FIRST REGULAR SESSION
[PERFECTED]
HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Reported from the Special Committee on Job Creation and Economic Development February 7, 2007 with recommendation that House Committee Substitute for House Bill No. 327 Do Pass. Referred to the Committee on Rules pursuant to Rule 25(21)(f).
Reported from the Committee on Rules February 13, 2007 with recommendation that the House Committee Substitute Do Pass, with no time limit for debate on Perfection.
Taken up for Perfection February 21, 2007. House Committee Substitute ordered Perfected and printed, as amended.
D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To repeal sections 135.950, 135.963, 135.967, 178.895, 178.896, 620.1878, and 620.1881, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof seven new sections relating to job development.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Sections 135.950, 135.963, 135.967, 178.895, 178.896, 620.1878, and 620.1881, RSMo, are repealed and seven new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 135.950, 135.963, 135.967, 178.895, 178.896, 620.1878, and 620.1881, to read as follows:
135.950. The following terms, whenever used in sections 135.950 to 135.970 mean:
(1) "Blighted area", an area which, by reason of the predominance of defective or inadequate street layout, unsanitary or unsafe conditions, deterioration of site improvements, improper subdivision or obsolete platting, or the existence of conditions which endanger life or property by fire and other causes, or any combination of such factors, retards the provision of housing accommodations or constitutes an economic or social liability or a menace to the public health, safety, morals, or welfare in its present condition and use;
(2) "Board", an enhanced enterprise zone board established pursuant to section 135.957;
(3) "Commencement of commercial operations" shall be deemed to occur during the first taxable year for which the new business facility is first put into use by the taxpayer in the enhanced business enterprise in which the taxpayer intends to use the new business facility;
(4) "Department", the department of economic development;
(5) "Director", the director of the department of economic development;
(6) "Employee", [a person employed by the enhanced business enterprise on:
(a) A regular, full-time basis;
(b) A part-time basis, provided such person is customarily performing such duties an average of at least twenty hours per week; or
(c) A seasonal basis, provided such person performs such duties for at least eighty percent of the season customary for the position in which such person is employed] a person employed by the enhanced business enterprise that is scheduled to work an average of at least one thousand hours per year, and such person at all times has health insurance offered to him or her, which is partially paid for by the employer;
(7) "Enhanced business enterprise", an industry or one of a cluster of industries that is either:
(a) Identified by the department as critical to the state's economic security and growth; or
(b) Will have an impact on industry cluster development, as identified by the governing authority in its application for designation of an enhanced enterprise zone and approved by the department; but excluding gambling establishments (NAICS industry group 7132), retail trade (NAICS sectors 44 and 45), educational services (NAICS sector 61), religious organizations (NAICS industry group 8131), public administration (NAICS sector 92), and food and drinking places (NAICS subsector 722), however, notwithstanding the above, headquarters or administrative offices of an otherwise excluded business may qualify for benefits if the offices serve a multistate territory. In the event a national, state, or regional headquarters operation is not the predominant activity of a project facility, the new jobs and investment of such headquarters operation is considered eligible for benefits under this section if the other requirements are satisfied. Service industries may be eligible only if a majority of its annual revenues will be derived from [services provided] out of the state;
(8) "Existing business facility", any facility in this state which was employed by the taxpayer claiming the credit in the operation of an enhanced business enterprise immediately prior to an expansion, acquisition, addition, or replacement;
(9) "Facility", any building used as an enhanced business enterprise located within an enhanced enterprise zone, including the land on which the facility is located and all machinery, equipment, and other real and depreciable tangible personal property acquired for use at and located at or within such facility and used in connection with the operation of such facility;
(10) "Facility base employment", the greater of the number of full-time employees located at the facility on the date of the notice of intent, or for the twelve-month period prior to the date of the notice of intent, the average number of full-time equivalent employees located at the facility, or in the event the project facility has not been in operation for a full twelve-month period, the average number of full-time equivalent employees for the number of months the facility has been in operation prior to the date of the notice of intent;
(11) "Facility base payroll", the total amount of taxable wages paid by the enhanced business enterprise to employees of the enhanced business enterprise located at the facility in the twelve months prior to the notice of intent, not including the payroll of owners of the enhanced business enterprise unless the enhanced business enterprise is participating in an employee stock ownership plan. For the purposes of calculating the benefits under this program, the amount of base payroll shall increase each year based on the consumer price index or other comparable measure, as determined by the department;
(12) "Governing authority", the body holding primary legislative authority over a county or incorporated municipality;
[(11)] (13) "NAICS", the 1997 edition of the North American Industry Classification System as prepared by the Executive Office of the President, Office of Management and Budget. Any NAICS sector, subsector, industry group or industry identified in this section shall include its corresponding classification in subsequent federal industry classification systems;
[(12)] (14) "New business facility", a facility that satisfies the following requirements:
(a) Such facility is employed by the taxpayer in the operation of an enhanced business enterprise. Such facility shall not be considered a new business facility in the hands of the taxpayer if the taxpayer's only activity with respect to such facility is to lease it to another person or persons. If the taxpayer employs only a portion of such facility in the operation of an enhanced business enterprise, and leases another portion of such facility to another person or persons or does not otherwise use such other portions in the operation of an enhanced business enterprise, the portion employed by the taxpayer in the operation of an enhanced business enterprise shall be considered a new business facility, if the requirements of paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) of this subdivision are satisfied;
(b) Such facility is acquired by, or leased to, the taxpayer after December 31, 2004. A facility shall be deemed to have been acquired by, or leased to, the taxpayer after December 31, 2004, if the transfer of title to the taxpayer, the transfer of possession pursuant to a binding contract to transfer title to the taxpayer, or the commencement of the term of the lease to the taxpayer occurs after December 31, 2004;
(c) If such facility was acquired by the taxpayer from another taxpayer and such facility was employed immediately prior to the acquisition by another taxpayer in the operation of an enhanced business enterprise, the operation of the same or a substantially similar enhanced business enterprise is not continued by the taxpayer at such facility; and
(d) Such facility is not a replacement business facility, as defined in subdivision [(16)] (22) of this section;
[(13)] (15) "New business facility employee", an employee of the taxpayer in the operation of a new business facility during the taxable year for which the credit allowed by section 135.967 is claimed, except that truck drivers and rail and barge vehicle operators and other operators of rolling stock for hire shall not constitute new business facility employees;
[(14)] (16) "New business facility investment", the value of real and depreciable tangible personal property, acquired by the taxpayer as part of the new business facility, which is used by the taxpayer in the operation of the new business facility, during the taxable year for which the credit allowed by 135.967 is claimed, except that trucks, truck-trailers, truck semitrailers, rail vehicles, barge vehicles, aircraft and other rolling stock for hire, track, switches, barges, bridges, tunnels, and rail yards and spurs shall not constitute new business facility investments. The total value of such property during such taxable year shall be:
(a) Its original cost if owned by the taxpayer; or
(b) Eight times the net annual rental rate, if leased by the taxpayer. The net annual rental rate shall be the annual rental rate paid by the taxpayer less any annual rental rate received by the taxpayer from subrentals. The new business facility investment shall be determined by dividing by twelve the sum of the total value of such property on the last business day of each calendar month of the taxable year. If the new business facility is in operation for less than an entire taxable year, the new business facility investment shall be determined by dividing the sum of the total value of such property on the last business day of each full calendar month during the portion of such taxable year during which the new business facility was in operation by the number of full calendar months during such period;
(17) "New job", the number of employees located at the facility that exceeds the facility base employment less any decrease in the number of the employees at related facilities below the related facility base employment. No job that was created prior to the date of the notice of intent shall be deemed a new job;
(18) "Notice of intent", a form developed by the department which is completed by the enhanced business enterprise and submitted to the department which states the enhanced business enterprise's intent to hire new jobs and request benefits under such program;
(19) "Related facility", a facility operated by the enhanced business enterprise or a related company in this state that is directly related to the operation of the project facility;
(20) "Related facility base employment", the greater of:
(a) The number of employees located at all related facilities on the date of the notice of intent; or
(b) For the twelve-month period prior to the date of the notice of intent, the average number of employees located at all related facilities of the enhanced business enterprise or a related company located in this state;
[(15)] (21) "Related taxpayer":
(a) A corporation, partnership, trust, or association controlled by the taxpayer;
(b) An individual, corporation, partnership, trust, or association in control of the taxpayer; or
(c) A corporation, partnership, trust or association controlled by an individual, corporation, partnership, trust or association in control of the taxpayer. "Control of a corporation" shall mean ownership, directly or indirectly, of stock possessing at least fifty percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock entitled to vote, "control of a partnership or association" shall mean ownership of at least fifty percent of the capital or profits interest in such partnership or association, and "control of a trust" shall mean ownership, directly or indirectly, of at least fifty percent of the beneficial interest in the principal or income of such trust; ownership shall be determined as provided in Section 318 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended;
[(16)] (22) "Replacement business facility", a facility otherwise described in subdivision [(12)] (14) of this section, hereafter referred to in this subdivision as "new facility", which replaces another facility, hereafter referred to in this subdivision as "old facility", located within the state, which the taxpayer or a related taxpayer previously operated but discontinued operating on or before the close of the first taxable year for which the credit allowed by this section is claimed. A new facility shall be deemed to replace an old facility if the following conditions are met:
(a) The old facility was operated by the taxpayer or a related taxpayer during the taxpayer's or related taxpayer's taxable period immediately preceding the taxable year in which commencement of commercial operations occurs at the new facility; and
(b) The old facility was employed by the taxpayer or a related taxpayer in the operation of an enhanced business enterprise and the taxpayer continues the operation of the same or substantially similar enhanced business enterprise at the new facility.
Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this subdivision, a facility shall not be considered a replacement business facility if the taxpayer's new business facility investment, as computed in subdivision [(14)] (16) of this section, in the new facility during the tax period for which the credits allowed in section 135.967 are claimed exceed one million dollars and if the total number of employees at the new facility exceeds the total number of employees at the old facility by at least two;
[(17)] (23) "Same or substantially similar enhanced business enterprise", an enhanced business enterprise in which the nature of the products produced or sold, or activities conducted, are similar in character and use or are produced, sold, performed, or conducted in the same or similar manner as in another enhanced business enterprise.
135.963. 1. Improvements made to real property as such term is defined in section 137.010, RSMo, which are made to an enhanced business enterprise as defined in subdivision (7) of section 135.950 in an enhanced enterprise zone subsequent to the date such zone or expansion thereto was designated, may, upon approval of an authorizing resolution by the governing authority having jurisdiction of the area in which the improvements are made, be exempt, in whole or in part, from assessment and payment of ad valorem taxes of one or more affected political subdivisions. In addition to enhanced business enterprises, a speculative industrial or warehouse building constructed by a public entity or a private entity if the land is leased by a public entity may be subject to such exemption.
2. Such authorizing resolution shall specify the percent of the exemption to be granted, the duration of the exemption to be granted, and the political subdivisions to which such exemption is to apply and any other terms, conditions, or stipulations otherwise required. A copy of the resolution shall be provided to the director within thirty calendar days following adoption of the resolution by the governing authority.
3. No exemption shall be granted until the governing authority holds a public hearing for the purpose of obtaining the opinions and suggestions of residents of political subdivisions to be affected by the exemption from property taxes. The governing authority shall send, by certified mail, a notice of such hearing to each political subdivision in the area to be affected and shall publish notice of such hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in the area to be affected by the exemption at least twenty days prior to the hearing but not more than thirty days prior to the hearing. Such notice shall state the time, location, date, and purpose of the hearing.
4. Notwithstanding subsection 1 of this section, at least one-half of the ad valorem taxes otherwise imposed on subsequent improvements to real property located in an enhanced enterprise zone of enhanced business enterprises or speculative industrial or warehouse buildings as indicated in subsection 1 of this section shall become and remain exempt from assessment and payment of ad valorem taxes of any political subdivision of this state or municipality thereof for a period of not less than ten years following the date such improvements were assessed, provided the improved properties are used for enhanced business enterprises. The exemption for speculative buildings is subject to the approval of the governing authority for a period not to exceed two years if the building is owned by a private entity and five years if the building is owned or ground leased by a public entity. This would not preclude the building receiving an exemption for the remaining time period established by the governing authority if it was occupied by an enhanced business enterprise. The two and five year time periods indicated for speculative buildings would not be an addition to the local abatement time period for that facility.
5. No exemption shall be granted for a period more than twenty-five years following the date on which the original enhanced enterprise zone was designated by the department.
6. The provisions of subsection 1 of this section shall not apply to improvements made to real property begun prior to August 28, 2004.
7. The abatement referred to in this section shall not relieve the assessor or other responsible official from ascertaining the amount of the equalized assessed value of all taxable property annually as required by section 99.855, 99.957, or 99.1042, RSMo, and shall not have the effect of reducing the payments in lieu of taxes referred to in subdivision (2) of subsection 1 of section 99.845, RSMo, subdivision (2) of subsection 3 of section 99.957, RSMo, or subdivision (2) of subsection 3 of section 99.1042, RSMo, unless such reduction is set forth in the plan approved by the governing body of the municipality pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection 1 of section 99.820, section 99.942, or section 99.1027, RSMo.
135.967. 1. A taxpayer who establishes a new business facility may, upon approval by the department, be allowed a credit, each tax year for up to ten tax years, in an amount determined as set forth in this section, against the tax imposed by chapter 143, RSMo, excluding withholding tax imposed by sections 143.191 to 143.265, RSMo. No taxpayer shall receive multiple ten-year periods for subsequent expansions at the same facility.
2. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, any taxpayer who establishes a new business facility in an enhanced enterprise zone and is awarded state tax credits under this section may not also receive tax credits under sections 135.100 to 135.150, sections 135.200 to 135.268, or section 135.535. Any taxpayer who is awarded state tax credits under this section who knowingly hires individuals who are not allowed to work legally in the United States shall immediately forfeit such credits and shall repay the state an amount equal to any state tax credits already redeemed.
3. No credit shall be issued pursuant to this section unless:
(1) The number of new business facility employees engaged or maintained in employment at the new business facility for the taxable year for which the credit is claimed equals or exceeds two; and
(2) The new business facility investment for the taxable year for which the credit is claimed equals or exceeds one hundred thousand dollars.
4. The annual amount of credits allowed for an approved enhanced business enterprise shall be the lesser of:
(1) The annual amount authorized by the department for the enhanced business enterprise, which shall be limited to the projected state economic benefit, as determined by the department; or
(2) The sum calculated based upon the following:
(a) A credit of four hundred dollars for each new business facility employee employed within an enhanced enterprise zone;
(b) An additional credit of four hundred dollars for each new business facility employee who is a resident of an enhanced enterprise zone;
(c) An additional credit of four hundred dollars for each new business facility employee who is paid by the enhanced business enterprise a wage that exceeds the average wage paid within the county in which the facility is located, as determined by the department; and
(d) A credit equal to two percent of new business facility investment within an enhanced enterprise zone.
5. [Prior to January 1, 2007, in no event shall the department authorize more than four million dollars annually to be issued for all enhanced business enterprises. After December 31, 2006, in no event shall the department authorize more than seven million dollars annually to be issued for all enhanced business enterprises.
6.] If a facility, which does not constitute a new business facility, is expanded by the taxpayer, the expansion shall be considered eligible for the credit allowed by this section if:
(1) The taxpayer's new business facility investment in the expansion during the tax period in which the credits allowed in this section are claimed exceeds one hundred thousand dollars and if the number of new business facility employees engaged or maintained in employment at the expansion facility for the taxable year for which credit is claimed equals or exceeds two, and the total number of employees at the facility after the expansion is at least two greater than the total number of employees before the expansion; and
(2) The taxpayer's investment in the expansion and in the original facility prior to expansion shall be determined in the manner provided in subdivision [(12)] (14) of section 135.950.
[7.] 6. The number of new business facility employees during any taxable year shall be determined by dividing by twelve the sum of the number of individuals employed on the last business day of each month of such taxable year. If the new business facility is in operation for less than the entire taxable year, the number of new business facility employees shall be determined by dividing the sum of the number of individuals employed on the last business day of each full calendar month during the portion of such taxable year during which the new business facility was in operation by the number of full calendar months during such period. For the purpose of computing the credit allowed by this section in the case of a facility which qualifies as a new business facility under subsection 6 of this section, and in the case of a new business facility which satisfies the requirements of paragraph (c) of subdivision [(12)] (14) of section 135.950, or subdivision [(16)] (22) of section 135.950, the number of new business facility employees at such facility shall be reduced by the average number of individuals employed, computed as provided in this subsection, at the facility during the taxable year immediately preceding the taxable year in which such expansion, acquisition, or replacement occurred and shall further be reduced by the number of individuals employed by the taxpayer or related taxpayer that was subsequently transferred to the new business facility from another Missouri facility and for which credits authorized in this section are not being earned, whether such credits are earned because of an expansion, acquisition, relocation, or the establishment of a new facility.
[8.] 7. In the case where a new business facility employee who is a resident of an enhanced enterprise zone for less than a twelve-month period is employed for less than a twelve-month period, the credits allowed by paragraph (b) of subdivision (2) of subsection 4 of this section shall be determined by multiplying four hundred dollars by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of calendar days during the taxpayer's tax year for which such credits are claimed, in which the employee was a resident of an enhanced enterprise zone, and the denominator of which is three hundred sixty-five.
[9.] 8. For the purpose of computing the credit allowed by this section in the case of a facility which qualifies as a new business facility pursuant to subsection 6 of this section, and in the case of a new business facility which satisfies the requirements of paragraph (c) of subdivision [(12)] (14) of section 135.950 or subdivision [(16)] (22) of section 135.950, the amount of the taxpayer's new business facility investment in such facility shall be reduced by the average amount, computed as provided in subdivision [(12)] (14) of section 135.950 for new business facility investment, of the investment of the taxpayer, or related taxpayer immediately preceding such expansion or replacement or at the time of acquisition. Furthermore, the amount of the taxpayer's new business facility investment shall also be reduced by the amount of investment employed by the taxpayer or related taxpayer which was subsequently transferred to the new business facility from another Missouri facility and for which credits authorized in this section are not being earned, whether such credits are earned because of an expansion, acquisition, relocation, or the establishment of a new facility.
[10.] 9. For a taxpayer with flow-through tax treatment to its members, partners, or shareholders, the credit shall be allowed to members, partners, or shareholders in proportion to their share of ownership on the last day of the taxpayer's tax period.
[11.] 10. Credits may not be carried forward but shall be claimed for the taxable year during which commencement of commercial operations occurs at such new business facility, and for each of the nine succeeding taxable years for which the credit is issued.
[12.] 11. Certificates of tax credit authorized by this section may be transferred, sold, or assigned by filing a notarized endorsement thereof with the department that names the transferee, the amount of tax credit transferred, and the value received for the credit, as well as any other information reasonably requested by the department. The sale price cannot be less than seventy-five percent of the par value of such credits.
[13.] 12. The director of revenue shall issue a refund to the taxpayer to the extent that the amount of credits allowed in this section exceeds the amount of the taxpayer's income tax.
13. Prior to the issuance of tax credits, the department shall verify through the department of revenue that the tax credit applicant does not owe any delinquent income, sales, or use tax or interest or penalties on such taxes, and through the department of insurance that the applicant does not owe any delinquent insurance taxes. Such delinquency shall not affect the authorization of the application for such tax credits, except that the amount of credits issued shall be reduced by the applicant's tax delinquency. If the department of revenue or the department of insurance concludes that a taxpayer is delinquent after June fifteenth but before July first of any year and the application of tax credits to such delinquency causes a tax deficiency on behalf of the taxpayer to arise, then the taxpayer shall be granted thirty days to satisfy the deficiency in which interest, penalties, and additions to tax shall be tolled. After applying all available credits toward a tax delinquency, the administering agency shall notify the appropriate department, and that department shall update the amount of outstanding delinquent tax owed by the applicant. If any credits remain after satisfying all insurance, income, sales, and use tax delinquencies, the remaining credits shall be issued to the applicant, subject to the restrictions of other provisions of law.
14. To foster the development and growth of technology businesses in this state, the department of economic development may designate a “technology and trade zone” in any enhanced enterprise zone. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, no person, as defined in this subsection, shall establish nexus for any Missouri tax imposed under any chapter of the revised statutes of Missouri, solely because such person uses the services or technology, including, but not limited to, data storage, data manipulation or processing, assembly of products, or any other activity provided by any company within a technology and trade zone. For the purposes of this subsection, the term, “person” shall mean any individual, firm, copartnership, joint adventure, association, corporation, municipal or private, and whether organized for profit or not, state, county, political subdivision, state department, commission, board, bureau or agency, estate, trust, business trust, receiver or trustee appointed by the state or federal court, syndicate, or any other group or combination acting as a unit, and the plural as well as the singular number.
178.895. 1. To provide funds for the present payment of the costs of new jobs training programs, a community college district may borrow money and issue and sell certificates payable from a sufficient portion of the future receipts of payments authorized by the agreement including disbursements from the Missouri community college job training program to the special fund established by the district for each project. The total amount of outstanding certificates sold by all junior college districts shall not exceed twenty million dollars, unless an increased amount is authorized in writing by a majority of members of the Missouri job training joint legislative oversight committee. The certificates shall be marketed through financial institutions authorized to do business in Missouri. The receipts shall be pledged to the payment of principal of and interest on the certificates. Certificates may be sold at public sale or at private sale at par, premium, or discount of not less than ninety-five percent of the par value thereof, at the discretion of the board of trustees, and may bear interest at such rate or rates as the board of trustees shall determine, notwithstanding the provisions of section 108.170, RSMo, to the contrary. However, chapter 176, RSMo, does not apply to the issuance of these certificates. Certificates may be issued with respect to a single project or multiple projects and may contain terms or conditions as the board of trustees may provide by resolution authorizing the issuance of the certificates.
2. Certificates issued to refund other certificates may be sold at public sale or at private sale as provided in this section with the proceeds from the sale to be used for the payment of the certificates being refunded. The refunding certificates may be exchanged in payment and discharge of the certificates being refunded, in installments at different times or an entire issue or series at one time. Refunding certificates may be sold or exchanged at any time on, before, or after the maturity of the outstanding certificates to be refunded. They may be issued for the purpose of refunding a like, greater, or lesser principal amount of certificates and may bear a higher, lower, or equivalent rate of interest than the certificates being renewed or refunded.
3. Before certificates are issued, the board of trustees shall publish once a notice of its intention to issue the certificates, stating the amount, the purpose, and the project or projects for which the certificates are to be issued. A person may, within fifteen days after the publication of the notice, by action in the circuit court of a county in the district, appeal the decision of the board of trustees to issue the certificates. The action of the board of trustees in determining to issue the certificates is final and conclusive unless the circuit court finds that the board of trustees has exceeded its legal authority. An action shall not be brought which questions the legality of the certificates, the power of the board of trustees to issue the certificates, the effectiveness of any proceedings relating to the authorization of the project, or the authorization and issuance of the certificates from and after fifteen days from the publication of the notice of intention to issue.
4. The board of trustees shall determine if revenues provided in the agreement are sufficient to secure the faithful performance of obligations in the agreement.
5. Certificates issued under this section shall not be deemed to be an indebtedness of the state or the community college district or of any other political subdivision of the state and the principal and interest on such certificates shall be payable only from the sources provided in subdivision (1) of section 178.893 which are pledged in the agreement.
6. The department of economic development shall coordinate the new jobs training program, and may promulgate rules that districts will use in developing projects with new and expanding industrial new jobs training proposals which shall include rules providing for the coordination of such proposals with the service delivery areas established in the state to administer federal funds pursuant to the federal Job Training Partnership Act.
No rule or portion of a rule promulgated under the authority of sections 178.892 to 178.896 shall become effective unless it has been promulgated pursuant to the provisions of chapter 536, RSMo. All rulemaking authority delegated prior to June 27, 1997, is of no force and effect and repealed; however, nothing in this section shall be interpreted to repeal or affect the validity of any rule filed or adopted prior to June 27, 1997, if such rule complied with the provisions of chapter 536, RSMo. The provisions of this section and chapter 536, RSMo, are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536, RSMo, including the ability to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule or portion of a rule, are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the purported grant of rulemaking authority and any rule so proposed and contained in the order of rulemaking shall be invalid and void.
7. No community college district may sell certificates as described in this section after July 1, [2008] 2018.
178.896. 1. There is hereby established within the state treasury a special fund, to be known as the "Missouri Community College Job Training Program Fund", to be administered by the division of job development and training. The department of revenue shall credit to the community college job training program fund, as received, all new jobs credit from withholding remitted by employers pursuant to section 178.894. The fund shall also consist of any gifts, contributions, grants or bequests received from federal, private or other sources. The general assembly, however, shall not provide for any transfer of general revenue funds into the community college job training program fund. Moneys in the Missouri community college job training program fund shall be disbursed to the division of job development and training pursuant to regular appropriations by the general assembly. The division shall disburse such appropriated funds in a timely manner into the special funds established by community college districts for projects, which funds shall be used to pay program costs, including the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on certificates issued by the district to finance or refinance, in whole or in part, a project. Such disbursements by the division of job development and training shall be made to the special fund for each project in the same proportion as the new jobs credit from withholding remitted by the employer participating in such project bears to the total new jobs credit from withholding remitted by all employers participating in projects during the period for which the disbursement is made. Moneys for new jobs training programs established under the provisions of sections 178.892 to 178.896 shall be obtained from appropriations made by the general assembly from the Missouri community college job training program fund. All moneys remaining in the Missouri community college job training program fund at the end of any fiscal year shall not lapse to the general revenue fund, as provided in section 33.080, RSMo, but shall remain in the Missouri community college job training program fund.
2. The department of revenue shall develop such forms as are necessary to demonstrate accurately each employer's new jobs credit from withholding paid into the Missouri community college job training program fund. The new jobs credit from withholding shall be accounted as separate from the normal withholding tax paid to the department of revenue by the employer. Reimbursements made by all employers to the Missouri community college job training program fund shall be no less than all allocations made by the division of job development and training to all community college districts for all projects. The employer shall remit the amount of the new job credit to the department of revenue in the same manner as provided in sections 143.191 to 143.265, RSMo.
3. Sections 178.892 to 178.896 shall expire July 1, [2018] 2028.
620.1878. For the purposes of sections 620.1875 to 620.1890, the following terms shall mean:
(1) "Approval", a document submitted by the department to the qualified company that states the benefits that may be provided by this program;
(2) "Average wage", the new payroll divided by the number of new jobs;
[(2)] (3) "Commencement of operations", the starting date for the qualified company's first new employee, which must be no later than twelve months from the date of the [proposal] approval;
[(3)] (4) "County average wage", the average wages in each county as determined by the department for the most recently completed full calendar year. However, if the computed county average wage is above the statewide average wage, the statewide average wage shall be deemed the county average wage for such county for the purpose of determining eligibility. The department shall publish the county average wage for each county at least annually. Notwithstanding this subdivision to the contrary, for any qualified company that in conjunction with their project is relocating employees from a Missouri county with a higher county average wage, the company shall obtain the endorsement of the governing body of the community from which jobs are being relocated or the county average wage for their project shall be the county average wage for the county from which the employees are being relocated;
[(4)] (5) "Department", the Missouri department of economic development;
[(5)] (6) "Director", the director of the department of economic development;
[(6)] (7) "Employee", a person employed by a qualified company;
[(7) "Full-time equivalent employees", employees of the qualified company converted to reflect an equivalent of the number of full-time, year-round employees. The method for converting part-time and seasonal employees into an equivalent number of full-time, year-round employees shall be published in a rule promulgated by the department as authorized in section 620.1884;]
(8) "Full-time[, year-round] employee", an employee of the qualified company that [works] is scheduled to work an average of at least thirty-five hours per week for a twelve-month period, and one for which the qualified company offers health insurance and pays at least fifty percent of such insurance premiums;
(9) "High-impact project", a qualified company that, within two years from commencement of operations, creates one hundred or more new jobs;
(10) "Local incentives", the present value of the dollar amount of direct benefit received by a qualified company for a project facility from one or more local political subdivisions, but shall not include loans or other funds provided to the qualified company that must be repaid by the qualified company to the political subdivision;
(11) "NAICS", the 1997 edition of the North American Industry Classification System as prepared by the Executive Office of the President, Office of Management and Budget. Any NAICS sector, subsector, industry group or industry identified in this section shall include its corresponding classification in subsequent federal industry classification systems;
(12) "New direct local revenue", the present value of the dollar amount of direct net new tax revenues of the local political subdivisions likely to be produced by the project over a ten-year period as calculated by the department, excluding local earnings tax, and net new utility revenues, provided the local incentives include a discount or other direct incentives from utilities owned or operated by the political subdivision;
(13) "New investment", the purchase or leasing of new tangible assets to be placed in operation at the project facility, which will be directly related to the new jobs;
(14) "New job", the number of full-time[, year-round] employees located at the project facility that exceeds the project facility base employment less any decrease in the number of full-time [equivalent] employees at related facilities below the related facility base employment. No job that was created prior to the date of the notice of intent shall be deemed a new job;
(15) "New payroll", [the amount of wages paid by a qualified company to employees in new jobs] the amount of taxable wages of full-time employees, excluding owners, located at the project facility that exceeds the project facility base payroll. If full-time employment at related facilities is below the related facility base employment, any decrease in payroll for full-time employees at the related facilities below that related facility base payroll shall also be subtracted to determine new payroll;
(16) "Notice of intent", a form developed by the department, completed by the qualified company and submitted to the department which states the qualified company's intent to hire new jobs and request benefits under this program;
(17) "Percent of local incentives", the amount of local incentives divided by the amount of new direct local revenue;
(18) "Program", the Missouri quality jobs program provided in sections 620.1875 to 620.1890;
(19) "Project facility", the building used by a qualified company at which the new jobs and new investment will be located. A project facility may include separate buildings that are located within one mile of each other such that their purpose and operations are interrelated;
(20) "Project facility base employment", the greater of the number of full-time employees located at the project facility on the date the notice of intent or for the twelve-month period prior to the date of the [proposal] notice of intent, the average number of full-time [equivalent] employees located at the project facility. In the event the project facility has not been in operation for a full twelve-month period, [project facility base employment is] the average number of full-time [equivalent] employees for the number of months the project facility has been in operation prior to the date of the [proposal] notice of intent;
(21) "Project facility base payroll", the total amount of taxable wages paid by the qualified company to full-time employees of the qualified company located at the project facility in the twelve months prior to the notice of intent, not including the payroll of the owners of the qualified company unless the qualified company is participating in an employee stock ownership plan. For purposes of calculating the benefits under this program, the amount of base payroll shall increase each year based on an appropriate measure, as determined by the department;
(22) "Project period", the time period that the benefits are provided to a qualified company;
[(22) "Proposal", a document submitted by the department to the qualified company that states the benefits that may be provided by this program. The effective date of such proposal cannot be prior to the commencement of operations. The proposal shall not offer benefits regarding any jobs created prior to its effective date unless the proposal is for a job retention project;]
(23) "Qualified company", a firm, partnership, joint venture, association, private or public corporation whether organized for profit or not, or headquarters of such entity registered to do business in Missouri that is the owner or operator of a project facility, offers health insurance to all full-time employees of all facilities located in this state, and pays at least fifty percent of such insurance premiums. For the purposes of sections 620.1875 to 620.1890, the term "qualified company" shall not include:
(a) Gambling establishments (NAICS industry group 7132);
(b) Retail trade establishments (NAICS sectors 44 and 45);
(c) Food and drinking places (NAICS subsector 722);
(d) [Utilities regulated by the Missouri public service commission] Public utilities (NAICS 221 including water and sewer services);
(e) Any company that is delinquent in the payment of any nonprotested taxes or any other amounts due the state or federal government or any other political subdivision of this state; [or]
(f) Any company that has filed for or has publicly announced its intention to file for bankruptcy protection;
(g) Educational services (NAIC sector 61);
(h) Religious organizations (NAIC industry group 8131); or
(i) Public administration (NAIC sector 92). Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, the headquarters or administrative offices of an otherwise excluded business may qualify for benefits if the offices serve a multistate territory. In the event a national, state, or regional headquarters operation is not the predominant activity of a project facility, the new jobs and investment of such headquarters operation is considered eligible for benefits under this section if the other requirements are satisfied;
(24) "Related company" means:
(a) A corporation, partnership, trust, or association controlled by the qualified company;
(b) An individual, corporation, partnership, trust, or association in control of the qualified company; or
(c) Corporations, partnerships, trusts or associations controlled by an individual, corporation, partnership, trust or association in control of the qualified company. As used in this subdivision, ["]control of a corporation["] shall mean ownership, directly or indirectly, of stock possessing at least fifty percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock entitled to vote, ["]control of a partnership or association["] shall mean ownership of at least fifty percent of the capital or profits interest in such partnership or association, ["]control of a trust["] shall mean ownership, directly or indirectly, of at least fifty percent of the beneficial interest in the principal or income of such trust, and ownership shall be determined as provided in Section 318 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended;
(25) "Related facility", a facility operated by the qualified company or a related company located in this state that is directly related to the operations of the project facility;
(26) "Related facility base employment", the greater of the number of full-time employees located at all related facilities on the date of the notice of intent or for the twelve-month period prior to the date of the [proposal] notice of intent, the average number of full-time [equivalent] employees located at all related facilities of the qualified company or a related company located in this state;
(27) "Related facility base payroll", the total amount of taxable wages paid by the qualified company to full-time employees of the qualified company located at a related facility in the twelve months prior to the filing of the notice of intent, not including the payroll of the owners of the qualified company unless the qualified company is participating in an employee stock ownership plan. For purposes of calculating the benefits under this program, the amount of related facility base payroll shall increase each year based on an appropriate measure, as determined by the department;
(28) "Rural area", a county in Missouri with a population less than seventy-five thousand or that does not contain an individual city with a population greater than fifty thousand according to the most recent federal decennial census;
[(28)] (29) "Small and expanding business project", a qualified company that within two years of the date of the [proposal] approval creates a minimum of twenty new jobs if the project facility is located in a rural area or a minimum of forty new jobs if the project facility is not located in a rural area and creates fewer than one hundred new jobs regardless of the location of the project facility;
[(29)] (30) "Tax credits", tax credits issued by the department to offset the state income taxes imposed by [chapter] chapters 143 and 148, RSMo, or which may be sold or refunded as provided for in this program;
[(30)] (31) "Technology business project", a qualified company that within two years of the date of the [proposal] approval creates a minimum of ten new jobs [with at least seventy-five percent of the new jobs directly involved] in the operations of a technology company as determined by a regulation promulgated by the department under the provisions of section 620.1884 [and] or classified by NAICS codes;
[(31)] (32) "Withholding tax", the state tax imposed by sections 143.191 to 143.265, RSMo. For purposes of this program, the withholding tax shall be computed using a schedule as determined by the department based on average wages.
620.1881. 1. The department of economic development shall respond within thirty days to a company who provides a notice of intent with either [a proposal] an approval or a rejection of the notice of intent. Failure to respond on behalf of the department of economic development shall result in the notice of intent being deemed [a proposal] an approval for the purposes of this section. A qualified company who is provided [a proposal] an approval for a project shall be allowed a benefit as provided in this program in the amount and duration provided in this section. A qualified company may receive additional periods for subsequent new jobs at the same facility after the full initial period if the minimum thresholds are met as set forth in sections 620.1875 to 620.1890. There is no limit on the number of periods a qualified company may participate in the program, as long as the minimum thresholds are achieved and the qualified company provides the department with the required reporting and is in proper compliance for this program or other state programs. A qualified company may elect to file a notice of intent to start a new project period concurrent with an existing project period if the minimum thresholds are achieved and the qualified company provides the department with the required reporting and is in proper compliance for this program and other state programs; however, the qualified company may not receive any further benefit under the original [proposal] approval for jobs created after the date of the new notice of intent, and any jobs created before the new notice of intent may not be included as new jobs for the purpose of benefit calculation in relation to the new [proposal] approval.
2. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, any qualified company that is awarded benefits under this program may not [also] simultaneously receive tax credits or exemptions under sections 135.100 to 135.150, sections 135.200 to 135.286, section 135.535, or sections 135.900 to 135.906, RSMo, [for the same new jobs] at the same project facility. The benefits available to the company under any other state programs for which the company is eligible and which utilize withholding tax from the new jobs of the company must first be credited to the other state program before the withholding retention level applicable under the Missouri quality jobs act will begin to accrue. These other state programs include, but are not limited to, the new jobs training program under sections 178.892 to 178.896, RSMo, the job retention program under sections 178.760 to 178.764, RSMo, the real property tax increment allocation redevelopment act, sections 99.800 to 99.865, RSMo, or the Missouri downtown and rural economic stimulus act under sections 99.915 to 99.980, RSMo. If any qualified company also participates in the new jobs training program in sections 178.892 to 178.896, RSMo, the company shall retain no withholding tax, but the department shall issue a refundable tax credit for the full amount of benefit allowed under this subdivision. The calendar year annual maximum amount of tax credits may be issued to a qualifying company that also participates in the new job training program shall be increased by an amount equivalent to the withholding tax retained by that company under the new jobs training program. However, if the combined benefits of the quality jobs training program and the new jobs training program exceed the projected state benefit of the project, as determined by the department of economic development through a cost-benefit analysis, the increase in the maximum tax credits shall be limited to the amount that would not cause the combined benefits to exceed the projected state benefit. Any taxpaper who is awarded benefits under this program who knowingly hires individuals who are not allowed to work legally in the United States shall immediately forfeit such benefits and shall repay the state an amount equal to any state tax credits already redeemed and any withholding taxes already retained.
3. The types of projects and the amount of benefits to be provided are:
(1) Small and expanding business projects: in exchange for the consideration provided by the new tax revenues and other economic [stimulus] stimuli that will be generated by the new jobs created by the program, a qualified company may retain an amount equal to the withholding tax as calculated under subdivision (32) of section 620.1878 from the new jobs that would otherwise be withheld and remitted by the qualified company under the provisions of sections 143.191 to 143.265, RSMo, for a period of three years from the date the required number of new jobs were created if the average wage of the new payroll equals or exceeds the county average wage or for a period of five years from the date the required number of new jobs were created if the average wage of the new payroll equals or exceeds one hundred twenty percent of the county average wage;
(2) Technology business projects: in exchange for the consideration provided by the new tax revenues and other economic [stimulus] stimuli that will be generated by the new jobs created by the program, a qualified company may retain an amount equal to a maximum of five percent of new payroll for a period of five years from the date the required number of jobs were created from the withholding tax of the new jobs that would otherwise be withheld and remitted by the qualified company under the provisions of sections 143.191 to 143.265, RSMo, if the average wage of the new payroll equals or exceeds the county average wage. An additional one-half percent of new payroll may be added to the five percent maximum if the average wage of the new payroll in any year exceeds one hundred twenty percent of the county average wage in the county in which the project facility is located, plus an additional one-half percent of new payroll may be added if the average wage of the new payroll in any year exceeds one hundred forty percent of the average wage in the county in which the project facility is located. The department shall issue a refundable tax credit for any difference between the amount of benefit allowed under this subdivision and the amount of withholding tax retained by the company, in the event the withholding tax is not sufficient to provide the entire amount of benefit due to the qualified company under this subdivision. The calendar year annual maximum amount of tax credits that may be issued to any qualified company for a project or combination of projects is five hundred thousand dollars;
(3) High impact projects: in exchange for the consideration provided by the new tax revenues and other economic [stimulus] stimuli that will be generated by the new jobs created by the program, a qualified company may retain an amount from the withholding tax of the new jobs that would otherwise be withheld and remitted by the qualified company under the provisions of sections 143.191 to 143.265, RSMo, equal to three percent of new payroll for a period of five years from the date the required number of jobs were created if the average wage of the new payroll equals or exceeds the county average wage of the county in which the project facility is located. The percentage of payroll allowed under this subdivision shall be three and one-half percent of new payroll if the average wage of the new payroll in any year exceeds one hundred twenty percent of the county average wage in the county in which the project facility is located. The percentage of payroll allowed under this subdivision shall be four percent of new payroll if the average wage of the new payroll in any year exceeds one hundred forty percent of the county average wage in the county in which the project facility is located. An additional one percent of new payroll may be added to these percentages if local incentives equal between ten percent and twenty-four percent of the new direct local revenue; an additional two percent of new payroll is added to these percentages if the local incentives equal between twenty-five percent and forty-nine percent of the new direct local revenue; or an additional three percent of payroll is added to these percentages if the local incentives equal fifty percent or more of the new direct local revenue. The department shall issue a refundable tax credit for any difference between the amount of benefit allowed under this subdivision and the amount of withholding tax retained by the company, in the event the withholding tax is not sufficient to provide the entire amount of benefit due to the qualified company under this subdivision. The calendar year annual maximum amount of tax credits that may be issued to any qualified company for a project or combination of projects is seven hundred fifty thousand dollars. The calendar year annual maximum amount of tax credit that may be issued to any qualified company for a project or combination of projects may be increased up to one million dollars if the number of new jobs will exceed five hundred and if such action is proposed by the department and approved by the quality jobs advisory task force established in section 620.1887; provided, however, until such time as the initial at-large members of the quality jobs advisory task force are appointed, this determination shall be made by the director of the department of economic development. In considering such a request, the task force shall rely on economic modeling and other information supplied by the department when requesting the increased limit on behalf of the project;
(4) Job retention projects: a qualified company may receive a tax credit for the retention of jobs in this state, provided the qualified company and the project meets all of the following conditions:
(a) For each of the twenty-four months preceding the year in which application for the program is made the qualified company must have maintained at least one thousand full-time[, year-round] employees at the employer's site in the state at which the jobs are based, and the average wage of such employees must meet or exceed the county average wage;
(b) The qualified company retained at the project facility the level of full-time[, year-round] employees that existed in the taxable year immediately preceding the year in which application for the program is made;
(c) The qualified company is considered to have a significant statewide effect on the economy, and has been determined to represent a substantial risk of relocation from the state by the quality jobs advisory task force established in section 620.1887; provided, however, until such time as the initial at-large members of the quality jobs advisory task force are appointed, this determination shall be made by the director of the department of economic development;
(d) The qualified company in the project facility will cause to be invested a minimum of seventy million dollars in new investment prior to the end of two years or will cause to be invested a minimum of thirty million dollars in new investment prior to the end of two years and maintain an annual payroll of at least seventy million dollars during each of the years for which a credit is claimed; and
(e) The local taxing entities shall provide local incentives of at least fifty percent of the new direct local revenues created by the project over a ten-year period.
The quality jobs advisory task force may recommend to the department of economic development that appropriate penalties be applied to the company for violating the agreement. The amount of the job retention credit granted may be equal to up to fifty percent of the amount of withholding tax generated by the full-time[, year-round] jobs at the project facility for a period of five years. The calendar year annual maximum amount of tax credit that may be issued to any qualified company for a job retention project or combination of job retention projects shall be seven hundred fifty thousand dollars per year, but the maximum amount may be increased up to one million dollars if such action is proposed by the department and approved by the quality jobs advisory task force established in section 620.1887; provided, however, until such time as the initial at-large members of the quality jobs advisory task force are appointed, this determination shall be made by the director of the department of economic development. In considering such a request, the task force shall rely on economic modeling and other information supplied by the department when requesting the increased limit on behalf of the job retention project. In no event shall the total amount of all tax credits issued for the entire job retention program under this subdivision exceed three million dollars annually. Notwithstanding the above, no tax credits shall be issued for job retention projects approved by the department after August 30, 2007.
4. The qualified company shall provide an annual report of the number of jobs and such other information as may be required by the department to document the basis for the benefits of this program. The department may withhold the approval of any benefits until it is satisfied that proper documentation has been provided, and shall reduce the benefits to reflect any reduction in full-time[, year-round] employees or new payroll. Upon approval by the department, the qualified company may begin the retention of the withholding taxes when it reaches the minimum number of new jobs and the average wage exceeds the county average wage. Tax credits, if any, may be issued upon satisfaction by the department that the qualified company has exceeded the county average wage and the minimum number of new jobs. In such annual report, if the average wage is below the county average wage, the qualified company has not maintained the employee insurance as required, or if the number of new jobs is below the minimum, the qualified company shall not receive tax credits or retain the withholding tax for the balance of the benefit period. In the case of a qualified company that initially filed a notice of intent and received an approval from the department for high impact benefits and the minimum number of new jobs in an annual report is below the minimum for high impact projects, the company shall not receive tax credits for the balance of the benefit period but may continue to retain the withholding taxes if it otherwise meets the requirements of a small and expanding business under this program.
5. [The maximum calendar year annual tax credits issued for the entire program shall not exceed twelve million dollars. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the maximum annual tax credits authorized under section 135.535, RSMo, are hereby reduced from ten million dollars to eight million dollars, with the balance of two million dollars transferred to this program. There shall be no limit on the amount of withholding taxes that may be retained by approved companies under this program.] There shall be no limit on the amount of withholding taxes that may be retained by approved companies under this program.
6. The department shall allocate the annual tax credits based on the date of the [proposal] approval, reserving such tax credits based on the department's best estimate of new jobs and new payroll of the project, and the other factors in the determination of benefits of this program. However, the annual issuance of tax credits is subject to the annual verification of the actual new payroll. The allocation of tax credits for the period assigned to a project shall expire if, within two years from the date of commencement of operations, or [proposal] approval if applicable, the minimum thresholds have not been achieved. The qualified company may retain authorized amounts from the withholding tax under this section once the minimum new jobs thresholds are met for the duration of the project period. No benefits shall be provided under this program until the qualified company meets the minimum new jobs thresholds. In the event the qualified company does not meet the minimum new job threshold, the qualified company may submit a new notice of intent or the department may provide a new [proposal] approval for a new project of the qualified company at the project facility or other facilities.
7. For a qualified company with flow-through tax treatment to its members, partners, or shareholders, the tax credit shall be allowed to members, partners, or shareholders in proportion to their share of ownership on the last day of the qualified company's tax period.
8. Tax credits may be claimed against taxes otherwise imposed by chapters 143 and 148, RSMo, and may not be carried forward but shall be claimed within one year of the close of the taxable year for which they were issued.
9. Tax credits authorized by this section may be transferred, sold, or assigned by filing a notarized endorsement thereof with the department that names the transferee, the amount of tax credit transferred, and the value received for the credit, as well as any other information reasonably requested by the department.
10. Prior to the issuance of tax credits, the department shall verify through the department of revenue that the tax credit applicant does not owe any delinquent income, sales, or use tax or interest or penalties on such taxes, and through the department of insurance that the applicant does not owe any delinquent insurance taxes. Such delinquency shall not affect the authorization of the application for such tax credits, except that at issuance credits shall be first applied to the delinquency and any amount issued shall be reduced by the applicant's tax delinquency. If the department of revenue or the department of insurance concludes that a taxpayer is delinquent after June fifteenth but before July first of any year and the application of tax credits to such delinquency causes a tax deficiency on behalf of the taxpayer to arise, then the taxpayer shall be granted thirty days to satisfy the deficiency in which interest, penalties, and additions to tax shall be tolled. After applying all available credits toward a tax delinquency, the administering agency shall notify the appropriate department and that department shall update the amount of outstanding delinquent tax owed by the applicant. If any credits remain after satisfying all insurance, income, sales, and use tax delinquencies, the remaining credits shall be issued to the applicant, subject to the restrictions of other provisions of law.
11. The director of revenue shall issue a refund to the qualified company to the extent that the amount of credits allowed in this section exceeds the amount of the qualified company's income tax.
[11.] 12. An employee of a qualified company will receive full credit for the amount of tax withheld as provided in section [143.221] 143.211, RSMo.
[12.] 13. If any provision of sections 620.1875 to 620.1890 or application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect other provisions or application of these sections which can be given effect without the invalid provisions or application, and to this end, the provisions of sections 620.1875 to 620.1890 are hereby declared severable.
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