SECOND REGULAR SESSION
SENATE BILL NO. 1008
90TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR SCOTT.
Read 1st time February 14, 2000, and 1,000 copies ordered printed.
TERRY L. SPIELER, Secretary.
4460L.01I
AN ACT
To repeal sections 135.408 and 135.411, RSMo 1994, sections 135.403, 348.300, 348.302, 620.1420 and 620.1450, RSMo Supp. 1999, and both versions of section 135.535 as they appear in RSMo Supp. 1999, relating to tax relief in distressed communities, and to enact in lieu thereof eight new sections relating to the same subject.
Section A. Sections 135.408 and 135.411, RSMo 1994, sections 135.403, 348.300, 348.302, 620.1420 and 620.1450, RSMo Supp. 1999, and both versions of section 135.535 as they appear in RSMo Supp. 1999, are repealed and eight new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 135.403, 135.408, 135.411, 135.535, 348.300, 348.302, 620.1420 and 620.1450, to read as follows:
135.403. 1. Any investor who makes a qualified investment in a Missouri small business shall be entitled to receive a tax credit equal to [forty] thirty percent of the amount of the investment or, in the case of a qualified investment in a Missouri small business in a distressed community as defined by section 135.530, a credit equal to sixty percent of the amount of the investment, and any investor who makes a qualified investment in a community bank or a community development corporation shall be entitled to receive a tax credit equal to fifty percent of the amount of the investment if the investment is made in a community bank or community development corporation for direct investment into a targeted area as defined in section 135.400. The total amount of tax credits available for qualified investments in Missouri small businesses shall not exceed [thirteen] six million dollars per year and at least four million dollars per year of the amount authorized by this section and certified by the department of economic development shall be for investment in Missouri small businesses in distressed communities. Authorization for all or any part of this four million [dollar amount] dollars per year shall in no way restrict the eligibility of Missouri small businesses in distressed communities, as defined in section 135.530, for the remaining amounts authorized within this section. No more than twenty percent of the tax credits available each year for investments in community banks or community development corporations for direct investment into a targeted area shall be certified for any one project, as defined in section 135.400. The tax credit shall be evidenced by a tax credit certificate in accordance with the provisions of sections 135.400 to 135.430 and may be used to satisfy the state tax liability of the owner of the certificate that becomes due in the tax year in which the qualified investment is made, or in any of the ten tax years thereafter. When the qualified small business is in a distressed community, as defined in section 135.530, the tax credit may also be used to satisfy the state tax liability of the owner of the certificate that was due during each of the previous three years in addition to the year in which the investment is made and any of the ten years thereafter. No investor may receive a tax credit pursuant to sections 135.400 to 135.430 unless that person presents a tax credit certificate to the department of revenue for payment of such state tax liability. The department of revenue shall grant tax credits in the same order as established by subsection 1 of section 32.115, RSMo. Subject to the provisions of sections 135.400 to 135.430, certificates of tax credit issued in accordance with these sections may be transferred, sold or assigned by notarized endorsement thereof which names the transferee.
2. The amount of qualified investments which can be made is limited so that the aggregate of all tax credits authorized pursuant to the provisions of sections 135.400 to 135.430 shall not exceed [nineteen] six million dollars per year pursuant to subsection 1 of this section. Six million dollars in tax credits shall be available as a result of investments in community banks or community development corporations. Aggregate investments eligible for tax credits in any one Missouri small business shall not be more than one million dollars. Aggregate investments eligible for tax credits in any one Missouri small business shall not be less than five thousand dollars as of the date of issuance of the first tax credit certificate for investment in that business.
135.408. A qualified investment in a Missouri small business may be made either through an unsecured loan or the purchase of equity or unsecured debt securities of such business. Investors in a small business qualifying for tax credits [under] pursuant to the provisions of sections 135.400 to 135.430, however, must collectively own less than fifty percent of a business other than a technology-based business or less than eighty percent of a technology-based business after their investments are made. Qualified investments in a Missouri small business must be expended for capital improvements, plant, equipment, research and development, or working capital for the business or such business activity as may be approved by the department.
135.411. The amount of the qualified investment made in a Missouri small business other than a technology-based business must remain in that business for a minimum of five years. The amount of the qualified investment made in a Missouri small business which is a technology-based business must remain in that business for a minimum of two years. Withdrawal of the investment prior to the minimum [five-year] period shall result in revocation of the tax credit, and repayment of any amounts of the tax credit already applied against the investor's state tax liability. The sale, change in control or going public of a business shall not trigger such a revocation if the business continues to operate.
[135.535. 1. A corporation, limited liability corporation, partnership or sole proprietorship, which moves its operations from outside Missouri or outside a distressed community into a distressed community, or which commences operations in a distressed community on or after January 1, 1999, and in either case has more than seventy-five percent of its employees at the facility in the distressed community, and which has fewer than one hundred employees for whom payroll taxes are paid, and which is a manufacturing, biomedical, medical devices, scientific research, animal research, computer software design or development, computer programming, telecommunications or a professional firm shall receive a forty percent credit against income taxes owed pursuant to chapter 143, 147 or 148, RSMo, other than taxes withheld pursuant to sections 143.191 to 143.265, RSMo, for each of the three years after such move, if approved by the department of economic development, which shall issue a certificate of eligibility if the department determines that the taxpayer is eligible for such credit. The maximum amount of credits per taxpayer set forth in this subsection shall not exceed one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars for each of the three years for which the credit is claimed. The department of economic development, by means of rule or regulation promulgated pursuant to the provisions of chapter 536, RSMo, shall assign appropriate standard industrial classification numbers to the companies which are eligible for the tax credits provided for in this section. Such three-year credits shall be awarded only one time to any company which moves its operations from outside of Missouri or outside of a distressed community into a distressed community or to a company which commences operations within a distressed community. A taxpayer shall file an application for certification of the tax credits for the first year in which credits are claimed and for each of the two succeeding taxable years for which credits are claimed.
2. Employees of such facilities physically working and earning wages for that work within a distressed community whose employers have been approved for tax credits pursuant to subsection 1 of this section by the department of economic development for whom payroll taxes are paid shall, also be eligible to receive a tax credit against individual income tax, imposed pursuant to chapter 143, RSMo, equal to one and one-half percent of their gross salary paid at such facility earned for each of the three years that the facility receives the tax credit provided by this section, so long as they were qualified employees of such entity. The employer shall calculate the amount of such credit and shall report the amount to the employee and the department of revenue.
3. A tax credit against income taxes owed pursuant to chapter 143, 147 or 148, RSMo, other than the taxes withheld pursuant to sections 143.191 to 143.265, RSMo, in lieu of the credit against income taxes as provided in subsection 1 of this section, may be taken by such an entity in a distressed community in an amount of forty percent of the amount of funds expended for computer equipment and its maintenance, medical laboratories and equipment, research laboratory equipment, manufacturing equipment, fiber optic equipment, high speed telecommunications, wiring or software development expense up to a maximum of seventy-five thousand dollars in tax credits for such equipment or expense per year per entity and for each of three years after commencement in or moving operations into a distressed community. A corporation, partnership or sole proprietorship, which has no more than one hundred employees for whom payroll taxes are paid, and which is already located in a distressed community, which expends funds for such equipment as set forth in this subsection in an amount exceeding its average of the prior two years for such equipment, shall be eligible to receive a twenty-five percent tax credit against income taxes owed pursuant to chapters 143, 147 and 148, RSMo, up to a maximum of seventy-five thousand dollars in tax credits for such additional equipment and expense per such entity. Tax credits pursuant to this subsection or subsection 1 may be used to satisfy the state tax liability due in the tax year the credit is certified, and that was due during the previous three years, and in any of the five tax years thereafter.
4. Tax credits shall be approved for applicants meeting the requirements of this section in the order that such applications are received. Certificates of tax credits issued in accordance with this section may be transferred, sold or assigned by notarized endorsement which names the transferee.
5. The tax credits allowed pursuant to subsections 1, 2 and 3 of this section shall be for an amount of no more than ten million dollars for each year beginning in 1999. The total maximum credit for all entities already located in distressed communities and claiming credits pursuant to subsection 3 of this section shall be seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The department of economic development in approving taxpayers for the credit as provided for in subsection 4 of this section shall use information provided by the department of revenue regarding taxes paid in the previous year, or projected taxes for those entities newly established in the state, as the method of determining when this maximum will be reached and shall maintain a record of the order of approval. Any tax credit not used in the period for which the credit was approved may be carried over until the full credit has been allowed.
6. A Missouri employer relocating into a distressed community and having employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement at the facility from which it is relocating shall not be eligible for the credits in subsection 1 or 3 of this section, and its employees shall not be eligible for the credit in subsection 2 of this section if the relocation violates or terminates a collective bargaining agreement covering employees at the facility, unless the affected collective bargaining unit concurs with the move.
7. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, no taxpayer shall earn the tax credits allowed in this section and the tax credits otherwise allowed in section 135.110, or the tax credits, exemptions, and refund otherwise allowed in sections 135.200, 135.220, 135.225 and 135.245, respectively, for the same business for the same tax period.
8. An existing business located within a distressed community, that hires new employees within such distressed communities may be eligible for the tax credits provided in this section. In order to be eligible for such tax credits, the business located within the distressed community, during one of its tax years, must employ within such distressed communities at least twice as many workers as were employed at the beginning of that tax year. Prior to the addition of the new employees, the business shall have no more than one hundred employees. The provisions of this section shall apply only to a business which is a manufacturing, biomedical, medical devices, scientific research, animal research, computer software design or development, computer programming, or telecommunications business or a professional firm.]135.535. 1. A corporation, limited liability corporation, partnership or sole proprietorship, which moves its operations from outside Missouri or outside a distressed community into a distressed community, or which commences operations in a distressed community on or after January 1, 1999, and in either case has more than [seventy-five] sixty percent of its employees at the facility in the distressed community, and which has fewer than one hundred fifty employees for whom payroll taxes are paid, and which is a manufacturing, biomedical, medical devices, scientific research, animal research, computer software design or development, computer programming, telecommunications or a professional firm shall receive a forty percent credit against income taxes owed pursuant to chapter 143, 147 or 148, RSMo, other than taxes withheld pursuant to sections 143.191 to 143.265, RSMo, for each of the three years after such move, if approved by the department of economic development, which shall issue a certificate of eligibility if the department determines that the taxpayer is eligible for such credit. The maximum amount of credits per taxpayer set forth in this subsection shall not exceed one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars for each of the three years for which the credit is claimed. The department of economic development, by means of rule or regulation promulgated pursuant to the provisions of chapter 536, RSMo, shall assign appropriate standard industrial classification numbers to the companies which are eligible for the tax credits provided for in this section. Such three-year credits shall be awarded only one time to any company which moves its operations from outside of Missouri or outside of a distressed community into a distressed community or to a company which commences operations within a distressed community. A taxpayer shall file an application for certification of the tax credits for the first year in which credits are claimed and for each of the two succeeding taxable years for which credits are claimed.
2. Employees of such facilities physically working and earning wages for that work within a distressed community whose employers have been approved for tax credits pursuant to subsection 1 of this section by the department of economic development for whom payroll taxes are paid shall, also be eligible to receive a tax credit against individual income tax, imposed pursuant to chapter 143, RSMo, equal to one and one-half percent of their gross salary paid at such facility earned for each of the three years that the facility receives the tax credit provided by this section, so long as they were qualified employees of such entity. The employer shall calculate the amount of such credit and shall report the amount to the employee and the department of revenue.
3. A tax credit against income taxes owed pursuant to chapter 143, 147 or 148, RSMo, other than the taxes withheld pursuant to sections 143.191 to 143.265, RSMo, in lieu of the credit against income taxes as provided in subsection 1 of this section, may be taken by such an entity in a distressed community in an amount of forty percent of the amount of funds expended for the purchase of or at least a two-year lease of computer equipment and its maintenance, medical laboratories and equipment, research laboratory equipment, manufacturing equipment, fiber optic equipment, high speed telecommunications, wiring or software development expense up to a maximum of [seventy-five] one hundred fifty thousand dollars in tax credits for such equipment or expense per year per entity and for each of three years after commencement in or moving operations into a distressed community.
4. A corporation, partnership or sole partnership, which has no more than one hundred employees for whom payroll taxes are paid, which is already located in a distressed community and which expends funds for such equipment pursuant to subsection 3 of this section in an amount exceeding its average of the prior two years for such equipment, shall be eligible to receive a tax credit against income taxes owed pursuant to chapters 143, 147 and 148, RSMo, in an amount equal to the lesser of seventy-five thousand dollars or twenty-five percent of the funds expended for such additional equipment per such entity. Tax credits allowed pursuant to this subsection or subsection 1 of this section may be carried back to any of the three prior tax years and carried forward to any of the five tax years.
5. An existing corporation, partnership or sole proprietorship that is located within a distressed community and that relocates employees from another facility outside of the distressed community to its facility within the distressed community, and an existing business located within a distressed community that hires new employees for that facility may both be eligible for the tax credits allowed by subsections 1 and 3 of this section. To be eligible for such tax credits, such a business, during one of its tax years, shall employ within a distressed community at least twice as many employees as were employed at the beginning of that tax year. A business hiring employees shall have no more than one hundred employees before the addition of the new employees. This subsection shall only apply to a business which is a manufacturing, biomedical, medical devices, scientific research, animal research, computer software design or development, computer programming or telecommunications business, or a professional firm.
6. Tax credits shall be approved for applicants meeting the requirements of this section in the order that such applications are received. Certificates of tax credits issued in accordance with this section may be transferred, sold or assigned by notarized endorsement which names the transferee.
7. The tax credits allowed pursuant to subsections 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of this section shall be for an amount of no more than ten million dollars for each year beginning in 1999. The total maximum credit for all entities already located in distressed communities and claiming credits pursuant to subsection 4 of this section shall be seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The department of economic development in approving taxpayers for the credit as provided for in subsection 6 of this section shall use information provided by the department of revenue regarding taxes paid in the previous year, or projected taxes for those entities newly established in the state, as the method of determining when this maximum will be reached and shall maintain a record of the order of approval. Any tax credit not used in the period for which the credit was approved may be carried over until the full credit has been allowed. If the total amount of tax credits authorized pursuant to subsections 1, 2 and 3 of this section is not used in a given year, then such excess portion shall be added to the maximum amount of tax credits available pursuant to subsection 2 of section 348.302, RSMo, for the following year.
8. A Missouri employer relocating into a distressed community and having employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement at the facility from which it is relocating shall not be eligible for the credits in subsection 1, 3, 4 or 5 of this section, and its employees shall not be eligible for the credit in subsection 2 of this section if the relocation violates or terminates a collective bargaining agreement covering employees at the facility, unless the affected collective bargaining unit concurs with the move.
9. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, no taxpayer shall earn the tax credits allowed in this section and the tax credits otherwise allowed in section 135.110, or the tax credits, exemptions, and refund otherwise allowed in sections 135.200, 135.220, 135.225 and 135.245, respectively, for the same business for the same tax period. A change in ownership or control of a taxpayer shall not revoke or otherwise restrict the tax credits allowed pursuant to this section.
348.300. As used in sections 348.300 to 348.318, the following terms mean:
(1) "Commercial activity located in Missouri", any research, development, prototype fabrication, and subsequent precommercialization activity, or any activity related thereto, conducted in Missouri for the purpose of producing a service or a product or process for manufacture, assembly or sale or developing a service based on such a product or process by any person, corporation, partnership, joint venture, unincorporated association, trust or other organization doing business in Missouri. Subsequent to January 1, 1999, a commercial activity located in Missouri shall mean only such activity that is located within a distressed community, as defined in section 135.530, RSMo;
(2) "Follow-up capital", capital provided to a commercial activity located in Missouri or any other Missouri business in which a qualified fund has previously invested seed capital or start-up capital within the previous three years and which does not exceed ten times the amount of such seed and start-up capital;
(3) "Qualified contribution", cash contribution to a qualified fund;
(4) "Qualified economic development organization", any corporation organized under the provisions of chapter 355, RSMo, which has as of January 1, 1991, obtained a contract with the department of economic development to operate an innovation center to promote, assist and coordinate the research and development of new services, products or processes in the state of Missouri; and the Missouri technology corporation organized pursuant to the provisions of sections 348.253 to 348.266;
(5) "Qualified fund", any corporation, partnership, joint venture, unincorporated association, trust or other organization which is established under the laws of Missouri after December 31, 1985, which meets all of the following requirements established by this subdivision. The fund shall have as its sole purpose and business the making of investments, of which at least ninety percent of the dollars invested shall be qualified investments. The fund shall enter into a contract with one or more qualified economic development organizations which shall entitle the qualified economic development organizations to receive not less than ten percent of all distributions of equity and dividends or other earnings of the fund. Such contracts shall require the qualified fund to transfer to the Missouri technology corporation organized pursuant to the provisions of sections 348.253 to 348.266, this interest and make corresponding distributions thereto in the event the qualified economic development organization holding such interest is dissolved or ceases to do business for a period of one year or more;
(6) "Qualified investment", any investment of seed capital, start-up capital, or follow-up capital in any commercial activity located in Missouri;
(7) "Person", any individual, corporation, partnership or other entity;
(8) "Seed capital", capital provided to a commercial activity located in Missouri for research, development and precommercialization activities to prove a concept for a new product or process or service, and for activities related thereto;
(9) "Start-up capital", capital provided to a commercial activity located in Missouri for use in preproduction product development or service development or initial marketing thereof, and for activities related thereto;
(10) "State tax liability", any state tax liability incurred by a taxpayer under the provisions of chapters 143, 147 and 148, RSMo, exclusive of the provisions relating to the withholding of tax as provided for in sections 143.191 to 143.265, RSMo, and related provisions;
(11) "Uninvested capital", the amount of any distribution, other than of earnings, by a qualified fund made within five years of the issuance of a certificate of tax credit as provided by sections 348.300 to 348.318; or the portion of all qualified contributions to a qualified fund which are not invested as qualified investments within five years of the issuance of a certificate of tax credit as provided by sections 348.300 to 348.318 to the extent that the amount not so invested exceeds ten percent of all such qualified contributions.
348.302. 1. Any person who makes a qualified contribution to a qualified fund shall be entitled to receive a tax credit equal to [fifty] seventy-five percent of the amount of the qualified contribution. The tax credit shall be evidenced by a tax credit certificate in accordance with the provisions of sections 348.300 to 348.318 and may be used to satisfy the state tax liability of the owner of such certificate that becomes due in the tax year in which the qualified contribution is made, or in any of the ten tax years thereafter. No person may receive a tax credit pursuant to sections 348.300 to 348.318 unless that person presents a tax credit certificate to the department of revenue for payment of such state tax liability.
2. The amount of such qualified contributions which can be made is limited so that the aggregate of all tax credits authorized [under] pursuant to the provisions of sections 348.300 to 348.318 shall not exceed [nine] five million dollars per year plus any unused amounts from the previous year pursuant to sections 135.535, RSMo, and 620.1450, RSMo. All tax credits authorized [under] pursuant to the provisions of this section may be transferred, sold or assigned.
620.1420. As used in sections 620.1400 to 620.1460, the following terms mean:
(1) "Costs of classroom training", the normal costs incurred in the provision of classroom training which may also include specifically identified costs incurred for instructors, classroom space and facilities, administrative support services, and directly related expenses, that together do not exceed the amount normally allowed for support of vocational and technical classes;
(2) "Department", the department of economic development;
(3) "Employee", a full-time or part-time employed worker whose salary is equal to or less than [two] four hundred percent of the federal poverty level;
(4) "Employee upgrade training", the progressive development of skills associated with the defined set of work processes. Such training shall be consistent with a career pattern of advancement, as measured by skill proficiency and the progressive earnings and related benefits, that are recognized within an occupation, trade or industry;
(5) "Individual training account", an account funded by the tax credits provided for in section 620.1440 for the provision of employee upgrade training to employees through their participation in classroom training provided by educational institutions;
(6) "Local educational institution", a publicly funded or privately funded local educational institution which is certified by a recognized accrediting association as capable of providing adequate classroom training to accomplish the purpose of sections 620.1400 to 620.1460.
620.1450. The maximum amount of tax credits allowable pursuant to the provisions of the individual training account program shall not annually exceed six million dollars. If the total amount of tax credits authorized pursuant to this section is not used in a given year, then such excess portion shall be added to the maximum amount of tax credits available pursuant to subsection 2 of section 348.302, RSMo, for the following year.