly in the remanufacture of aircraft engines or aircraft engine parts or components in a remanufacturing facility located in this state. For purposes of this paragraph, "remanufacture of aircraft engines or aircraft engine parts or components" means the substantial overhauling or rebuilding of aircraft engines or aircraft engine parts or components.

(B) Any person making a sale of machinery or equipment, or both, for the remanufacture of aircraft engines or aircraft engine parts or components shall collect the tax imposed on the sale by this article unless the purchaser furnishes a certificate issued by the commissioner certifying that the purchaser is entitled to purchase the machinery without paying the tax;

(34.3)(A) The sale or use of repair or replacement parts, machinery clothing or replacement machinery clothing, molds or replacement molds, dies or replacement dies, and tooling or replacement tooling for machinery used directly in the manufacture of tangible personal property in a manufacturing plant presently existing in this state.

(B) The exemption provided for in this paragraph shall apply to that portion of the sales price of each such part, item of machinery clothing, mold, die, or tool, which does not exceed $150,000.00.

(C) The exemption provided for in this paragraph shall be applicable to all calendar years beginning on or after January 1, 2001, as follows:

(i) At the rate of 20 percent of the total sale or use as provided in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph for the calendar year beginning January 1, 2001;

(ii) At the rate of 40 percent of the total sale or use as provided in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph for the calendar year beginning January 1, 2002;

(iii) At the rate of 60 percent of the total sale or use as provided in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph for the calendar year beginning January 1, 2003;

(iv) At the rate of 80 percent of the total sale or use as provided in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph for the calendar year beginning January 1, 2004; and

(v) At the rate of 100 percent of the total sale or use as provided in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph for the calendar year beginning January 1, 2005, and for each calendar year thereafter.

(D) The commissioner shall promulgate rules and regulations to implement and administer this paragraph;

(35)(A) The sale, use, storage, or consumption of:

(i) Industrial materials for future processing, manufacture, or conversion into articles of tangible personal property for resale when the industrial materials become a component part of the finished product;

(ii) Industrial materials other than machinery and machinery repair parts that are coated upon or impregnated into the product at any stage of its processing, manufacture, or conversion; or

(iii) Materials, containers, labels, sacks, or bags used for packaging tangible personal property for shipment or sale. To qualify for the packaging exemption, the items shall be used solely for packaging and shall not be purchased for reuse;

(B) As used in this paragraph, the term "industrial materials" does not include natural or artificial gas, oil, gasoline, electricity, solid fuel, ice, or other materials used for heat, light, power, or refrigeration in any phase of the manufacturing, processing, or converting process;

(36)(A) The sale of machinery and equipment which is incorporated into any facility and used for the primary purpose of reducing or eliminating air or water pollution;

(B) Any person making a sale of machinery and equipment for the purposes specified in this paragraph shall collect the tax imposed on the sale by this article unless the purchaser furnishes him with a certificate issued by the commissioner certifying that the purchaser is entitled to purchase the machinery and equipment without paying the tax;

(36.1)(A) The sale of machinery and equipment which is incorporated into any qualified water conservation facility and used for water conservation.

(B) As used in this paragraph, the term:

(i) "Qualified water conservation facility" means any facility, including buildings, and any machinery and equipment used in the water conservation process resulting in a minimum 10 percent reduction in permit by relinquishment or transfer of annual permitted water usage from existing permitted ground-water sources. In addition, such facility shall have been certified pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the Department of Natural Resources as necessary to promote its ground-water management efforts for areas with a multiyear record of consumption at, near, or above sustainable use signaled by declines in ground-water pressure, threats of salt-water intrusion, need to develop alternate sources to accommodate economic growth and development, or any other indication of growing inadequacy of the existing resource.

(ii) "Water conservation" means a minimum 10 percent reduction resulting in the relinquishment of transfer of annual permitted water usage from existing ground-water sources due to increased manufacturing process efficiencies or recycling of manufacturing process water which results in reduced ground-water usage, or a change from a ground-water source to a surface-water source or an alternate source.

(C) Any person making a sale of machinery and equipment for the purposes specified in this paragraph shall collect the tax imposed on this sale unless the purchaser furnishes such person with a certificate issued by the commissioner certifying that the purchaser is entitled to purchase the machinery and equipment without paying the tax;

(37) The sale of machinery and equipment for use in combating air and water pollution and any industrial material bought for further processing in the manufacture of tangible personal property for sale or any part of the industrial material or by-product thereof which becomes a wasteful product contributing to pollution problems and which is used up in a recycling or burning process. Any person making a sale of machinery and equipment for the purposes specified in this paragraph shall collect a tax imposed on the sale by this article unless the purchaser furnishes the person making the sale with a certificate issued by the commissioner certifying that the purchaser is entitled to purchase the machinery, equipment, or industrial material without paying the tax;

(38) Sales of tangible personal property and fees and charges for services by the Rock Eagle 4-H Center;

(39) Sales by any public or private school containing any combination of grades kindergarten through 12 of tangible personal property, concessions, or tickets for admission to a school event or function, provided that the net proceeds from such sales are used solely for the benefit of such public or private school or its students;

(39.1) The use of cargo containers and their related chassis which are owned by or leased to persons engaged in the international shipment of cargo by ocean-going vessels which containers and chassis are directly used for the storage and shipment of tangible personal property in or through this state in intrastate or interstate commerce;

(40) The sale of major components and repair parts installed in military craft, vehicles, and missiles;

(41) Sales of tangible personal property and services to orphans' homes located in this state and operated as nonprofit corporations;

(42) The use by, or lease or rental of tangible personal property to, a person who acquires the property from another person where both persons are under 100 percent common ownership and where the person who furnishes, leases, or rents the property has:

(A) Previously paid sales or use tax on the property; or

(B) Been credited under Code Section 48-8-42 with paying a sales or use tax on the property so furnished, leased, or rented, and the tax credited is based upon the fair rental or lease value of the property;

(43) Gross revenues generated from all bona fide coin operated amusement machines which vend or dispense music or are operated for skill, amusement, entertainment, or pleasure which are in commercial use and are provided to the public for play which will require a permit fee under Chapter 17 of this title;

(44) Sales of motor vehicles, as defined in Code Section 48-5-440, to nonresident purchasers for immediate transportation to and use in another state in which the vehicles are required to be registered, provided the seller obtains from the purchaser and retains an affidavit stating the name and address of the purchaser, the state in which the vehicle will be registered and operated, the make, model, and serial number of the vehicle, and such other information as the commissioner may require;

(45) The sale, use, storage, or consumption of paper stock which is manufactured in this state into catalogs intended to be delivered outside this state for use outside this state;

(46) Sales to blood banks having a nonprofit status pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code;

(47) Sales of drugs dispensed by prescription and prescription eyeglasses and contact lenses;

(48) Sales to licensed commercial fishermen of bait for taking crabs and the use by licensed commercial fishermen of bait for taking crabs; (49) Sales of liquefied petroleum gas or other fuel used in a structure in which broilers, pullets, or other poultry are raised;

(50) Sales of blood measuring devices, other monitoring equipment, or insulin delivery systems used exclusively by diabetics and sales of insulin, insulin syringes, and blood glucose level measuring strips dispensed without a prescription;

(51) Sales of oxygen prescribed by a licensed physician;

(52) The sale or use of hearing aids;

(53) Sales transactions for which food stamps or WIC coupons are used as the medium of exchange;

(54) The sale or use of any durable medical equipment as defined under Titles XVIII and XIX of the federal Social Security Act which is paid for directly by funds of the State of Georgia or the United States under the medicare or Medicaid programs where state or federal law or regulation authorizing such payment prohibits the payment of sales and use tax in connection therewith. The commissioner shall specify by rule or regulation the durable medical equipment eligible for this exemption;

(54.1) The sale or use of any physician prescribed prosthetic device as defined under Titles XVIII and XIX of the federal Social Security Act;

(55) The sale of lottery tickets authorized by Chapter 27 of Title 50;

(56) Sales by any parent-teacher organization qualified as a tax exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code;

(57)(A) The sale for off-premises human consumption or use of eligible foods and beverages, to the extent provided in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph.

(B) A transaction described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph shall be exempt from sales and use tax only if occurring on or after October 1, 1996, and only to the extent set forth in divisions (i) through (iii) of this subparagraph as follows:

(i) For a transaction occurring during the period from October 1, 1996, through September 30, 1997, to the extent of 50 percent of that amount on which, but for this paragraph, sales and use tax would be levied or imposed;

(ii) For a transaction occurring during the period from October 1, 1997, through September 30, 1998, to the extent of 75 percent of that amount on which, but for this paragraph, sales and use tax would be levied or imposed; and

(iii) For a transaction occurring on or after October 1, 1998, to the extent of 100 percent of that amount on which, but for this paragraph, sales and use tax would be levied or imposed.

(C) For the purposes of this paragraph, "eligible food and beverages" means any food as defined in Section 3 of the federal Food Stamp Act of 1977 (P.L. 95-113), as amended, 7 U.S.C.A. 2012(g), as such Act existed on January 1, 1996, except that eligible food and beverages shall not include seeds or plants to grow food and shall not include food or drink dispensed by or through vending machines or related operations.

(D)(i) The exemption provided for in this paragraph shall not apply to any local sales and use tax levied or imposed at any time by or pursuant to Article 3 of this chapter.

(ii) Except as otherwise provided in division (i) of this subparagraph, the exemption provided for in this paragraph shall not apply to any local sales and use tax which is effective before October 1, 1996, notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary in the law authorizing or imposing such tax.

(iii) Except as otherwise provided in divisions (i) and (iv) of this subparagraph, the exemption provided for in this paragraph shall apply with respect to any local sales and use tax which becomes effective on or after October 1, 1996, but such exemption shall apply only as to transactions occurring on or after October 1, 1998, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the law authorizing or imposing such tax.

(iv) The exemption provided for in this paragraph shall apply to any local sales and use tax levied or imposed at any time by or pursuant to Article 2A of this chapter.

(v) For the purposes of this subparagraph, the term "local sales and use tax" shall mean any sales tax, use tax, or local sales and use tax which is levied and imposed in an area consisting of less than the entire state, however authorized, including, but not limited to, such taxes authorized by or pursuant to constitutional amendment; by or pursuant to Section 25 of an Act approved March 10, 1965 (Ga. L. 1965, p. 2243), as amended, the "Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority Act of 1965"; by or pursuant to Article 2 of this chapter; by or pursuant to Article 2A of this chapter; or by or pursuant to Article 3 of this chapter.

(E) The commissioner shall adopt rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this paragraph;

(58)(A) Notwithstanding any provisions of this chapter to the contrary, sales to or use by a government contractor of overhead materials in performance of a contract with the United States government to which title passes immediately to the government under the terms of the contract.

(B) As used in this paragraph, the term:

(i) "Government contractor" means a person who enters into a contract with the United States Department of Defense or the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to sell services or tangible personal property, or both, for the purpose of the national defense.

(ii) "Overhead materials" means any tangible personal property used or consumed in the performance of a contract between the United States Department of Defense or the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and a government contractor, the cost of which is charged to an expense account and allocated to various United States government contracts based upon generally accepted accounting principles, and consistent with government contract accounting standards. The term overhead materials does not include tangible personal property which is incorporated into real property construction.

(C) The exemption provided for in this paragraph shall be applicable to all calendar years beginning on or after January 1, 1997, as follows:

(i) At the rate of 25 percent of the total sale or use as provided in subparagraph (A) for the calendar year beginning January 1, 1997;

(ii) At the rate of 50 percent of the total sale or use as provided in subparagraph (A) for the calendar year beginning January 1, 1998;

(iii) At the rate of 75 percent of the total sale or use as provided in subparagraph (A) for the calendar year beginning January 1, 1999; and

(iv) At the rate of 100 percent of the total sale or use as provided in subparagraph (A) for the calendar year beginning January 1, 2000, and for each calendar year thereafter.

(D) This paragraph shall stand repealed on January 1, 2005;

(59)(A) For purposes of this paragraph, "eligible food and beverages" means any food as defined in Section 3 of the federal Food Stamp Act of 1977 (P.L. 95-113), as amended, 7 U.S.C.A. 2012(g), as such Act existed on January 1, 1996, whether or not for off premises consumption.

(B) Sales of eligible food and beverages to and by member councils of the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. in connection with fundraising activities of any such council.

(C) Sales of eligible food and beverages to and by member councils of the Boy Scouts of America in connection with fundraising activities of any such council;

(60) The sale of machinery and equipment which is incorporated into any telecommunications manufacturing facility and used for the primary purpose of improving air quality in advanced technology clean rooms of Class 100,000 or less, provided such clean rooms are used directly in the manufacture of tangible personal property;

(61) Printed advertising inserts or advertising supplements distributed in this state in or as part of any newspaper for resale;

(62) The sale of grass sod of all kinds and character when such sod is in the original state of production or condition of preparation for sale. The exemption provided for by this paragraph shall only apply to a sale made by the sod producer, a member of such producer's family, or an employee of such producer. The exemption provided for by this paragraph shall not apply to sales of grass sod by a person engaged in the business of selling plants, seedlings, nursery stock, or floral products;

(63) The sale or use of funeral merchandise, outer burial containers, and cemetery markers as defined in Code Section 43-18-1, which are purchased with funds received from the Georgia Crime Victims Emergency Fund under Chapter 15 of Title 17;

(64) The sale of electricity for the operation of an irrigation system which is used on a farm exclusively for the irrigation of farm crops;

(65)(A) Sales of dyed diesel fuel exclusively used to operate vessels or boats in the commercial fishing trade by licensed commercial fishermen.

(B) Any person making a sale of dyed diesel fuel for the purposes specified in this paragraph shall collect the tax imposed on the sale by this article unless the purchaser furnishes such person with a certificate issued by the commissioner certifying that the purchaser is entitled to purchase the dyed diesel fuel without paying the tax;

(66) Sales of gold, silver, or platinum bullion or any combination of such bullion, provided that the dealer maintains proper documentation, as specified by rule or regulation to be promulgated by the department, to identify each sale or portion of a sale which is exempt under this paragraph;

(67) Sales of coins or currency or a combination of coins and currency, provided that the dealer maintains proper documentation, as specified by rule or regulation to be promulgated by the department, to identify each sale or portion of a sale which is exempt under this paragraph;

(68)(A) The sale or lease of computer equipment to be incorporated into a facility or facilities in this state to any high-technology company classified under North American Industrial Classification System code 51121, 51331, 51333, 51334, 51421, 52232, 54133, 54171, 54172, 334413, 334611, 513321, 513322, 514191, 541511, 541512, 541513, or 541519 where such sale of computer equipment for any calendar year exceeds $15 million, or, in the event of a lease of such computer equipment, the fair market value of such leased computer equipment for any calendar year exceeds $15 million.

(B) Any person making a sale or lease of computer equipment to a high-technology company as specified in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph shall collect the tax imposed on the sale by this article unless the purchaser furnishes such seller with a certificate issued by the commissioner certifying that the purchaser is entitled to purchase the computer equipment without paying the tax. As a condition precedent to the issuance of the certificate, the commissioner, at such commissioner's discretion, may require a good and valid bond with a surety company authorized to do business in this state as surety or may require legal securities, in an amount fixed by the commissioner, conditioned upon payment by the purchaser of all taxes due under this article in the event it should be determined that the sale fails to meet the requirements of this subparagraph.

(C) As used in this paragraph, the term "computer equipment" means any individual computer terminal or organized assembly of hardware, including, but not limited to, central processing units and related peripheral equipment such as scanners, printers, electronic data storage devices, memory chips, data transmission equipment, and software products, including operating systems and library and maintenance routines;

(69) The sale of machinery, equipment, and materials incorporated into and used in the construction or operation of a clean room of Class 100 or less in this state, not to include the building or any permanent, nonremovable component of the building that houses such clean room, provided that such clean room is used directly in the manufacture of tangible personal property in this state;

(70)(A) For the purposes of this paragraph, the term "local sales and use tax" shall mean any sales tax, use tax, or local sales and use tax which is levied and imposed in an area consisting of less than the entire state, however authorized, including, but not limited to, such taxes authorized by or pursuant to constitutional amendment; by or pursuant to Section 25 of an Act approved March 10, 1965 (Ga. L. 1965, p. 2243), as amended, the "Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority Act of 1965"; by or pursuant to Article 2 of this chapter; by or pursuant to Article 2A of this chapter; by or pursuant to Part 1 of Article 3 of this chapter; or by or pursuant to Part 2 of Article 3 of this chapter.

(B) The sale of natural or artificial gas used directly in the production of electricity which is subsequently sold.

(C) The exemption provided for in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph shall not apply to any local sales and use tax levied or imposed at any time.

(D) The commissioner shall adopt rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this paragraph;

(71) Sales to or by any nonprofit organization which has as its primary purpose the raising of funds for books, materials, and programs for public libraries if such organization qualifies as a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code;

(72) The sale or use, to or by permanently disabled persons, of wheelchairs and any accompanying equipment, including seating equipment, all of which is manually or mechanically attached or adapted to such wheelchairs; or

(73)(A) The sale or lease of production equipment or production services for use in this state by a certified film producer or certified film production company for qualified production activities. (B) As used in this paragraph, the term;

(i) "Film producer" means any person engaged in the business of organizing and supervising qualified production activities.

(ii) "Film production company" means any company that employs one or more film producers and whose goal is to engage in film production activity.

(iii) "Qualified production activities" means the production or post production of film or video projects such as feature films, series, pilots, movies for television, commercials, music videos, or sound recordings used in feature films, series, pilots, or movies for television, for which the film producer or film production company will be compensated and which are intended for nation-wide commercial distribution.

(iv) "Production equipment" means items purchased or leased for use exclusively in qualified production activities in Georgia, including, but not limited to, cameras, camera supplies, camera accessories, lighting equipment, cables, wires, generators, motion picture film and videotape stock, cranes, booms, dollies, and teleprompters.

(v) "Production services" means services purchased for use exclusively in qualified production activities in Georgia, including, but not limited to, digital or tape editing, film processing, transfers of film to tape or digital format, sound mixing, computer graphics services, special effects services, animation services, and script production.

(C) Any person making a sale of production equipment or production services to a film producer or film production company as specified in this paragraph shall collect the tax imposed on the sale by this article unless the purchaser furnishes such seller with a certificate issued by the commissioner certifying that the purchaser is entitled to purchase the production equipment or production services without paying the tax. As a condition precedent to the issuance of the certificate, film producers and film production companies shall submit an application to the commissioner for designation as a certified film producer or certified film production company. Such application shall not be valid without prior written approval by the Georgia Film and Videotape Office of the Department of Industry, Trade, and Tourism.

(74)(A)(i) Except as otherwise provided in divisions (ii) and (iii) of this subparagraph, the sale or use of digital broadcast equipment sold to, leased to, or used by a federally licensed commercial or public radio or television broadcast station, a cable network, or a cable distributor that enables a radio or television station, cable network, or cable distributor to originate and broadcast or transmit or to receive and broadcast or transmit digital signals, including, but not limited to, digital broadcast equipment required by the Federal Communications Commission.

(ii) For commercial or public television broadcasters and cable distributors, such equipment shall be limited to antennas, transmission lines, towers, digital transmitters, studio to transmitter links, digital routing switchers, character generators, Advanced Television Systems Committee video encoders and multi-plexers, monitoring facilities, cameras, terminal equipment, tape recorders, and file servers.

(iii) For radio broadcasters, such equipment shall be limited to transmitters, digital audio processors, and diskettes.

(B) As used in this paragraph, the term:

(i) "Digital broadcast equipment" means equipment purchased, leased, or used for the origination or integration of program materials for broadcast over the airwaves or transmission by cable, satellite, or fiber optic line which uses or produces an electronic signal where the signal carries data generated, stored, and processed as strings of binary data. Data transmitted or stored as digital data consists of strings of positive or nonpositive elements of a transmission expressed in strings of 0's and 1's which a computer or processor can reconstruct as an electronic signal.

(ii) "Federally licensed commercial or public radio or television broadcast station" means any entity or enterprise, either commercial or noncommercial, which operates under a license granted by the Federal Communications Commission for the purpose of free distribution of audio and video services when the distribution occurs by means of transmission over the public airwaves.

(C) The exemption provided under this paragraph shall not apply to any of the following:

(i) Repair or replacement parts purchased for the equipment described in this paragraph;

(ii) Equipment purchased to replace equipment for which an exemption was previously claimed and taken under this paragraph;

(iii) Any equipment purchased after a television station, cable network, or cable distributor has ceased analog broadcasting, or purchased after November 1, 2004, whichever occurs first; or

(iv) Any equipment purchased after a radio station has ceased analog broadcasting, or purchased after November 1, 2008, whichever occurs first.

(D) Any person making a sale of digital broadcasting equipment to a federally licensed commercial or public radio or television broadcast station, cable network, or cable distributor shall collect the tax imposed on the sale by this article unless the purchaser furnishes a certificate issued by the commissioner certifying that the purchaser is entitled to purchase the equipment without paying the tax.