Florida Senate - 2016 SENATOR AMENDMENT Bill No. CS for CS for SB 868 Ì238922/Î238922 LEGISLATIVE ACTION Senate . House . . . Floor: NC/2R . 03/08/2016 04:29 PM . ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Senator Smith moved the following: 1 Senate Amendment (with title amendment) 2 3 Delete everything after the enacting clause 4 and insert: 5 Section 1. Paragraph (d) of subsection (1) of section 6 220.03, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 7 220.03 Definitions.— 8 (1) SPECIFIC TERMS.—When used in this code, and when not 9 otherwise distinctly expressed or manifestly incompatible with 10 the intent thereof, the following terms shall have the following 11 meanings: 12 (d) “Community contribution” means the grant by a business 13 firm of any of the following items: 14 1. Cash or other liquid assets. 15 2. Real property, which for purposes of this subparagraph 16 includes 100 percent ownership of a real property holding 17 company. The term “real property holding company” means a 18 Florida entity, such as a Florida limited liability company, 19 that: 20 a. Is wholly owned by the business firm. 21 b. Is the sole owner of real property, as defined in s. 22 192.001(12), located in the state. 23 c. Is disregarded as an entity for federal income tax 24 purposes pursuant to 26 C.F.R. s. 301.7701-3(b)(1)(ii). 25 d. At the time of contribution to an eligible sponsor, has 26 no material assets other than the real property and any other 27 property that qualifies as a community contribution. 28 3. Goods or inventory. 29 4. Other physical resources as identified by the 30 department. 31 32 This paragraph expires June 30, 2018. 33 Section 2. Paragraph (p) of subsection (5) of section 34 212.08, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 35 212.08 Sales, rental, use, consumption, distribution, and 36 storage tax; specified exemptions.—The sale at retail, the 37 rental, the use, the consumption, the distribution, and the 38 storage to be used or consumed in this state of the following 39 are hereby specifically exempt from the tax imposed by this 40 chapter. 41 (5) EXEMPTIONS; ACCOUNT OF USE.— 42 (p) Community contribution tax credit for donations.— 43 1. Authorization.—Persons who are registered with the 44 department under s. 212.18 to collect or remit sales or use tax 45 and who make donations to eligible sponsors are eligible for tax 46 credits against their state sales and use tax liabilities as 47 provided in this paragraph: 48 a. The credit shall be computed as 50 percent of the 49 person’s approved annual community contribution. 50 b. The credit shall be granted as a refund against state 51 sales and use taxes reported on returns and remitted in the 12 52 months preceding the date of application to the department for 53 the credit as required in sub-subparagraph 3.c. If the annual 54 credit is not fully used through such refund because of 55 insufficient tax payments during the applicable 12-month period, 56 the unused amount may be included in an application for a refund 57 made pursuant to sub-subparagraph 3.c. in subsequent years 58 against the total tax payments made for such year. Carryover 59 credits may be applied for a 3-year period without regard to any 60 time limitation that would otherwise apply under s. 215.26. 61 c. A person may not receive more than $200,000 in annual 62 tax credits for all approved community contributions made in any 63 one year. 64 d. All proposals for the granting of the tax credit require 65 the prior approval of the Department of Economic Opportunity. 66 e. The total amount of tax credits which may be granted for 67 all programs approved under this paragraph, s. 220.183, and s. 68 624.5105 is $18.4 million in the 2015-2016 fiscal year, $21.4 69 million in the 2016-2017 fiscal year, and $21.4 million in the 70 2017-2018 fiscal year for projects that provide housing 71 opportunities for persons with special needs or homeownership 72 opportunities for low-income households or very-low-income 73 households and $3.5 million annually for all other projects. As 74 used in this paragraph, the term “person with special needs” has 75 the same meaning as in s. 420.0004 and the terms “low-income 76 person,” “low-income household,” “very-low-income person,” and 77 “very-low-income household” have the same meanings as in s. 78 420.9071. 79 f. A person who is eligible to receive the credit provided 80 in this paragraph, s. 220.183, or s. 624.5105 may receive the 81 credit only under one section of the person’s choice. 82 2. Eligibility requirements.— 83 a. A community contribution by a person must be in the 84 following form: 85 (I) Cash or other liquid assets; 86 (II) Real property, including 100 percent ownership of a 87 real property holding company; 88 (III) Goods or inventory; or 89 (IV) Other physical resources identified by the Department 90 of Economic Opportunity. 91 92 For purposes of this subparagraph, the term “real property 93 holding company” means a Florida entity, such as a Florida 94 limited liability company, that is wholly owned by the person; 95 is the sole owner of real property, as defined in s. 96 192.001(12), located in the state; is disregarded as an entity 97 for federal income tax purposes pursuant to 26 C.F.R. s. 98 301.7701-3(b)(1)(ii); and at the time of contribution to an 99 eligible sponsor, has no material assets other than the real 100 property and any other property that qualifies as a community 101 contribution. 102 b. All community contributions must be reserved exclusively 103 for use in a project. As used in this sub-subparagraph, the term 104 “project” means activity undertaken by an eligible sponsor which 105 is designed to construct, improve, or substantially rehabilitate 106 housing that is affordable to low-income households or very-low 107 income households; designed to provide housing opportunities for 108 persons with special needs; designed to provide commercial, 109 industrial, or public resources and facilities; or designed to 110 improve entrepreneurial and job-development opportunities for 111 low-income persons. A project may be the investment necessary to 112 increase access to high-speed broadband capability in a rural 113 community that had an enterprise zone designated pursuant to 114 chapter 290 as of May 1, 2015, including projects that result in 115 improvements to communications assets that are owned by a 116 business. A project may include the provision of museum 117 educational programs and materials that are directly related to 118 a project approved between January 1, 1996, and December 31, 119 1999, and located in an area which was in an enterprise zone 120 designated pursuant to s. 290.0065 as of May 1, 2015. This 121 paragraph does not preclude projects that propose to construct 122 or rehabilitate housing for low-income households or very-low 123 income households on scattered sites or housing opportunities 124 for persons with special needs. With respect to housing, 125 contributions may be used to pay the following eligible special 126 needs, low-income, and very-low-income housing-related 127 activities: 128 (I) Project development impact and management fees for 129 special needs, low-income, or very-low-income housing projects; 130 (II) Down payment and closing costs for persons with 131 special needs, low-income persons, and very-low-income persons; 132 (III) Administrative costs, including housing counseling 133 and marketing fees, not to exceed 10 percent of the community 134 contribution, directly related to special needs, low-income, or 135 very-low-income projects; and 136 (IV) Removal of liens recorded against residential property 137 by municipal, county, or special district local governments if 138 satisfaction of the lien is a necessary precedent to the 139 transfer of the property to a low-income person or very-low 140 income person for the purpose of promoting home ownership. 141 Contributions for lien removal must be received from a 142 nonrelated third party. 143 c. The project must be undertaken by an “eligible sponsor,” 144 which includes: 145 (I) A community action program; 146 (II) A nonprofit community-based development organization 147 whose mission is the provision of housing for persons with 148 specials needs, low-income households, or very-low-income 149 households or increasing entrepreneurial and job-development 150 opportunities for low-income persons; 151 (III) A neighborhood housing services corporation; 152 (IV) A local housing authority created under chapter 421; 153 (V) A community redevelopment agency created under s. 154 163.356; 155 (VI) A historic preservation district agency or 156 organization; 157 (VII) A regional workforce board; 158 (VIII) A direct-support organization as provided in s. 159 1009.983; 160 (IX) An enterprise zone development agency created under s. 161 290.0056; 162 (X) A community-based organization incorporated under 163 chapter 617 which is recognized as educational, charitable, or 164 scientific pursuant to s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code 165 and whose bylaws and articles of incorporation include 166 affordable housing, economic development, or community 167 development as the primary mission of the corporation; 168 (XI) Units of local government; 169 (XII) Units of state government; or 170 (XIII) Any other agency that the Department of Economic 171 Opportunity designates by rule. 172 173 A contributing person may not have a financial interest in the 174 eligible sponsor. 175 d. The project must be located in an area which was in an 176 enterprise zone designated pursuant to chapter 290 as of May 1, 177 2015, or a Front Porch Florida Community, unless the project 178 increases access to high-speed broadband capability in a rural 179 community that had an enterprise zone designated pursuant to 180 chapter 290 as of May 1, 2015, but is physically located outside 181 the designated rural zone boundaries. Any project designed to 182 construct or rehabilitate housing for low-income households or 183 very-low-income households or housing opportunities for persons 184 with special needs is exempt from the area requirement of this 185 sub-subparagraph. 186 e.(I) If, during the first 10 business days of the state 187 fiscal year, eligible tax credit applications for projects that 188 provide housing opportunities for persons with special needs or 189 homeownership opportunities for low-income households or very 190 low-income households are received for less than the annual tax 191 credits available for those projects, the Department of Economic 192 Opportunity shall grant tax credits for those applications and 193 grant remaining tax credits on a first-come, first-served basis 194 for subsequent eligible applications received before the end of 195 the state fiscal year. If, during the first 10 business days of 196 the state fiscal year, eligible tax credit applications for 197 projects that provide housing opportunities for persons with 198 special needs or homeownership opportunities for low-income 199 households or very-low-income households are received for more 200 than the annual tax credits available for those projects, the 201 Department of Economic Opportunity shall grant the tax credits 202 for those applications as follows: 203 (A) If tax credit applications submitted for approved 204 projects of an eligible sponsor do not exceed $200,000 in total, 205 the credits shall be granted in full if the tax credit 206 applications are approved. 207 (B) If tax credit applications submitted for approved 208 projects of an eligible sponsor exceed $200,000 in total, the 209 amount of tax credits granted pursuant to sub-sub-sub 210 subparagraph (A) shall be subtracted from the amount of 211 available tax credits, and the remaining credits shall be 212 granted to each approved tax credit application on a pro rata 213 basis. 214 (II) If, during the first 10 business days of the state 215 fiscal year, eligible tax credit applications for projects other 216 than those that provide housing opportunities for persons with 217 special needs or homeownership opportunities for low-income 218 households or very-low-income households are received for less 219 than the annual tax credits available for those projects, the 220 Department of Economic Opportunity shall grant tax credits for 221 those applications and shall grant remaining tax credits on a 222 first-come, first-served basis for subsequent eligible 223 applications received before the end of the state fiscal year. 224 If, during the first 10 business days of the state fiscal year, 225 eligible tax credit applications for projects other than those 226 that provide housing opportunities for persons with special 227 needs or homeownership opportunities for low-income households 228 or very-low-income households are received for more than the 229 annual tax credits available for those projects, the Department 230 of Economic Opportunity shall grant the tax credits for those 231 applications on a pro rata basis. 232 3. Application requirements.— 233 a. An eligible sponsor seeking to participate in this 234 program must submit a proposal to the Department of Economic 235 Opportunity which sets forth the name of the sponsor, a 236 description of the project, and the area in which the project is 237 located, together with such supporting information as is 238 prescribed by rule. The proposal must also contain a resolution 239 from the local governmental unit in which the project is located 240 certifying that the project is consistent with local plans and 241 regulations. 242 b. A person seeking to participate in this program must 243 submit an application for tax credit to the Department of 244 Economic Opportunity which sets forth the name of the sponsor, a 245 description of the project, and the type, value, and purpose of 246 the contribution. The sponsor shall verify, in writing, the 247 terms of the application and indicate its receipt of the 248 contribution, and such verification must accompany the 249 application for tax credit. The person must submit a separate 250 tax credit application to the Department of Economic Opportunity 251 for each individual contribution that it makes to each 252 individual project. 253 c. A person who has received notification from the 254 Department of Economic Opportunity that a tax credit has been 255 approved must apply to the department to receive the refund. 256 Application must be made on the form prescribed for claiming 257 refunds of sales and use taxes and be accompanied by a copy of 258 the notification. A person may submit only one application for 259 refund to the department within a 12-month period. 260 4. Administration.— 261 a. The Department of Economic Opportunity may adopt rules 262 necessary to administer this paragraph, including rules for the 263 approval or disapproval of proposals by a person. 264 b. The decision of the Department of Economic Opportunity 265 must be in writing, and, if approved, the notification shall 266 state the maximum credit allowable to the person. Upon approval, 267 the Department of Economic Opportunity shall transmit a copy of 268 the decision to the department. 269 c. The Department of Economic Opportunity shall 270 periodically monitor all projects in a manner consistent with 271 available resources to ensure that resources are used in 272 accordance with this paragraph; however, each project must be 273 reviewed at least once every 2 years. 274 d. The Department of Economic Opportunity shall, in 275 consultation with the statewide and regional housing and 276 financial intermediaries, market the availability of the 277 community contribution tax credit program to community-based 278 organizations. 279 5. Expiration.—This paragraph expires June 30, 2018; 280 however, any accrued credit carryover that is unused on that 281 date may be used until the expiration of the 3-year carryover 282 period for such credit. 283 Section 3. Paragraph (a) of subsection (5) of section 284 624.5105, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 285 624.5105 Community contribution tax credit; authorization; 286 limitations; eligibility and application requirements; 287 administration; definitions; expiration.— 288 (5) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term: 289 (a) “Community contribution” means the grant by an insurer 290 of any of the following items: 291 1. Cash or other liquid assets. 292 2. Real property, including 100 percent ownership of a real 293 property holding company. 294 3. Goods or inventory. 295 4. Other physical resources which are identified by the 296 department. 297 298 For purposes of this paragraph, the term “real property holding 299 company” means a Florida entity, such as a Florida limited 300 liability company, that is wholly owned by the insurer; is the 301 sole owner of real property, as defined in s. 192.001(12), 302 located in the state; is disregarded as an entity for federal 303 income tax purposes pursuant to 26 C.F.R. s. 301.7701 304 3(b)(1)(ii); and at the time of contribution to an eligible 305 sponsor, has no material assets other than the real property and 306 any other property that qualifies as a community contribution. 307 Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2016. 308 309 ================= T I T L E A M E N D M E N T ================ 310 And the title is amended as follows: 311 Delete everything before the enacting clause 312 and insert: 313 A bill to be entitled 314 An act relating to community contribution tax credits; 315 amending s. 220.03, F.S.; revising the definition of 316 the term “community contribution”; amending s. 212.08, 317 F.S.; revising and providing definitions related to 318 community contribution tax credits that may apply 319 against sales and use tax liabilities; amending s. 320 624.5105, F.S.; revising and providing definitions 321 related to community contribution tax credits that may 322 apply against certain premium tax liabilities; 323 providing an effective date.