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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
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AN ACT
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relating to an insurance premium tax credit for investment in |
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certain communities; imposing a monetary penalty; authorizing |
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fees. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 3, Insurance Code, is amended |
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by adding Chapter 231 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 231. PREMIUM TAX CREDIT FOR INVESTMENT IN CERTAIN |
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COMMUNITIES |
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SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS |
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Sec. 231.001. GENERAL DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Applicable percentage" means zero percent for the |
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first two credit allowance dates, seven percent for the third |
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credit allowance date, and eight percent for the next four credit |
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allowance dates. |
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(2) "Credit allowance date" means, with respect to any |
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qualified equity investment: |
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(A) the date on which the qualified equity |
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investment is initially made; and |
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(B) the anniversary of that date in each of the |
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six years immediately following that date. |
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(3) "Federal tax regulations" means regulations |
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adopted under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that are applicable |
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to the tax year to which the provisions of the code in effect on |
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September 1, 2017, applied. |
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(4) "Internal Revenue Code" means the Internal Revenue |
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Code of 1986 in effect on September 1, 2017, excluding any changes |
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made by federal law after that date, but including any regulations |
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adopted under that code that are applicable to the tax year to which |
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the provisions of the code in effect on that date applied. |
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(5) "Investing entity" means an entity, including an |
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entity that incurs state premium tax liability, that makes or holds |
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a qualified equity investment. |
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(6) "Issuer" means a qualified community development |
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entity, or a subsidiary or affiliate of a qualified community |
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development entity, that issues a qualified equity investment. |
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(7) "Low-income community" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 45D, Internal Revenue Code. |
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(8) "Metropolitan statistical area" means a core base |
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statistical area associated with at least one urbanized area that |
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has a population of at least 90,000. A metropolitan statistical |
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area comprises the central county or counties containing the core, |
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plus adjacent outlying counties having a high degree of social and |
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economic integration with the central county or counties as |
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measured through commuting. |
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(9) "Purchase price" means the amount paid to the |
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issuer for a qualified equity investment. |
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(10) "Report" means a premium tax report or a report |
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under Subchapter G, as applicable. |
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(11) "Rural allocation" means the allocation |
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described by Section 231.104(c)(1). |
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(12) "Rural area" means a county in this state with a |
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population less than 90,000. |
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(13) "State premium tax liability" means any premium |
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tax liability incurred under Chapter 221, 222, 223, 223A, or 224. |
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(14) "Statewide low-income community allocation" |
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means the allocation described by Section 231.104(c)(4). |
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(15) "Texas education allocation" means the |
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allocation described by Section 231.104(c)(2). |
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(16) "Texas seaport allocation" means the allocation |
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described by Section 231.104(c)(3). |
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Sec. 231.002. DEFINITION: LONG-TERM DEBT SECURITY. (a) In |
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this chapter, "long-term debt security" means a debt instrument |
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issued by a qualified community development entity, at par value or |
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a premium, with an original maturity date not earlier than the |
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seventh year after the date on which the debt instrument is issued, |
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with no acceleration of repayment, amortization, or prepayment |
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features before its original maturity date. |
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(b) The qualified community development entity that issues |
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a long-term debt security may not make cash interest payments on the |
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security during the period beginning on the date on which the |
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security is issued and ending on the final credit allowance date in |
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an amount that exceeds the cumulative operating income, as defined |
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by federal tax regulations adopted under Section 45D, Internal |
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Revenue Code, of the qualified community development entity for |
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that period before giving effect to the interest expense of the |
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long-term debt security. |
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(c) This section does not limit the holder's ability to |
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accelerate payments on a long-term debt security in situations in |
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which the issuer has defaulted on covenants designed to ensure |
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compliance with this chapter or Section 45D, Internal Revenue Code. |
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Sec. 231.003. DEFINITION: QUALIFIED ACTIVE LOW-INCOME |
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COMMUNITY BUSINESS. (a) In this chapter, "qualified active |
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low-income community business" has the meaning assigned by Section |
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45D, Internal Revenue Code, and Section 1.45D-1 of the federal tax |
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regulations. |
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(b) A business is considered a qualified active low-income |
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community business for the duration of the qualified community |
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development entity's investment in, or loan to, the business if the |
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entity reasonably expects, at the time it makes the investment or |
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loan, that the business will continue to satisfy the requirements |
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for being a qualified active low-income community business |
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throughout the entire period of the investment or loan. |
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Sec. 231.004. DEFINITION: QUALIFIED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT |
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ENTITY. In this chapter, "qualified community development entity" |
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has the meaning assigned by Section 45D, Internal Revenue Code, |
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provided that the entity has entered into, for the current year or a |
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prior year with an allocation effective date on or after July 1, |
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2016, an allocation agreement with the Community Development |
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Financial Institutions Fund of the United States Department of the |
|
Treasury with respect to credits authorized by Section 45D, |
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Internal Revenue Code, that includes this state in the service area |
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specified in the allocation agreement. The term includes a |
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subsidiary or affiliate of a qualified community development entity |
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and any other qualified community development entity that is |
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controlled by or under common control with a qualified community |
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development entity. |
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Sec. 231.005. DEFINITION: QUALIFIED EQUITY INVESTMENT. (a) |
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An investment is a "qualified equity investment" for purposes of |
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this chapter if: |
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(1) the investment is an equity investment in, or |
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long-term debt security issued by, a qualified community |
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development entity; |
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(2) the investment is acquired on or after October 1, |
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2017, at its original issuance solely in exchange for cash, except |
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as provided by Subsection (b); |
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(3) not later than the 20th month after the date of |
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issuance at least 85 percent of the investment's purchase price is |
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used by the issuer to make qualified low-income community |
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investments in this state; and |
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(4) the investment is designated by the issuer as a |
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qualified equity investment under this section and is certified by |
|
the comptroller as not exceeding the limitations provided by |
|
Section 231.104. |
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(b) A qualified equity investment includes an investment |
|
that does not satisfy the requirements of Subsection (a)(2) if the |
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investment was a qualified equity investment in the hands of a prior |
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holder. |
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Sec. 231.006. DEFINITION: QUALIFIED LOW-INCOME COMMUNITY |
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INVESTMENT. In this chapter, "qualified low-income community |
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investment" means an equity investment in, or loan to, a qualified |
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active low-income community business made by a qualified community |
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development entity. |
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Sec. 231.007. DEFINITION: RURAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT |
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ENTITY. In this chapter, "rural community development entity" means |
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a qualified community development entity: |
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(1) whose allocation agreement with the Community |
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Development Financial Institutions Fund of the United States |
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Department of the Treasury requires the entity to invest at least 25 |
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percent of that allocation in rural areas; or |
|
(2) that demonstrates to the comptroller in writing |
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that the entity or its affiliates invested at least 25 percent of |
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the entity's most recent federal allocation outside the boundaries |
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of a metropolitan statistical area. |
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Sec. 231.008. RULES. The comptroller shall adopt rules |
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necessary to implement this chapter. |
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Sec. 231.009. REVIEW BY COMPTROLLER. The comptroller shall |
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review the qualified low-income community investments of a |
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qualified community development entity not later than the sixth |
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month after each anniversary of the investment. In conducting the |
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review, the comptroller shall ensure that the qualified community |
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development entity has made and maintained the qualified low-income |
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community investments required under Sections 231.151(a)(3) and |
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(4) to avoid recapture of a credit claimed in connection with a |
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qualified equity investment. |
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SUBCHAPTER B. PREMIUM TAX CREDIT |
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Sec. 231.051. ELIGIBILITY FOR CREDIT. An investing entity |
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is eligible for a credit against the entity's state premium tax |
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liability in the amount provided by this subchapter and under the |
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conditions and limitations provided by this chapter. |
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Sec. 231.052. QUALIFICATION. An investing entity is |
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eligible for a credit if the investing entity holds a qualified |
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equity investment on a credit allowance date. |
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Sec. 231.053. AMOUNT OF CREDIT; LIMITATION. (a) The amount |
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of credit for a tax year is equal to the credit accrued, as |
|
determined under Subsection (b), on each credit allowance date: |
|
(1) that occurs during the tax year; and |
|
(2) on which the investing entity holds the qualified |
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equity investment. |
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(b) The amount of credit accrued on a credit allowance date |
|
equals the applicable percentage for the credit allowance date |
|
multiplied by the purchase price paid to the issuer of the qualified |
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equity investment. |
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(c) The total credit claimed for a tax year, including the |
|
amount of any carryforward under Section 231.054, may not exceed |
|
the amount of state premium tax liability due for the tax year after |
|
applying all other applicable tax credits. |
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(d) Credits may be applied to the investing entity's |
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estimated or final tax payments for the tax year. |
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Sec. 231.054. CARRYFORWARD. If an investing entity is |
|
eligible for a credit that exceeds the limitation under Section |
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231.053(c), the investing entity may carry the unused credit |
|
forward for not more than 20 consecutive tax reports. Credits, |
|
including credit carryforwards, are considered to be used in the |
|
following order: |
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(1) a credit carryforward under this subchapter; and |
|
(2) a current year credit. |
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Sec. 231.055. ASSIGNMENT PROHIBITED. (a) Except as |
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provided by Subsection (b), an investing entity may not convey, |
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assign, or transfer the credit allowed under this subchapter to |
|
another entity. |
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(b) A partnership, limited liability company, S |
|
corporation, or other pass-through entity for federal income tax |
|
purposes may allocate the credit to the entity's partners, members, |
|
or shareholders for their direct use in accordance with an |
|
agreement between the partners, members, or shareholders. |
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Sec. 231.056. RETALIATORY TAX. (a) An entity claiming a |
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credit under this subchapter is not required to pay any additional |
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retaliatory tax levied under Chapter 281 as a result of claiming |
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that credit. |
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(b) In addition to the exclusion provided by Subsection (a), |
|
an entity claiming a credit under this subchapter is not required to |
|
pay any additional tax that may arise as a result of claiming that |
|
credit. |
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SUBCHAPTER C. CERTIFICATION AS QUALIFIED EQUITY INVESTMENT |
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Sec. 231.101. APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATION AS QUALIFIED |
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EQUITY INVESTMENT. (a) A qualified community development entity |
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that seeks to have an equity investment or long-term debt security |
|
certified as a qualified equity investment eligible for credits |
|
under this chapter must apply to the comptroller as provided by this |
|
section. |
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(b) The comptroller shall provide an application date each |
|
year for applications under Subsection (a). The date may not be |
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later than October 2. The comptroller shall consider all |
|
applications received on or before the application date to be |
|
received simultaneously on the application date. |
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(c) An application under this section must include the |
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following: |
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(1) evidence of the applicant's certification as a |
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qualified community development entity, including evidence of the |
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service area of the entity that includes this state; |
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(2) a copy of an allocation agreement executed by the |
|
applicant, or its controlling entity, and the Community Development |
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Financial Institutions Fund of the United States Department of the |
|
Treasury; |
|
(3) a certificate executed by an executive officer of |
|
the applicant attesting that the allocation agreement remains in |
|
effect and has not been revoked or canceled by the Community |
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Development Financial Institutions Fund; |
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(4) a description of the amount and structure of the |
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equity investment or long-term debt security proposed to be |
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certified; |
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(5) examples of the types of qualified active |
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low-income community businesses in which the applicant, its |
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controlling entity, or affiliates of its controlling entity have |
|
invested under the federal New Markets Tax Credit Program or a state |
|
new markets tax credit program, including written proof that the |
|
applicant or an affiliate has made at least one qualified |
|
low-income community investment or a similar loan to a business in a |
|
low-income census tract in this state; |
|
(6) evidence that: |
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(A) the entity qualifies as a rural community |
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development entity, if the entity is applying for a rural |
|
allocation; |
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(B) the entity or the entity's affiliate has |
|
previously made at least one qualified low-income community |
|
investment that would meet the investment requirements for a Texas |
|
education allocation, if the entity is applying for a Texas |
|
education allocation; or |
|
(C) the entity or the entity's affiliate has |
|
previously made at least one qualified low-income community |
|
investment that would meet the investment requirements for a Texas |
|
seaport allocation, if the entity is applying for a Texas seaport |
|
allocation; |
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(7) a nonrefundable application fee of $5,000 to be |
|
paid to the comptroller; and |
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(8) the refundable performance deposit required by |
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Subchapter E. |
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Sec. 231.102. ACTION ON APPLICATION. (a) Not later than |
|
the 30th day after the date an application under Section 231.101 is |
|
received, the comptroller shall grant or deny the application in |
|
full or part. |
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(b) If the comptroller denies the application, the |
|
comptroller shall inform the applicant of the denial. |
|
(c) If the comptroller denies an application because the |
|
application is incomplete, the applicant may, not later than the |
|
15th day after the date the applicant receives notice under |
|
Subsection (b), provide additional information required by the |
|
comptroller to complete the application. The comptroller shall |
|
consider an application completed under this subsection to be |
|
completed on the date the application was initially submitted. |
|
(d) If an applicant does not complete an application in the |
|
time required under Subsection (c), the application is finally |
|
denied and the applicant must submit a new application if the |
|
applicant wishes to reapply. The comptroller shall determine the |
|
application date for the new application without regard to the |
|
previously denied application. |
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Sec. 231.103. CERTIFICATION OF QUALIFIED EQUITY |
|
INVESTMENT. (a) If an application under Section 231.101 is |
|
granted, the comptroller shall certify the proposed equity |
|
investment or long-term debt security as a qualified equity |
|
investment that is eligible for credits under this chapter, subject |
|
to Section 231.104. |
|
(b) The comptroller shall provide written notice of the |
|
certification to the qualified community development entity. |
|
(c) The certification of a qualified equity investment is |
|
effective on the date the comptroller provides notice under |
|
Subsection (b). |
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Sec. 231.104. LIMIT ON CERTIFIED INVESTMENTS. (a) Subject |
|
to Subsections (b) and (c), the comptroller shall limit the amount |
|
of qualified equity investments that may be certified under Section |
|
231.103 to an amount the comptroller estimates will result in not |
|
more than: |
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(1) $60 million in credits being claimed under this |
|
chapter in any state fiscal year; and |
|
(2) $300 million in total credits being claimed under |
|
this chapter. |
|
(b) The comptroller shall estimate the amounts under |
|
Subsection (a) without regard to the carryforward provision under |
|
Section 231.054. |
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(c) The comptroller shall allocate 25 percent, or as nearly |
|
as possible to 25 percent, of the amount available under Subsection |
|
(a) for each of the following: |
|
(1) a rural allocation, which may be used only by |
|
rural community development entities to make qualified low-income |
|
community investments in rural areas; |
|
(2) a Texas education allocation, which may be used |
|
only to make qualified low-income community investments in |
|
nonprofit or for-profit entities offering primary, secondary, or |
|
higher education in low-income communities in this state; |
|
(3) a Texas seaport allocation, which may be used only |
|
to make qualified low-income community investments in businesses |
|
operating at a port, harbor, or municipality: |
|
(A) accessible to seagoing ships that are limited |
|
to 35 miles from the coastline; and |
|
(B) located in a low-income community in this |
|
state; and |
|
(4) a statewide low-income community allocation, |
|
which may be used to make qualified low-income community |
|
investments in any low-income community in this state. |
|
(d) A qualified community development entity may apply in a |
|
single application for and receive certification of qualified |
|
equity investments in more than one allocation category under |
|
Subsection (c). |
|
(e) Subject to Subsection (f), if a pending application |
|
cannot be fully certified due to the limit specified by Subsection |
|
(a) or (c), the comptroller shall certify the portion that can be |
|
certified. |
|
(f) The comptroller shall certify qualified equity |
|
investments in the order in which applications are received by the |
|
comptroller. Applications received on or before the application |
|
date provided under Section 231.101(b) are considered to have been |
|
received simultaneously on the application date. For applications |
|
that are complete and received on or before the application date |
|
provided under Section 231.101(b) and for which the total amounts |
|
requested cannot be certified because of the limit specified by |
|
Subsection (a) or (c), the comptroller shall certify qualified |
|
equity investments in each allocation category under Subsection (c) |
|
on a pro rata basis based on the ratio of the amount of qualified |
|
equity investments available in an allocation category to the total |
|
amount of qualified equity investments requested in that allocation |
|
category. |
|
Sec. 231.105. TRANSFER OF INVESTMENT AUTHORITY. A |
|
qualified community development entity whose application for |
|
certification of a qualified equity investment is approved under |
|
this subchapter may transfer all or a portion of its certified |
|
qualified equity investment authority to its controlling entity or |
|
to a qualified community development entity controlled by or under |
|
common control with the transferring entity, if the transferring |
|
entity: |
|
(1) provides the information required in the |
|
application under Section 231.101(c) with respect to the recipient |
|
of the transfer; and |
|
(2) notifies the comptroller of the transfer not later |
|
than the 30th day after the date of the transfer. |
|
Sec. 231.106. ISSUANCE OF QUALIFIED EQUITY INVESTMENT; FEE. |
|
(a) Not later than the 20th month after the date the qualified |
|
community development entity receives notice of certification, the |
|
entity or a recipient of a transfer under Section 231.105 shall |
|
issue the qualified equity investment and receive cash in the |
|
amount certified. |
|
(b) The qualified community development entity or a |
|
recipient of a transfer under Section 231.105 must provide the |
|
comptroller with evidence of the receipt of the cash investment not |
|
later than the 10th business day after the date the cash investment |
|
is received. |
|
(c) At the time the qualified community development entity |
|
or a recipient of a transfer under Section 231.105 issues the |
|
qualified equity investment, the qualified community development |
|
entity or transfer recipient shall pay to the comptroller a fee |
|
equal to 20 basis points, or 0.2 percent, of the amount issued. |
|
Fees collected under this subsection may be appropriated only to |
|
pay the cost of preparing a report under Section 231.302. |
|
Sec. 231.107. LAPSE OF CERTIFICATION. (a) If the qualified |
|
community development entity or a recipient of a transfer under |
|
Section 231.105 does not issue the qualified equity investment and |
|
receive the cash investment before the 20th month after the date the |
|
certification notice is received as required by Section 231.106, |
|
the certification lapses and the qualified community development |
|
entity or recipient of the transfer may not accept an equity |
|
investment or issue a long-term debt security as a qualified equity |
|
investment without reapplying to the comptroller for |
|
certification. |
|
(b) If a certification lapses under this section, the |
|
comptroller shall reissue the previously certified amount, giving |
|
preference to an applicant for reissuance of certification whose |
|
proposed amount for certification was previously certified in a |
|
reduced amount under Section 231.104. If more than one applicant |
|
for reissuance of certification had its proposed amount reduced, |
|
the comptroller shall reissue the certified amount to those |
|
applicants on a pro rata basis, subject to the limits specified by |
|
Section 231.104. |
|
(c) After reissuing certifications under Subsection (b), |
|
the comptroller shall reissue any certified amounts remaining to |
|
applicants in amounts determined by the comptroller, subject to the |
|
limits specified by Section 231.104. |
|
SUBCHAPTER D. RECAPTURE OF CREDIT |
|
Sec. 231.151. RECAPTURE. (a) Subject to Section 231.152, |
|
the comptroller shall recapture the amount of a credit claimed on a |
|
premium tax report filed under Chapter 221, 222, 223, 223A, or 224 |
|
from the investing entity if: |
|
(1) any amount of a federal tax credit available with |
|
respect to a qualified equity investment that is eligible for a |
|
credit under this chapter is recaptured under Section 45D, Internal |
|
Revenue Code, in which case the comptroller's recapture must be |
|
proportionate to the federal recapture with respect to the |
|
qualified equity investment; |
|
(2) the issuer redeems or makes principal repayment |
|
with respect to a qualified equity investment before the seventh |
|
anniversary of the date the qualified equity investment is issued, |
|
in which case the comptroller's recapture must be proportionate to |
|
the amount of the redemption or repayment with respect to the |
|
qualified equity investment; |
|
(3) the issuer fails to invest an amount equal to 85 |
|
percent of the purchase price of the qualified equity investment in |
|
qualified low-income community investments in this state not later |
|
than the 20th month after the date the qualified equity investment |
|
is issued, in which case the comptroller's recapture may not exceed |
|
the amount of tax credits associated with the portion of the |
|
purchase price received but not invested on the date of the |
|
recapture; or |
|
(4) the issuer fails to maintain an amount of |
|
investment equal to 85 percent of the purchase price of the |
|
qualified equity investment in qualified low-income community |
|
investments in this state until the last credit allowance date for |
|
the qualified equity investment, in which case the comptroller's |
|
recapture may not exceed the amount of tax credits associated with |
|
the portion of the purchase price received but not maintained in |
|
qualified low-income community investments on the date of |
|
recapture. |
|
(b) For purposes of this chapter, a qualified low-income |
|
community investment is considered held by an issuer even if the |
|
investment has been sold or repaid if the issuer reinvests an amount |
|
equal to the capital returned to or recovered by the issuer from the |
|
original investment, exclusive of any profits realized, in another |
|
qualified low-income community investment not later than the 12th |
|
month after the date the issuer receives the capital. |
|
(c) An issuer is not required to reinvest capital returned |
|
from a qualified low-income community investment after the sixth |
|
anniversary of the date the qualified equity investment whose |
|
proceeds were used to make the qualified low-income community |
|
investment was issued. The qualified low-income community |
|
investment is considered held by the issuer through the seventh |
|
anniversary of the date the qualified equity investment was issued. |
|
(d) Periodic amounts received during a calendar year as |
|
repayment of principal on a loan that is a qualified low-income |
|
community investment shall be treated as continuously invested in a |
|
qualified low-income community investment if the amounts are |
|
reinvested in one or more qualified low-income community |
|
investments not later than the last day of the following calendar |
|
year. |
|
(e) After the seventh anniversary of the date a qualified |
|
equity investment is issued, the qualified community development |
|
entity may request that the comptroller certify that tax credits |
|
associated with the qualified equity investment are not subject to |
|
recapture under this section. |
|
(f) Not later than the 60th day after the date the |
|
comptroller receives a request under Subsection (e), the |
|
comptroller shall: |
|
(1) certify in writing to the qualified community |
|
development entity that tax credits associated with the qualified |
|
equity investment are not subject to recapture and that the |
|
qualified community development entity has satisfied all the |
|
requirements of this chapter; or |
|
(2) notify the qualified community development entity |
|
that tax credits associated with the qualified equity investment |
|
are subject to recapture and that the qualified community |
|
development entity has not satisfied the requirements of this |
|
chapter and shall provide a written explanation of the reason for |
|
that determination. |
|
(g) After the comptroller certifies under Subsection (f)(1) |
|
that tax credits associated with a qualified equity investment are |
|
not subject to recapture: |
|
(1) the comptroller may not recapture any tax credits |
|
associated with that qualified equity investment; and |
|
(2) the qualified community development entity is not |
|
subject to regulation by the comptroller or to the reporting |
|
requirements under Section 231.301 in connection with that |
|
qualified equity investment. |
|
Sec. 231.152. NOTICE OF NONCOMPLIANCE. (a) The |
|
comptroller shall notify a qualified community development entity |
|
and an investing entity that has claimed a credit on a report if the |
|
credit is subject to recapture under Section 231.151. |
|
(b) The comptroller may not recapture a credit under this |
|
subchapter if the qualified community development entity cures the |
|
noncompliance described by Section 231.151 before the 90th day |
|
after the date the qualified community development entity receives |
|
notice under Subsection (a). |
|
SUBCHAPTER E. SECURITY FOR PERFORMANCE |
|
Sec. 231.201. SECURITY REQUIRED. (a) Not later than the |
|
14th day after the date a qualified equity investment is certified |
|
under Subchapter C, the qualified community development entity that |
|
received investment authority for the qualified equity investment |
|
must deposit $500,000 with the comptroller as a refundable |
|
performance deposit to be deposited as required by Section 231.204. |
|
(b) This section applies regardless of whether the |
|
investment authority is for a rural allocation, a Texas education |
|
allocation, a Texas seaport allocation, or a statewide low-income |
|
community allocation. |
|
Sec. 231.202. FAILURE TO PROVIDE SECURITY: LOSS OF |
|
CERTIFICATION. The comptroller shall revoke the certification of |
|
the qualified equity investment of a qualified community |
|
development entity that fails to make a deposit under Section |
|
231.201. |
|
Sec. 231.203. FORFEITURE OF SECURITY. (a) A qualified |
|
community development entity that makes a performance deposit under |
|
Section 231.201 forfeits the deposit in its entirety if: |
|
(1) the qualified community development entity or any |
|
qualified community development entity to which a transfer is made |
|
under Section 231.105 fails to issue the total amount of qualified |
|
equity investments certified by the comptroller and receive cash in |
|
the amount certified under Section 231.103 not later than the date |
|
specified by Section 231.106; or |
|
(2) subject to Subsection (b), the qualified community |
|
development entity or a qualified community development entity to |
|
which a transfer is made under Section 231.105 that issues a |
|
qualified equity investment certified under Section 231.103 fails |
|
to make or maintain the investment required under Sections |
|
231.151(a)(3) and (4) to avoid recapture of a credit claimed in |
|
connection with the qualified equity investment. |
|
(b) A deposit is not subject to forfeiture under Subsection |
|
(a)(2) if the qualified community development entity cures the |
|
noncompliance before the 90th day after the date the qualified |
|
community development entity receives notice under Subsection (c). |
|
(c) The comptroller shall notify a qualified community |
|
development entity that made a deposit under Section 231.201 in |
|
writing if the deposit is subject to forfeiture under this section. |
|
Sec. 231.204. NEW MARKETS PERFORMANCE GUARANTEE FUND. (a) |
|
The new markets performance guarantee fund is an interest-bearing |
|
fund outside the state treasury with the comptroller. The fund |
|
consists of money the comptroller deposits under Subsection (b). |
|
The comptroller shall administer the fund. |
|
(b) The comptroller shall deposit a performance deposit |
|
made under Section 231.201 to the credit of the new markets |
|
performance guarantee fund. The deposit must remain on deposit with |
|
the fund until the comptroller determines that: |
|
(1) the qualified community development entity has |
|
complied with the provisions of this chapter; or |
|
(2) the deposit has been forfeited and will be |
|
deposited in accordance with Section 231.206. |
|
Sec. 231.205. RELEASE OF SECURITY. (a) Not earlier than |
|
the 30th day after the date the requirements that must be satisfied |
|
to avoid forfeiture of a deposit as described by Section 231.203 are |
|
satisfied, a qualified community development entity that made the |
|
deposit may request a refund of the deposit from the comptroller. |
|
(b) The comptroller shall refund the deposit or, if |
|
applicable, give notice of noncompliance as described by Section |
|
231.203 not later than the 30th day after the date of receiving a |
|
request under Subsection (a). |
|
Sec. 231.206. DEPOSIT OF FORFEITED SECURITY. The |
|
comptroller shall deposit in the general revenue fund a deposit |
|
forfeited under Section 231.203. |
|
SUBCHAPTER F. EVALUATION OF BUSINESS BY COMPTROLLER |
|
Sec. 231.251. EVALUATION REQUIRED. (a) Except as provided |
|
by Subsection (c), a qualified community development entity or a |
|
recipient of a transfer under Section 231.105 must, before making |
|
an investment in a business, request a written opinion from the |
|
comptroller as to whether: |
|
(1) the business in which the qualified community |
|
development entity proposes to invest would qualify as a qualified |
|
active low-income community business under Section 231.003; and |
|
(2) the location where the qualified community |
|
development entity proposes to invest would meet the location |
|
requirements for a rural allocation, a Texas education allocation, |
|
or a Texas seaport allocation, as applicable. |
|
(b) Not later than the 10th business day after the date of |
|
the receipt of a request under Subsection (a), the comptroller |
|
shall make the requested determinations and issue the written |
|
opinion, including explanations for the determinations. |
|
(c) A qualified community development entity or a recipient |
|
of a transfer under Section 231.105 may, but is not required to, |
|
request a written opinion under Subsection (a) before making an |
|
investment in a business if the qualified community development |
|
entity or transfer recipient concurrently makes a federal qualified |
|
low-income community investment in the business. |
|
Sec. 231.252. CONSIDERATION OF FEDERAL TAX LAWS. In |
|
issuing a written opinion and making other determinations under |
|
this chapter, the comptroller shall consider Section 45D, Internal |
|
Revenue Code, and the federal tax regulations issued under that |
|
code, to the extent that those provisions are applicable. |
|
SUBCHAPTER G. REPORTING |
|
Sec. 231.301. REPORT TO COMPTROLLER. (a) Except as |
|
provided by this subsection, a qualified community development |
|
entity that issues a qualified equity investment under Section |
|
231.106 shall submit an annual report to the comptroller not later |
|
than the fifth business day after the anniversary of a credit |
|
allowance date applicable to the investment. The qualified |
|
community development entity is not required to submit any report |
|
under this subsection after the annual report following the final |
|
credit allowance date. |
|
(b) The report must: |
|
(1) provide evidence that the qualified community |
|
development entity has made and maintained the investment required |
|
under Sections 231.151(a)(3) and (4) to avoid recapture of a credit |
|
claimed in connection with the qualified equity investment; |
|
(2) include one or more bank statements for the |
|
qualified community development entity that reflect each qualified |
|
low-income community investment made by the qualified community |
|
development entity in connection with the qualified equity |
|
investment; |
|
(3) state the name, location, and industry code of |
|
each qualified active low-income community business receiving a |
|
qualified low-income community investment in connection with the |
|
qualified equity investment; |
|
(4) state the number of employment positions created |
|
and retained as a result of each qualified low-income community |
|
investment made in connection with the qualified equity investment; |
|
(5) state whether the qualified community development |
|
entity has been subject to a recapture of any amount of a federal |
|
tax credit available under Section 45D, Internal Revenue Code, with |
|
respect to the qualified equity investment; and |
|
(6) include a copy of the most recent annual report |
|
submitted by the qualified community development entity to the |
|
United States Department of the Treasury regarding Section 45D, |
|
Internal Revenue Code. |
|
(c) A qualified community development entity that fails to |
|
submit a report to the comptroller within the time prescribed by |
|
Subsection (a) shall pay to the comptroller a penalty equal to the |
|
sum of: |
|
(1) $25,000; and |
|
(2) $5,000 for each day the report is not submitted |
|
after the date the report is due under Subsection (a). |
|
Sec. 231.302. COMPTROLLER'S REPORT TO LEGISLATURE. (a) |
|
The comptroller shall contract with an independent researcher at a |
|
center for education research established under Section 1.005, |
|
Education Code, to prepare a biennial report with respect to the |
|
implementation of this chapter. |
|
(b) The report must include: |
|
(1) the number of qualified community development |
|
entities holding certified qualified equity investments; |
|
(2) the amount of qualified equity investments of each |
|
qualified community development entity; |
|
(3) the investments each qualified community |
|
development entity has made in qualified active low-income |
|
community businesses as of the most recent annual report submitted |
|
to the comptroller by the qualified community development entity; |
|
(4) the total amount of credits earned under this |
|
chapter; |
|
(5) the performance of each qualified community |
|
development entity with respect to reporting requirements imposed |
|
by this chapter; |
|
(6) with respect to each qualified active low-income |
|
community business in which a qualified community development |
|
entity has invested: |
|
(A) the classification of the qualified active |
|
low-income community business according to the industrial sector |
|
and the size of the business; |
|
(B) the total number of jobs created by the |
|
qualified low-income community investment and the average wages |
|
paid for the jobs; and |
|
(C) the total number of jobs retained as a result |
|
of the qualified low-income community investment and the average |
|
wages paid for the jobs; and |
|
(7) an analysis of the effect implementation of this |
|
chapter has had during the period covered by the report on: |
|
(A) economic activity in this state; and |
|
(B) state tax revenue. |
|
(c) The comptroller shall file the report with the governor, |
|
the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of |
|
representatives not later than December 15 of each even-numbered |
|
year. |
|
SECTION 2. (a) As soon as practicable after the effective |
|
date of this Act, the comptroller of public accounts shall adopt |
|
rules necessary to implement the provisions of Chapter 231, |
|
Insurance Code, as added by this Act. |
|
(b) The comptroller of public accounts shall provide an |
|
initial application date under Section 231.101(b), Insurance Code, |
|
as added by this Act, of October 2, 2017. |
|
SECTION 3. Subchapter B, Chapter 231, Insurance Code, as |
|
added by this Act, applies only to a tax report originally due on or |
|
after January 1, 2018. |
|
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |