|
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
relating to rural and opportunity funds and insurance tax credits |
|
for certain investments in those funds; imposing a monetary |
|
penalty; authorizing fees. |
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
SECTION 1. Subtitle F, Title 4, Government Code, is amended |
|
by adding Chapter 487A to read as follows: |
|
CHAPTER 487A. RURAL AND OPPORTUNITY FUNDS |
|
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS |
|
Sec. 487A.0001. GENERAL DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
|
(1) "Closing date" means the date a rural and |
|
opportunity fund has collected all of the amounts described by |
|
Section 487A.0056(a)(1). |
|
(2) "Growth investment" means any capital or equity |
|
investment by a rural and opportunity fund in a targeted small |
|
business or any loan by a rural and opportunity fund to a targeted |
|
small business with a stated maturity date of at least one year |
|
after the date of issuance. |
|
(3) "Office" means the Texas Economic Development and |
|
Tourism Office. |
|
(4) "Qualified area" means: |
|
(A) a rural community as defined by Section |
|
12.046, Agriculture Code, that is not a geographic area delineated |
|
as urbanized by the United States Census Bureau; or |
|
(B) a qualified opportunity zone as defined by |
|
Section 1400Z-1, Internal Revenue Code of 1986. |
|
(5) "Rural and opportunity fund" means an entity |
|
approved by the office as a rural and opportunity fund. |
|
Sec. 487A.0002. DEFINITION: AFFILIATE. (a) In this |
|
chapter, "affiliate" means an entity that directly or indirectly |
|
through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by, or |
|
is under common control with another entity. |
|
(b) For purposes of Subsection (a), an entity is controlled |
|
by another entity if the controlling entity: |
|
(1) holds, directly or indirectly, the majority voting |
|
or ownership interest in the controlled entity; or |
|
(2) has control over the day-to-day operations of the |
|
controlled entity by contract or by law. |
|
Sec. 487A.0003. DEFINITION: CREDIT-ELIGIBLE CAPITAL |
|
CONTRIBUTION. (a) In this chapter and subject to Subsection (b), |
|
"credit-eligible capital contribution" means an investment of cash |
|
that equals the amount specified on a tax credit certificate issued |
|
by the office under Section 487A.0055(2) made by an entity that is |
|
subject to state insurance tax liability, as defined by Section |
|
232.0001, Insurance Code. |
|
(b) An investment made by an entity qualifies as a |
|
credit-eligible capital contribution only if the entity making the |
|
investment receives in exchange for the investment: |
|
(1) an equity interest in the rural and opportunity |
|
fund; or |
|
(2) at par value or premium, a debt instrument that has |
|
a maturity date of at least five years from the closing date and a |
|
repayment schedule that is no faster than level principal |
|
amortization over five years. |
|
Sec. 487A.0004. DEFINITION: INVESTMENT AUTHORITY. (a) In |
|
this chapter, "investment authority" means the amount stated on the |
|
notice issued under Section 487A.0055(1) approving the rural and |
|
opportunity fund. |
|
(b) At least 65 percent of a rural and opportunity fund's |
|
investment authority must consist of credit-eligible capital |
|
contributions. |
|
Sec. 487A.0005. DEFINITION: JOBS CREATED. (a) In this |
|
chapter, "jobs created" means, with respect to a targeted small |
|
business, employment positions that are created by the targeted |
|
small business, are located in this state, require at least 35 hours |
|
of work each week, and were not located in this state at the time of |
|
the initial growth investment in the targeted small business. |
|
(b) The number of jobs created by a targeted small business |
|
is calculated each year by subtracting the number of employment |
|
positions in this state at the targeted small business at the time |
|
of the initial growth investment in the targeted small business |
|
from the monthly average of those employment positions for that |
|
year. If the number calculated under this subsection is less than |
|
zero, the number shall be reported as zero. |
|
(c) The monthly average of employment positions for a year |
|
is calculated by adding together the number of employment positions |
|
existing on the last day of each month of the year and dividing by |
|
12. |
|
Sec. 487A.0006. DEFINITION: JOBS RETAINED. (a) In this |
|
chapter, "jobs retained" means, with respect to a targeted small |
|
business, employment positions: |
|
(1) located in this state requiring at least 35 hours |
|
of work each week that existed before the initial growth investment |
|
in the targeted small business; and |
|
(2) that would have been lost or moved out of this |
|
state had a growth investment in the targeted small business not |
|
been made, as certified in writing by an executive officer of the |
|
targeted small business to the rural and opportunity fund. |
|
(b) The number of jobs retained by a targeted small business |
|
is calculated each year based on the monthly average of employment |
|
positions for that year. |
|
(c) The monthly average of employment positions for a year |
|
is calculated by adding together the number of employment positions |
|
existing on the last day of each month of the year and dividing by |
|
12. |
|
(d) The reported number of jobs retained for a year may not |
|
exceed the number reported on the initial report under Section |
|
487A.0155. The rural and opportunity fund shall reduce the number |
|
of jobs retained for a year if employment at the targeted small |
|
business drops below the number reported on the initial report. |
|
Sec. 487A.0007. DEFINITION: TARGETED SMALL BUSINESS. (a) |
|
In this chapter, "targeted small business" means a business that, |
|
at the time of the initial growth investment in the business: |
|
(1) had fewer than 250 employees; and |
|
(2) has its principal business operations located in |
|
one or more qualified areas in this state. |
|
(b) For purposes of Subsection (a)(2), the principal |
|
business operations of a business are located at a place where: |
|
(1) at least 60 percent of the business's employees |
|
work; or |
|
(2) employees who are paid at least 60 percent of the |
|
business's payroll work. |
|
(c) An out-of-state business that agrees to relocate or hire |
|
new employees using the proceeds of a growth investment to |
|
establish principal business operations in a qualified area in this |
|
state qualifies as a targeted small business if the business |
|
satisfies the requirements of: |
|
(1) Subsection (a)(1) at the time of the initial |
|
growth investment in the business; and |
|
(2) Subsection (a)(2) not later than the 180th day |
|
after receiving the initial growth investment or a later date |
|
agreed to by the office. |
|
Sec. 487A.0008. RULES. The office shall adopt rules |
|
necessary to implement this chapter. |
|
SUBCHAPTER B. APPROVAL OF RURAL AND OPPORTUNITY FUNDS |
|
Sec. 487A.0051. APPLICATION. (a) Subject to Section |
|
487A.0202, the office shall accept applications from entities |
|
seeking approval as rural and opportunity funds. |
|
(b) An application must include: |
|
(1) the total investment authority sought by the |
|
applicant under the applicant's business plan; |
|
(2) evidence sufficient to prove to the office's |
|
satisfaction that, as of the date the applicant submits the |
|
application: |
|
(A) the applicant or affiliates of the applicant |
|
have invested, in the aggregate, at least $100 million in nonpublic |
|
companies located in: |
|
(i) a municipality with a population of |
|
less than 50,000, regardless of whether the municipality is located |
|
inside or outside this state; |
|
(ii) a county with a population of less than |
|
200,000, regardless of whether the county is located inside or |
|
outside this state; or |
|
(iii) a census tract designated as a |
|
qualified opportunity zone in accordance with Section 1400Z-1, |
|
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, regardless of when the designation |
|
is made and regardless of whether the census tract is located inside |
|
or outside this state; and |
|
(B) at least one principal in a rural business |
|
investment company licensed under 7 U.S.C. Section 2009cc et seq. |
|
or a small business investment company licensed under 15 U.S.C. |
|
Section 681 is, and has been for at least four years, an officer or |
|
employee of the applicant or of an affiliate of the applicant on the |
|
date the application is submitted; |
|
(3) a copy of the rural business investment company |
|
license or small business investment company license described by |
|
Subdivision (2)(B); |
|
(4) an estimate of the number of jobs created and jobs |
|
retained as a result of the applicant's growth investments; |
|
(5) a business plan that includes a revenue impact |
|
assessment that: |
|
(A) projects state and local tax revenue to be |
|
generated by the applicant's proposed growth investments; and |
|
(B) is prepared by a nationally recognized third |
|
party independent economic forecasting firm using a dynamic |
|
economic forecasting model that analyzes the applicant's business |
|
plan for the 10-year period following the date the applicant |
|
submits the application; |
|
(6) a signed affidavit from each committed investor |
|
stating the amount of credit-eligible capital contributions the |
|
investor commits to making; and |
|
(7) a nonrefundable application fee of $5,000. |
|
Sec. 487A.0052. DECISION ON APPLICATION. (a) The office |
|
shall make a determination on each application not later than the |
|
30th day after the date the office receives the application. The |
|
office shall make application determinations in the order in which |
|
applications are received and shall consider applications received |
|
on the same day to be received simultaneously. |
|
(b) The office may approve investment authority under this |
|
chapter in amounts that would allow not more than $35 million in tax |
|
credits to be claimed under Section 232.0053, Insurance Code, in |
|
any calendar year, excluding any credit carryforwards under Section |
|
232.0054, Insurance Code. |
|
(c) If a request for investment authority exceeds the |
|
limitation under Subsection (b), the office shall reduce the |
|
investment authority and the credit-eligible capital contributions |
|
for that application as necessary to avoid exceeding the limit. If |
|
multiple applications received on the same day request a combined |
|
investment authority that exceeds the limit under Subsection (b), |
|
the office shall proportionally reduce the investment authority and |
|
the credit-eligible capital contributions for those applications |
|
as necessary to avoid exceeding the limit. The office may not |
|
reduce an applicant's investment authority for any reason other |
|
than as authorized by this subsection. |
|
Sec. 487A.0053. GROUNDS FOR DENIAL. The office may deny an |
|
application under this subchapter only if: |
|
(1) the application is incomplete or the application |
|
fee is not paid in full; |
|
(2) the applicant fails to satisfy the requirements of |
|
Section 487A.0051(b)(2); |
|
(3) the revenue impact assessment submitted under |
|
Section 487A.0051(b)(5) does not demonstrate that the applicant's |
|
business plan will result in a positive economic impact on combined |
|
state and local revenue during the 10-year period covered by the |
|
assessment that exceeds the cumulative amount of tax credits that |
|
would be issued to the applicant's investors under Chapter 232, |
|
Insurance Code, if the application were approved; |
|
(4) the credit-eligible capital contributions |
|
described in affidavits submitted under Section 487A.0051(b)(6) do |
|
not equal at least 65 percent of the total amount of investment |
|
authority sought under the applicant's business plan; or |
|
(5) the office has already approved the maximum amount |
|
of investment authority allowed under Section 487A.0052(b). |
|
Sec. 487A.0054. SUBMISSION OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION |
|
FOLLOWING DENIAL. (a) If the office denies an application the |
|
applicant may, not later than the 15th day after the date the office |
|
provides notice of denial, provide additional information to the |
|
office to complete, clarify, or cure defects in the application |
|
identified by the office. |
|
(b) If the applicant completes, clarifies, or cures the |
|
defects in its application during the period prescribed by |
|
Subsection (a), the application is considered complete as of the |
|
original submission date. |
|
(c) If the applicant fails to complete, clarify, or cure the |
|
defects in its application during the period prescribed by |
|
Subsection (a), the application is finally denied. An applicant |
|
who wishes to reapply must resubmit an application in full with a |
|
new submission date. |
|
(d) The office shall review and reconsider an application |
|
described by Subsection (a) for which the applicant provides |
|
additional information not later than the 30th day after the date |
|
the applicant provides the information. The office shall consider |
|
that application before any pending applications submitted after |
|
the date that application was originally submitted. |
|
(e) This section does not apply to an application denied as |
|
a result of the applicant's failure to submit with the application |
|
affidavits required by Section 487A.0051(b)(6). |
|
Sec. 487A.0055. APPROVAL BY OFFICE. On approval of an |
|
application, the office shall provide: |
|
(1) written notice to the applicant of the applicant's |
|
approval as a rural and opportunity fund, including the amount of |
|
the fund's investment authority; and |
|
(2) a tax credit certificate to each investor whose |
|
affidavit was included in the application and include on the |
|
certificate the amount of the investor's credit-eligible capital |
|
contribution. |
|
Sec. 487A.0056. DUTIES OF FUND FOLLOWING APPROVAL. (a) A |
|
rural and opportunity fund shall: |
|
(1) not later than the 60th day after the date the fund |
|
receives the approval notice under Section 487A.0055: |
|
(A) collect the credit-eligible capital |
|
contribution from each investor issued a tax credit certificate |
|
under Section 487A.0055; and |
|
(B) subject to Subsection (b), collect one or |
|
more investments of cash that, when added to the contributions |
|
collected under Paragraph (A), equal the fund's investment |
|
authority; and |
|
(2) not later than the 65th day after the date the fund |
|
receives the approval notice under Section 487A.0055, send to the |
|
office documentation sufficient to prove that the fund has |
|
collected the amounts described in Subdivision (1). |
|
(b) At least 10 percent of the rural and opportunity fund's |
|
investment authority must consist of equity investments |
|
contributed directly or indirectly by affiliates of the fund, |
|
including employees, officers, and directors of those affiliates. |
|
Sec. 487A.0057. LAPSE OF APPROVAL. (a) If a rural and |
|
opportunity fund fails to comply with the requirements of Section |
|
487A.0056, the fund's approval lapses and the corresponding |
|
investment authority described by Section 487A.0056(a)(1) does not |
|
count toward the limit prescribed by Section 487A.0052(b). |
|
(b) The office shall first award lapsed investment |
|
authority pro rata to each rural and opportunity fund whose |
|
requested investment authority was reduced under Section |
|
487A.0052(c). The rural and opportunity fund may allocate the |
|
investment authority awarded under this subsection to the fund's |
|
investors in the fund's discretion. The office may award any |
|
remaining investment authority to new applicants. |
|
Sec. 487A.0058. DISPOSITION OF APPLICATION FEES. |
|
Application fees submitted to the office under Section |
|
487A.0051(b)(7) shall be deposited to the credit of the general |
|
revenue fund and may be appropriated only to the office for the |
|
purpose of administering this chapter. |
|
SUBCHAPTER C. REVOCATION OF TAX CREDIT CERTIFICATE |
|
Sec. 487A.0101. GROUNDS FOR REVOCATION. (a) The office |
|
shall revoke a tax credit certificate issued under Subchapter B in |
|
connection with an investment in a rural and opportunity fund if, |
|
before the fund exits the program under Section 487A.0151, the |
|
fund: |
|
(1) subject to Subsection (b), fails to invest at |
|
least 60 percent of the fund's investment authority in growth |
|
investments in this state on or before the second anniversary of the |
|
closing date and 100 percent of the fund's investment authority in |
|
growth investments in this state on or before the third anniversary |
|
of the closing date; |
|
(2) subject to Subsection (c) and after making the |
|
investments necessary to avoid revocation under Subdivision (1), |
|
fails to maintain growth investments equal to 100 percent of the |
|
fund's investment authority until the sixth anniversary of the |
|
closing date; |
|
(3) makes a distribution or payment that results in |
|
the fund having less than 100 percent of its investment authority |
|
invested in growth investments in this state or available for |
|
investment in growth investments and held in cash or marketable |
|
securities; or |
|
(4) subject to Subsection (d), makes a growth |
|
investment in a targeted small business that directly or indirectly |
|
through an affiliate owns, has the right to acquire an ownership |
|
interest in, makes a loan to, or makes an investment in the fund, an |
|
affiliate of the fund, or an investor in the fund. |
|
(b) For purposes of Subsection (a)(1): |
|
(1) the amount of growth investments that a rural and |
|
opportunity fund may count with respect to a particular targeted |
|
small business, including any amount invested in an affiliate of |
|
the targeted small business, may not exceed the greater of $5 |
|
million or 20 percent of the fund's investment authority; and |
|
(2) at least 67 percent of the required investments |
|
must be growth investments in targeted small businesses whose |
|
principal business operations are located in, or are relocated to, |
|
one or more qualified areas described by Section 487A.0001(4)(A). |
|
(c) For purposes of Subsection (a)(2): |
|
(1) the amount of growth investments that a rural and |
|
opportunity fund may count with respect to a particular targeted |
|
small business, including any amount invested in an affiliate of |
|
the targeted small business, may not exceed the greater of $5 |
|
million or 20 percent of the fund's investment authority; |
|
(2) an investment that is sold or repaid is considered |
|
to be maintained if the rural and opportunity fund reinvests an |
|
amount equal to the capital returned or recovered by the fund from |
|
the original investment, excluding any profit realized, in another |
|
growth investment in this state on or before the first anniversary |
|
of the date the capital is returned or recovered; and |
|
(3) an amount received periodically by a rural and |
|
opportunity fund is considered to be continually invested in growth |
|
investments if that amount is reinvested in one or more growth |
|
investments by the end of the calendar year following the year of |
|
receipt. |
|
(d) Subsection (a)(4) does not apply to investments in |
|
publicly traded securities by a targeted small business or an owner |
|
or affiliate of the targeted small business. For purposes of |
|
Subsection (a)(4), a rural and opportunity fund is not considered |
|
an affiliate of a targeted small business solely as a result of the |
|
fund's growth investment in the targeted small business. |
|
(e) The office shall: |
|
(1) notify the comptroller when the office revokes a |
|
tax credit certificate; and |
|
(2) on request, provide the comptroller with lists of |
|
valid and revoked tax credit certificates. |
|
Sec. 487A.0102. OPPORTUNITY TO CORRECT VIOLATION. (a) |
|
Before revoking a tax credit certificate under this subchapter, the |
|
office shall notify the rural and opportunity fund of the reasons |
|
for the pending revocation. |
|
(b) The rural and opportunity fund may, not later than the |
|
90th day after the date the notice is received, correct any |
|
violation outlined in the notice to the satisfaction of the office |
|
and avoid revocation of the tax credit certificate. |
|
Sec. 487A.0103. ALLOCATION OF REVOKED INVESTMENT |
|
AUTHORITY. (a) If a tax credit certificate is revoked under this |
|
subchapter, the associated investment authority does not count |
|
toward the limit on total investment authority described in Section |
|
487A.0052(b). |
|
(b) The office shall first award revoked investment |
|
authority pro rata to each rural and opportunity fund whose |
|
requested investment authority was reduced under Section |
|
487A.0052(c). The office may award any remaining investment |
|
authority to new applicants. |
|
SUBCHAPTER D. CERTAIN FUND OPERATIONS |
|
Sec. 487A.0151. APPLICATION TO EXIT PROGRAM. (a) On or |
|
after the sixth anniversary of the closing date, a rural and |
|
opportunity fund may apply to the office to exit the program and no |
|
longer be subject to regulation under this chapter. |
|
(b) The office shall respond to the application not later |
|
than the 30th day after receipt. |
|
(c) A rural and opportunity fund is eligible to exit the |
|
program under this section if no tax credit certificates related to |
|
investments in the fund have been revoked and the fund has not |
|
received any revocation notice that has not been corrected under |
|
Section 487A.0102. |
|
(d) The office may not unreasonably deny an application |
|
under this section. The office shall give the rural and opportunity |
|
fund notice of a denial and include in the notice the reasons for |
|
the denial. |
|
Sec. 487A.0152. NO REVOCATION FOLLOWING EXIT. The office |
|
may not revoke a tax credit certificate related to an investment in |
|
a rural and opportunity fund after the fund's exit from the program. |
|
Sec. 487A.0153. PENALTY FOR CERTAIN DISTRIBUTIONS. (a) |
|
For purposes of this section: |
|
(1) the "actual number of jobs created and retained" |
|
is the number of jobs created and jobs retained as a result of all of |
|
a rural and opportunity fund's current and former growth |
|
investments, as reported on the fund's reports submitted under |
|
Section 487A.0155; and |
|
(2) the "estimated number of jobs created and |
|
retained" is the estimated number of jobs created and jobs retained |
|
included in a rural and opportunity fund's application under |
|
Section 487A.0051(b)(4) reduced, if applicable, by the same |
|
percentage as the total investment authority sought under the |
|
fund's business plan submitted under Section 487A.0051(b)(1) was |
|
reduced under Section 487A.0052(c). |
|
(b) A rural and opportunity fund is subject to a penalty in |
|
the amount provided by Subsection (c) if: |
|
(1) the fund authorizes a distribution to the fund's |
|
equity holders in an amount that, when added to all previous |
|
distributions to the fund's equity holders and any previous |
|
penalties under this section, exceeds the fund's investment |
|
authority; and |
|
(2) the fund's actual number of jobs created and |
|
retained is less than the fund's estimated number of jobs created |
|
and retained. |
|
(c) The amount of the penalty is equal to the amount of the |
|
authorized distribution multiplied by a fraction: |
|
(1) the numerator of which is the fund's estimated |
|
number of jobs created and retained less the fund's actual number of |
|
jobs created and retained; and |
|
(2) the denominator of which is the fund's estimated |
|
number of jobs created and retained. |
|
(d) Before making a distribution to the fund's equity |
|
holders, the fund shall deduct the amount of the penalty from the |
|
amount otherwise authorized to be distributed to the equity holders |
|
and pay the penalty to the office. |
|
(e) The office shall deposit penalties received under |
|
Subsection (d) in the general revenue fund. |
|
Sec. 487A.0154. EVALUATION OF PROPOSED INVESTMENT. (a) A |
|
rural and opportunity fund, before making a growth investment, may |
|
request from the office a written opinion as to whether the business |
|
in which the fund proposes to invest qualifies as a targeted small |
|
business. |
|
(b) Not later than the 15th business day after receiving the |
|
request, the office shall notify the rural and opportunity fund of |
|
its determination. |
|
(c) If the office fails to notify the rural and opportunity |
|
fund of its determination on or before the 15th business day after |
|
receiving the request, the business in which the fund proposes to |
|
invest is considered to be a targeted small business for purposes of |
|
this chapter. |
|
Sec. 487A.0155. ANNUAL REPORT. (a) A rural and opportunity |
|
fund shall submit a report to the office on or before the fifth |
|
business day after each anniversary of the closing date until the |
|
fund has exited the program under Section 487A.0151. |
|
(b) The report must document the rural and opportunity |
|
fund's growth investments and include: |
|
(1) a bank statement showing each growth investment; |
|
(2) the name, location, and industry of each business |
|
receiving a growth investment, including either the determination |
|
notice described by Section 487A.0154 or evidence that the business |
|
qualified as a targeted small business at the time the investment |
|
was made; |
|
(3) the number of jobs created and jobs retained in the |
|
preceding calendar year as a result of the fund's growth |
|
investments as of the last day of that period; |
|
(4) the average annual salary of the jobs described by |
|
Subdivision (3) and evidence of any other monetary or social |
|
benefit to this state as a result of those jobs; and |
|
(5) any other information the office requires. |
|
(c) A rural and opportunity fund may, but is not required |
|
to, include in any report submitted under this section information |
|
about the number of jobs created and jobs retained with respect to a |
|
former growth investment that the fund has exited. |
|
SUBCHAPTER E. REPORT; CONDITIONS FOR ACCEPTANCE OF CERTAIN |
|
APPLICATIONS |
|
Sec. 487A.0201. REPORT. (a) Before the beginning of the |
|
90th Legislature, Regular Session, the office shall submit to the |
|
lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, |
|
and each member of the legislature a report on the economic benefits |
|
of this chapter. |
|
(b) The report must include an assessment of: |
|
(1) the aggregate effects of growth investments made |
|
under this chapter, including: |
|
(A) the total number of jobs created by all |
|
targeted small businesses, including direct jobs, indirect jobs, |
|
and induced jobs; |
|
(B) the total number of jobs retained by all |
|
targeted small businesses; |
|
(C) the total amount of wages paid in connection |
|
with jobs created and jobs retained by all targeted small |
|
businesses; |
|
(D) the median wage of jobs created and jobs |
|
retained by all targeted small businesses; |
|
(E) the total effect on personal income in this |
|
state, including direct and indirect effects; |
|
(F) the total amount of growth investments; |
|
(G) the gross domestic product of this state |
|
attributable to targeted small businesses; |
|
(H) the total taxable value of property of |
|
targeted small businesses in this state according to tax appraisal |
|
rolls; and |
|
(I) the total positive fiscal effect on this |
|
state and local governments in this state; |
|
(2) the benefits to this state from cost savings |
|
attributable to jobs created and jobs retained by all targeted |
|
small businesses, including: |
|
(A) Medicaid savings, with savings to this state |
|
and the federal government listed separately; |
|
(B) food assistance program savings; |
|
(C) unemployment insurance payment savings; and |
|
(D) any other savings that can be reasonably |
|
estimated using data available to the office in connection with |
|
some or all targeted small businesses; and |
|
(3) the total positive fiscal effect on this state and |
|
local governments in this state of the benefits described by |
|
Subdivision (2). |
|
(c) The report may not include information that is |
|
confidential by law. |
|
(d) In preparing the portion of the report described by |
|
Subsection (b)(1), the office shall use standard, nationally |
|
recognized economic estimation techniques, including economic |
|
multipliers. |
|
(e) The portion of the report described by Subsection (b)(1) |
|
must be based on data submitted to the office by each rural and |
|
opportunity fund. |
|
Sec. 487A.0202. CONDITIONS FOR ACCEPTANCE OF CERTAIN |
|
APPLICATIONS. (a) The office may not accept applications under |
|
Section 487A.0051 after January 1, 2022, unless the total positive |
|
fiscal effects described by Section 487A.0201(b) exceed the sum of |
|
all tax credit certificates issued by the office under Section |
|
487A.0055(2). |
|
(b) The office shall resume accepting applications under |
|
Section 487A.0051 when the condition provided by Subsection (a) is |
|
satisfied. |
|
SECTION 2. Subtitle B, Title 3, Insurance Code, is amended |
|
by adding Chapter 232 to read as follows: |
|
CHAPTER 232. TAX CREDIT FOR INVESTMENT IN RURAL AND OPPORTUNITY |
|
FUND |
|
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS |
|
Sec. 232.0001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
|
(1) "Affiliate" has the meaning assigned by Section |
|
487A.0002, Government Code. |
|
(2) "Closing date" has the meaning assigned by Section |
|
487A.0001, Government Code. |
|
(3) "State insurance tax liability" means any tax |
|
liability incurred under Chapter 221, 222, 223, 223A, 224, 225, |
|
226, or 281. |
|
Sec. 232.0002. RULES. The comptroller shall adopt rules |
|
necessary to implement this chapter. |
|
SUBCHAPTER B. TAX CREDIT |
|
Sec. 232.0051. ELIGIBILITY FOR CREDIT. An entity is |
|
eligible for a credit against the entity's state insurance tax |
|
liability in the amount and under the conditions and limitations |
|
provided by this chapter. |
|
Sec. 232.0052. QUALIFICATION. An entity is eligible for a |
|
credit for a tax year if: |
|
(1) the entity holds a tax credit certificate issued |
|
under Section 487A.0055, Government Code; and |
|
(2) the third, fourth, fifth, or sixth anniversary of |
|
the closing date in connection with which the certificate was |
|
issued occurs during the tax year. |
|
Sec. 232.0053. AMOUNT OF CREDIT; LIMITATION. (a) The |
|
amount of credit for a tax year is equal to 25 percent of the amount |
|
of the credit-eligible capital contribution stated on the tax |
|
credit certificate described by Section 232.0052. |
|
(b) The total credit claimed for a tax year, including the |
|
amount of any carryforward under Section 232.0054, may not exceed |
|
the amount of state insurance tax liability due for the entity for |
|
the tax year after applying all other applicable tax credits. |
|
(c) Credits may be applied to the entity's estimated or |
|
final tax payments for the tax year. |
|
Sec. 232.0054. CARRYFORWARD. If an entity is eligible for a |
|
credit that exceeds the limitation under Section 232.0053(b), the |
|
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: |
|
(1) a credit carryforward under this chapter; and |
|
(2) a current year credit. |
|
Sec. 232.0055. ASSIGNMENT PROHIBITED. (a) Except as |
|
provided by Subsection (b), an entity may not convey, assign, or |
|
transfer the credit allowed under this chapter to another entity. |
|
(b) An entity may convey, assign, or transfer the credit |
|
allowed under this chapter to an affiliate of the entity that is |
|
subject to state insurance tax liability. |
|
Sec. 232.0056. RETALIATORY TAX. An entity claiming a |
|
credit under this chapter is not required to pay any additional |
|
retaliatory tax levied under Chapter 281 as a result of claiming |
|
that credit. |
|
SUBCHAPTER C. RECAPTURE OF CREDIT |
|
Sec. 232.0101. RECAPTURE. The comptroller shall recapture |
|
the amount of a credit claimed on a tax report filed under Chapter |
|
221, 222, 223, 223A, 224, 225, 226, or 281 from an entity if the tax |
|
credit certificate on which the credit is based is revoked under |
|
Subchapter C, Chapter 487A, Government Code. |
|
SECTION 3. (a) As soon as practicable after this Act |
|
becomes law as provided by Section 2001.006, Government Code: |
|
(1) the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office |
|
shall adopt rules necessary to implement Chapter 487A, Government |
|
Code, as added by this Act; and |
|
(2) the comptroller of public accounts shall adopt |
|
rules necessary to implement Chapter 232, Insurance Code, as added |
|
by this Act. |
|
(b) Not later than January 1, 2020, the Texas Economic |
|
Development and Tourism Office shall begin accepting applications |
|
under Section 487A.0051(a), Government Code, as added by this Act. |
|
SECTION 4. Chapter 232, Insurance Code, as added by this |
|
Act, applies only to a tax report originally due on or after January |
|
1, 2020. |
|
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |