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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to qualified manufacturing project zones. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The Legislature of the State of Texas finds that |
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a qualified manufacturing project, as defined in this Act, and the |
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enhancement of manufacturing workforce development serve the |
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public purposes of development and diversification of the |
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employment of this state, elimination of unemployment or |
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underemployment in this state, and development or expansion of |
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commerce in this state. |
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SECTION 2. Subtitle C, Title 12, Local Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Chapter 399 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 399. QUALIFIED MANUFACTURING PROJECT ZONES |
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Sec. 399.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Qualified manufacturing project": |
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(A) means a proposed new or expanded facility |
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that, on the date of qualification under Section 399.002: |
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(i) is not subject to either an agreement |
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with a county or other taxing unit under Chapter 312, Tax Code, or |
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with a school district under Chapter 313, Tax Code, entered into on |
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or before the effective date of this Act; and |
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(ii) is subject to an agreement entered |
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into after the effective date of this Act, but before September 1, |
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2013, with a county or other taxing unit under Chapter 312, Tax |
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Code, or with a school district under Chapter 313, Tax Code, under |
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which the investment in the facility: |
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(a) is at least $200 million; or |
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(b) is at least $100 million if the |
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facility is related to: |
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(1) renewable energy generation, |
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including solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, tidal, or small |
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hydroelectric generation; |
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(2) advanced battery technology |
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or other advanced energy storage technology; or |
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(3) waste recycling; |
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(iii) will be engaged in manufacturing, as |
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that term is defined by Section 151.318, Tax Code, the construction |
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of which begins on or after September 1, 2009; |
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(iv) is forecasted to create at least 300 |
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full-time equivalent employment positions; and |
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(v) the owner of which is: |
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(a) considering at least one |
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alternative site for the facility that is not located in this state; |
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or |
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(b) competing against similar |
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projects located outside this state for federal funds or financial |
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support, including loan guarantees, that would benefit the project; |
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and |
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(B) does not include a proposed new or expanded |
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facility that produces a stream of carbon dioxide if the facility |
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involves the generation of electricity or the creation of liquid |
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fuels outside of the existing fuel production infrastructure while |
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co-generating electricity, other than a facility that generates |
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electricity from biomass or biofuels, unless the facility captures |
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and sequesters, by geologic storage or other means, not less than 60 |
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percent of the carbon dioxide from the facility's emissions stream. |
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(2) "Waste recycling" means the process of extracting |
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resources or value from waste by recovering or reusing the |
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materials, including the collection and reuse of everyday waste |
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materials. |
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Sec. 399.002. DATE OF QUALIFICATION. A proposed facility |
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becomes a qualified manufacturing project on the date the owner of |
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the facility files an election to become a qualified manufacturing |
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project with the comptroller. |
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Sec. 399.003. ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY. (a) The owner of a |
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qualified manufacturing project must conduct an economic impact |
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study of the county in which the qualified manufacturing project is |
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located and submit the study to the comptroller for certification |
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not later than the 120th day after the date the owner files an |
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election for that designation under Section 399.002. |
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(b) The economic impact study must provide an estimate of: |
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(1) the general economic impact likely to occur in the |
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county as a result of the qualified manufacturing project; |
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(2) the anticipated amount of increase in the tax |
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receipts to this state from the taxes imposed under Chapter 151, Tax |
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Code, that: |
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(A) will occur in the county during the period |
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that the qualified manufacturing project zone is designated; and |
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(B) is directly attributable to the economic |
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impact from the design, construction, or operation of the qualified |
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manufacturing project; |
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(3) the projected number of full-time equivalent |
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employment positions likely to be available at the qualified |
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manufacturing project; and |
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(4) the investment projected to be made at the |
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qualified manufacturing project. |
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Sec. 399.004. COMPTROLLER CERTIFICATION OF ECONOMIC IMPACT |
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STUDY. (a) Not later than the 30th day after receiving the |
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economic impact study from an owner of a qualified manufacturing |
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project, the comptroller shall certify the study if the comptroller |
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determines that: |
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(1) the study accurately estimates the information |
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required by Sections 399.003(b)(2)-(4); or |
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(2) the study: |
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(A) was conducted by an independent third party; |
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(B) was conducted using generally accepted |
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economic impact forecasting methods to estimate the information |
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required by Section 399.003(b); and |
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(C) contains the information required by Section |
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399.003(b). |
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(b) If the comptroller determines that the economic impact |
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study submitted by the owner of the qualified manufacturing project |
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does not meet the requirements of Subsection (a)(1) or (2), as |
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applicable, the comptroller, not later than the 30th day after the |
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date of receiving the study, shall: |
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(1) submit a preliminary determination to the owner of |
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the qualified manufacturing project; and |
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(2) provide the owner of the qualified manufacturing |
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project with an opportunity to respond or submit a new or amended |
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economic impact study to the comptroller. |
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Sec. 399.005. QUALIFIED MANUFACTURING PROJECT ZONE. (a) |
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The owner of a qualified manufacturing project for which the |
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comptroller has certified an economic impact study in accordance |
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with Section 399.004 may apply to the comptroller for designation |
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of the county in which the project is located as a qualified |
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manufacturing project zone. Subject to Subsections (b) and (c), |
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the comptroller shall approve the application on a determination |
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that the qualified manufacturing project is the first facility in |
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the county to apply for the designation. The designation takes |
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effect on September 1 after the date of approval of an application |
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for designation of the county as a qualified manufacturing project |
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zone for the project. |
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(b) Only one qualified manufacturing project that is in a |
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qualified manufacturing project zone may qualify for benefits under |
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this chapter at any one time. |
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(c) If more than one qualified manufacturing project |
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applies for zone designation from a single county within a calendar |
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month, the comptroller shall approve the qualified application with |
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the most investment in the proposed new or expanded facility, as |
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determined by the economic impact study certified under Section |
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399.004. |
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(d) A qualified manufacturing project zone designation for |
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a qualified manufacturing project remains in effect until the |
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expiration of any tax limitations, credits, abatements, or other |
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benefits under an agreement entered into under Chapter 312 or 313, |
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Tax Code, for the qualified manufacturing project. |
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Sec. 399.006. ANNUAL CERTIFICATION. (a) To receive state |
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benefits under this chapter, the owner of a qualified manufacturing |
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project in a qualified manufacturing project zone must submit the |
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report required by Subsection (b) and make the following applicable |
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annual certification to the comptroller, as of the last day of the |
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state fiscal year for each year of the zone's designation: |
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(1) if the qualified manufacturing project zone |
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designation has been in effect for three years or less and the |
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qualified manufacturing project has not commenced commercial |
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operation, the owner must certify the forecast of at least 300 |
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full-time equivalent employment positions for the year that the |
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facility will begin commercial operation; |
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(2) if the qualified manufacturing project zone |
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designation has been in effect for more than three years and the |
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qualified manufacturing project has not started commercial |
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operation, the owner must certify: |
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(A) the creation of at least 300 full-time |
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equivalent employment positions; or |
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(B) all of the following: |
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(i) the expenditure of at least $1 billion |
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on the new or expanded facility has occurred; |
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(ii) the year in which the facility will |
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begin commercial operation; and |
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(iii) the forecast of at least 300 |
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full-time equivalent employment positions that will be created not |
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later than the eighth anniversary of the date of the zone's |
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designation; or |
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(3) if the qualified manufacturing project has started |
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commercial operation, the owner must certify the creation of at |
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least 300 full-time equivalent employment positions at the |
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facility. |
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(b) At the time the applicable certification required under |
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Subsection (a) is submitted, the owner of a qualified manufacturing |
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project shall also submit an annual report to the comptroller that |
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contains a summary of wages, salaries, and health care benefits |
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associated with the jobs created by the qualified manufacturing |
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project. |
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(c) If the owner of a qualified manufacturing project fails |
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to make the applicable certification required under Subsection (a) |
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and submit the report required by Subsection (b), the owner |
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forfeits the right to receive future state benefits under this |
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chapter and shall pay to the comptroller, not later than the 60th |
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calendar day after the date the certification is due, the entire |
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amount of all refunds previously received as provided by this |
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chapter. |
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(d) For purposes of this section, "commercial operation," |
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with respect to a facility, means that the facility has begun to |
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operate for the facility's intended purpose. |
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Sec. 399.007. STATE BENEFITS. Subject to Section 399.006, |
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the owner of a qualified manufacturing project in a qualified |
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manufacturing project zone is eligible for a refund of state sales |
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and use taxes as provided by Section 151.4292, Tax Code. |
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Sec. 399.008. COMPTROLLER DUTIES. The comptroller shall |
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adopt rules and forms necessary to perform the comptroller's duties |
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under this chapter. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter I, Chapter 151, Tax Code, is amended |
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by adding Section 151.4292 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 151.4292. TAX REFUNDS FOR QUALIFIED MANUFACTURING |
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PROJECTS. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Additional sales and use tax" means the total |
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amount of sales and use taxes collected under this chapter on |
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purchases of all taxable items purchased within a qualified |
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manufacturing project zone for each state fiscal year for the |
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duration of the qualified manufacturing project zone designation |
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less the sales tax base, not otherwise due as a rebate or refund |
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under any other applicable law. |
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(2) "Manufacturing workforce development" means, |
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solely for purposes of this section, any expenditures incurred in |
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the state by the owner, or a contractor or subcontractor of the |
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owner, of a qualified manufacturing project for recruiting or |
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training present, prospective, or potential employees for jobs in |
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this state presently available or expected to be available for the |
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planning, designing, construction, fabrication, or operation of a |
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qualified manufacturing project, and the salaries, wages, and |
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benefits of those employees through the first two years of |
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commercial operation of the qualified manufacturing project. The |
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term: |
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(A) does not include any expenditures incurred |
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for recruiting or training, or the salaries, wages, and benefits of |
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persons employed in a "bona fide executive, administrative, or |
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professional capacity," as that phrase is used for purposes of |
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establishing an exemption to the overtime provisions of the federal |
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Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. Section 201 et seq.); |
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and |
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(B) notwithstanding Paragraph (A), includes any |
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expenditures incurred for recruiting or training, or the salaries, |
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wages, and benefits of operating staff, maintenance staff, and |
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engineering staff. |
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(3) "Qualified manufacturing project" has the meaning |
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assigned that term by Section 399.001, Local Government Code. |
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(4) "Sales tax base" means the amount of the sales and |
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use taxes collected under this chapter on purchases of all taxable |
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items purchased within the boundaries of a qualified manufacturing |
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project zone for the state fiscal year ending before the date the |
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zone is designated. |
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(b) The owner of a qualified manufacturing project in a |
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qualified manufacturing project zone is entitled to receive a |
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payment of a refund of 50 percent of the additional sales and use |
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tax for the preceding state fiscal year provided the owner has made |
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the applicable employment certification to the comptroller |
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required under Section 399.006, Local Government Code, and submits |
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the report required under that section. A refund may not be made |
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under this subsection for any sales and use taxes paid before the |
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date an application for designation of a qualified manufacturing |
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project zone is approved for the project. For the duration of a |
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qualified manufacturing project zone designation for a qualified |
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manufacturing project, but not to exceed 10 years, the comptroller |
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shall pay the refund not later than the 60th day after the later of |
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the date of receipt of the employment certification or the last day |
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of the state fiscal year. |
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(c) The total amount of refunds that a qualified |
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manufacturing project may receive over the course of the |
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designation of the county in which it is located as a qualified |
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manufacturing project zone may not exceed an amount equal to the |
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lesser of $50 million or five percent of the qualified |
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manufacturing project's investments in the facility under Chapter |
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399, Local Government Code. |
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(d) Subject to Subsection (f), a refund received under this |
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section shall be used to pay for or to refund eligible expenses |
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incurred before or after designation of the county in which the |
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project is located as a qualified manufacturing project zone for |
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manufacturing workforce development for the project. |
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(e) If the owner of a qualified manufacturing project fails |
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to make the applicable certification and submit the report required |
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by Section 399.006, Local Government Code, the owner forfeits the |
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right to receive all future benefits under this section and shall |
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pay to the comptroller, not later than the 60th calendar day after |
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the date the certification is due, the entire amount of all refunds |
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previously received under this section. |
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(f) At least 10 percent of the amount received as a refund |
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under this section in each state fiscal year must be expended for |
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job skills training programs that serve persons who are unemployed |
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or whose incomes are at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty |
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level. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |
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