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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT AMENDED AND ADOPTED
AND AMENDED
May 19, 2005
H. 3006
Introduced by Reps. Wilkins, Harrell, W.D. Smith, J. Brown, Cato, Chellis, Harrison, Townsend, Witherspoon, Bailey, G.R. Smith, Vaughn, Davenport, Sandifer, Barfield, Young, Owens, Kirsh, Leach, E.H. Pitts, Battle, Viers, Clyburn, Littlejohn, Taylor, Rice, Hinson, Clark, Walker, Bales, Cobb-Hunter, Simrill, Chalk, Duncan, Stewart, Talley, Harvin, J.E. Smith, Altman, Skelton, Mahaffey, Vick, Hagood, Martin, Neilson and Bowers
S. Printed 5/19/05--S. [SEC 5/20/05 4:02 PM]
Read the first time January 20, 2005.
TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING CHAPTER 63 TO TITLE 12 SO AS TO ENACT THE 2005 JOBS CREATION ACT, PROVIDING FOR A CREDIT OF UP TO TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT AGAINST THE STATE INCOME TAX THE AMOUNT INVESTED BY AN INVESTOR IN THE EQUITY, NEAR-EQUITY, OR SEED CAPITAL OF A QUALIFIED BUSINESS, TO DEFINE "QUALIFIED BUSINESS" AND PROVIDE THAT THE COORDINATING COUNCIL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE HAS SOLE DISCRETION TO MAKE DETERMINATIONS OF "QUALIFIED BUSINESS", TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES FOR CLAIMING THE CREDIT INCLUDING ANNUAL REGISTRATION AND FEE PAYMENTS, TO REQUIRE THAT APPLICATIONS INCLUDE INFORMATION AS TO THE APPLICANT'S STATUS AS A SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS, TO PROVIDE FOR REVOCATION OF THE CREDIT AND RECAPTURE OF THE TAX OTHERWISE DUE, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE RESERVATION OF TWO MILLION DOLLARS OF THE CREDIT CAP FOR CERTAIN CITED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS; BY ADDING ARTICLE 10 TO CHAPTER 37 OF TITLE 33 SO AS TO ESTABLISH A CAPITAL ACCESS PROGRAM PROVIDING FOR FLEXIBILITY IN THE MAKING OF LOANS BY FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS TO SMALL BUSINESSES WHO FAIL TO QUALIFY FOR CONVENTIONAL OR OTHER GUARANTEED OR ASSISTED FINANCING, AND TO PROVIDE FOR FUNDING OF A LOAN LOSS RESERVE TO REPAY PARTICIPATING FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS WHO SUFFER A LOSS ON A LOAN, ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROGRAM BY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, GUIDELINES FOR SELECTING LOAN RECIPIENTS, RECORDKEEPING AND REPORTING, AND DISTRIBUTION OF RESERVE FUNDS UPON TERMINATION OF INSTITUTIONAL PARTICIPATION OR THE CAPITAL ACCESS PROGRAM ITSELF; TO AMEND SECTION 33-37-460, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO LIMITATIONS ON A LOAN TO A CORPORATION BY A MEMBER, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR REFERENCE TO THE LOAN CALL AGREEMENT AND TO DISALLOW A LOAN WHICH RESULTS IN OBLIGATIONS THAT EXCEED TEN TIMES THE GREATER OF THE NET WORTH OF THE CORPORATION OR THE AMOUNT PAID IN ON OUTSTANDING CAPITAL STOCK; TO AMEND SECTION 33-37-465, RELATING TO A SHORT-TERM LOAN TO A CORPORATION BY A MEMBER, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE LIMITATIONS AND RESTRICTIONS DO NOT APPLY TO A SHORT-TERM LOAN; BY ADDING SECTION 12-2-110 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR A FIVE-YEAR SUNSET PROVISION FOR TAX INCENTIVES ENACTED AFTER THIS ACT AND FOR EXCEPTIONS AND REVIEW; BY ADDING SECTION 12-6-60 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR DETERMINATION OF A NEXUS WITH THIS STATE FOR PURPOSES OF INCOME TAX AND CORPORATE LICENSE FEE IN CONNECTION WITH A DISTRIBUTION FACILITY AND TO DEFINE "DISTRIBUTION FACILITY"; BY ADDING SECTION 12-6-3362 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR A TAX CREDIT IN CONNECTION WITH HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE HIRING OF NEW EMPLOYEES; BY ADDING SECTION 12-36-2690 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR DETERMINATION OF A NEXUS WITH THIS STATE FOR SALES AND USE TAX PURPOSES IN CONNECTION WITH A DISTRIBUTION FACILITY AND TO DEFINE "DISTRIBUTION FACILITY"; TO AMEND CHAPTER 62 OF TITLE 12, RELATING TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA MOTION PICTURE INCENTIVE ACT, SO AS TO INCLUDE AN EXEMPTION FROM LOCAL, AS WELL AS STATE, SALES AND USE TAXES, TO DEFINE "EMPLOYEE" FOR PURPOSES OF A FIVE PERCENT REBATE ON ALL TAXABLE WAGES PAID IN CONNECTION WITH AN EMPLOYEE'S WORK ON A MOTION PICTURE AND TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES FOR CLAIMING THE REBATE, TO ALLOW UP TO SEVEN PERCENT OF THE GENERAL FUND PORTION OF ADMISSIONS TAX COLLECTED BY THE STATE AND FUNDED TO THE USE OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA FILM COMMISSION TO BE USED EXCLUSIVELY FOR MARKETING AND SPECIAL EVENTS, AND TO PROVIDE, FURTHER, THAT THE COMMISSION REPORT ANNUALLY TO THE COORDINATING COUNCIL FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ON USE OF ALL ITS FUNDS IN A PUBLIC REPORT, ACCESSIBLE ON ITS WEBSITE; TO AMEND SECTION 12-36-920, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO SALES TAX ON GROSS PROCEEDS FROM RENTALS ON LODGINGS, SO AS TO DELETE A REBATE TO A MOTION PICTURE PRODUCTION COMPANY FOR SALES TAX PAID ON ACCOMMODATIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 1-30-25, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, SO AS TO DELETE A REFERENCE TO THE STATE DEVELOPMENT BOARD; TO AMEND SECTION 12-36-2120, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO EXEMPTIONS FROM THE STATE SALES AND USE TAX, SO AS TO DELETE THE EXEMPTION FOR THE PROCEEDS OF SALES MADE TO A MOTION PICTURE COMPANY; TO AMEND SECTION 12-6-3360, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE JOBS TAX CREDIT, SO AS TO ALLOW THE CREDIT TO AN EMPLOYER WHO INCREASES EMPLOYMENT BY FIVE, INSTEAD OF TEN, NEW FULL-TIME JOBS; AND TO MAKE THIS ACT APPLICABLE TO TAXABLE YEARS BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2006.
Amend Title To Conform
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Chapter 6 of Title 12 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 12-6-60. (A) Notwithstanding another provision of this chapter, whether or not a person has nexus with South Carolina for income tax and corporate license fee purposes, is determined without regard to whether the person:
(1) owns or utilizes a distribution facility within South Carolina;
(2) owns or leases property at a distribution facility within South Carolina that is used at, or distributed from, that facility; or
(3) sells property shipped or distributed from a distribution facility within South Carolina.
(B) The distribution facility is not considered to be a fixed place of business in South Carolina for the purposes of nexus.
(C) For purposes of this section, a distribution facility is defined in Section 12-6-3360."
SECTION 2. Chapter 36 of Title 12 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 12-36-2690. (A) Notwithstanding another provision of this chapter, owning or utilizing a distribution facility within South Carolina is not considered in determining whether the person has a physical presence in South Carolina sufficient to establish nexus with South Carolina for sales and use tax purposes.
(B) For purposes of this section, a distribution facility is defined in Section 12-6-3360."
SECTION 3. Section 12-6-3360(C) and (I) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(C) Subject to the conditions provided in subsection (N) of this section, a job tax credit is allowed for five years beginning in year two after the creation of the job for each new full-time job created if the minimum level of new jobs is maintained. The credit is available only available to taxpayers with one hundred or fewer employees that increase employment by ten two or more full-time jobs, and no only may be received if the gross wages of the full-time jobs created pursuant to this section amount to a minimum of one hundred twenty percent of the county's or state's average per capita income, whichever is lower. No credit is allowed for the year or any subsequent year in which the net employment increase falls below the minimum level of ten two. The amount of the initial job credit is as follows:
(1)(a) Eight Four thousand dollars for each new full-time job created in distressed counties.
(2)(b) Four Two thousand five two hundred fifty dollars for each new full-time job created in least developed counties.
(2)(3) Three One thousand five seven hundred fifty dollars for each new full-time job created in under developed counties.
(3)(4) Two One thousand five two hundred fifty dollars for each new full-time job created in moderately developed counties.
(4)(5) One thousand five Seven hundred fifty dollars for each new full-time job created in developed counties."
"(I) The merger, consolidation, or reorganization of a taxpayer where tax attributes survive does not create new eligibility in a succeeding taxpayer, but unused job tax credits may be transferred and continued by the succeeding taxpayer subject to the limitations of Section 12-6-3320. In addition, a taxpayer may assign its rights to its jobs tax credit to another taxpayer if it transfers all, or substantially all, of the assets of the taxpayer or all, or substantially all, of the assets of a trade or business or operating division of a taxpayer related to the generation of the jobs tax credits to that taxpayer if the required number of new jobs is maintained for that amount of credit. No A taxpayer is not allowed a jobs tax credit if the net employment increase for that taxpayer falls below ten two. The appropriate agency shall determine whether or not if qualifying net increases or decreases have occurred and may require reports, promulgate adopt rules or promulgate regulations, and hold hearings needed for substantiation and qualification."
SECTION 4. A. Chapter 37, Title 33 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
Section 33-37-1010. For purposes of this article:
(1) 'CAP' means the capital access program created in this article.
(2) 'BDC' means Business Development Corporation of South Carolina.
(3) 'Financial institution' means a bank, trust company, savings bank, savings and loan association, or cooperative bank chartered by the State or a national banking association, federal savings and loan association, or federal savings bank, if that financial institution has offices located in South Carolina.
(4) 'Participating financial institution' means a financial institution participating in the capital access program.
(5) 'Small business' means:
(a) a retail or service business with annual sales not exceeding two million dollars;
(b) a wholesale business with annual sales not exceeding five million dollars;
(c) a manufacturing business with no more than fifty employees; or
(d) another business with annual revenue not exceeding two million dollars.
(6) 'State fund' and 'state fund account' means the funds appropriated by the General Assembly of South Carolina for the CAP, provided to BDC as custodian for the State of South Carolina, and deposited by BDC into one or more interest-bearing trust accounts maintained by it as custodian for the State of South Carolina.
(7) 'Loss reserve account' means one or more interest-bearing trust accounts maintained by BDC for holding and administering the loan loss reserve pursuant to this article.
Section 33-37-1020. (A) Upon appropriation of funds by the General Assembly for the CAP in the minimum initial sum of two million five hundred thousand dollars, those funds and funds resulting from later appropriations to the state fund must be provided to BDC for deposit in the state fund account.
(B) BDC shall establish the CAP to provide a loan loss reserve from the state fund to assist participating financial institutions making loans to small businesses located in South Carolina that otherwise find it difficult to obtain regular bank financing.
(C) The assistance must be provided by BDC through transfers by it from a state fund account into a loss reserve account maintained by, in the name of, and controlled by BDC as custodian to provide loan loss reserves for loans made to those small businesses.
Section 33-37-1030. A financial institution desiring to become a participating financial institution shall execute an agreement in a form BDC prescribes, containing the terms and provisions provided in Section 33-37-1040 and other terms and provisions BDC considers necessary or appropriate.
Section 33-37-1040. A participating financial institution originating a loan to a small business pursuant to this article shall:
(1) use its existing business and banking network to market and perpetuate the CAP so as to promote economic development among small businesses in South Carolina;
(2) provide financing to small businesses for their business purposes including, without limitation, expansion, start-up, purchase of fixed assets or inventory, facility or technology upgrading, and working capital;
(3) limit loans outstanding to one small business borrower pursuant to this article and the CAP to an aggregate balance outstanding of two hundred fifty thousand dollars or a lesser amount the BDC determines, in the exercise of its discretion for the benefit of the CAP and the small business community at large in this State;
(4) limit loans made pursuant to this article and under the CAP to those that are not guaranteed or otherwise assisted by another governmental entity or program;
(5) set aside an amount of at least one and one-half percent but no more than three and one-half percent of the principal amount of the loan, into the loss reserve account;
(6) obtain from the small business an amount equal to the reserve contribution made by the participating financial institution with respect to the loan;
(7) forward the funds collected and determined pursuant to items (5) and (6) of this section to BDC for deposit into the loss reserve account together with a written report in the form and with the content BDC prescribes; and
(8) report annually to BDC, in the manner and with the supporting information BDC prescribes, the outstanding balance of loans made by it pursuant to the CAP, and a projection and estimate of loans it anticipates making pursuant to the program in the succeeding year.
Section 33-37-1050. After receipt of the funds and report provided in Section 33-37-1040(7) of this article, BDC shall transfer from the state fund account to the loss reserve account an amount equal to one hundred fifty percent of the total of the contributions of the participating financial institution and the small business. BDC shall maintain accurate records to determine the allocation and allocable share of each participating financial institution in and to the loan loss reserves in the loss reserve account and shall provide a report of the allocation to each participating financial institution annually. BDC also shall provide the report to a participating financial institution upon its written request during the year, but not more often than quarterly, and to the South Carolina Department of Commerce quarterly. In addition, the BDC shall provide an internal quarterly report on the project job creation and capital investment associated with each loan.
Section 33-37-1060. If the participating financial institution suffers a loss on a loan made pursuant to the CAP and this article, it may request that all or a portion of its allocated loan reserve in the loss reserve account be applied to the loan. Upon receipt by BDC of a certification of loss by the participating financial institution, BDC shall release the funds in the account to repay the loan in whole or in part, in an amount not to exceed the actual loss incurred by the participating financial institution. BDC shall prescribe the form and content of the certification report.
Section 33-37-1070. Earnings or interest from the principal of the state fund account and the loss reserve account must be paid monthly to BDC:
(1) as compensation for its administration and management of the CAP and the accounts; and
(2) for economic development in South Carolina for the purposes and within the meanings set forth in this chapter and in the corporate charter of BDC.
Section 33-37-1080. If a participating financial institution that elects to discontinue its participation in the CAP has funds on deposit in the loss reserve account, the funds must be forfeited by the institution to the state fund and used in the CAP as loss reserves as provided in this article.
Section 33-37-1090. An independent certified public accountant, as elected annually by the board of directors of the BDC, shall conduct an annual certified audit of its management, administration, and recordkeeping in connection with the CAP and provide the audit to the South Carolina Board of Financial Institutions upon its request, the General Assembly upon its request, and the South Carolina Department of Commerce. Annual reports to the South Carolina Department of Commerce and the General Assembly also must include projected capital investment and job creation associated with each CAP loan provided.
Section 33-37-1100. If a loan is not made by participating financial institutions for three consecutive years and the General Assembly does not appropriate additional funds for the program for those three consecutive years, BDC may pay over to the participating financial institutions their allocable shares of funds in the loss reserve account and pay over to the State of South Carolina, as directed by the South Carolina Board of Financial Institutions, funds held in the state fund account."
B. Section 33-37-460(2) and (3) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 234 of 2000, is further amended to read:
"(2) A loan to the corporation under the loan call agreement may not be made if, immediately after the loan, the total amount of the obligations of the corporation under the loan call agreement exceeds ten times the greater of the net worth of the corporation or the amount then paid in on the outstanding capital stock of the corporation.
(3) The total amount outstanding on loans to the corporation made by a member at any one time, when added to the amount of the investment in capital stock of the corporation then held by the member, under the loan call agreement may not exceed:
(a) ten percent of the total amount then outstanding on loans to the corporation by all members, including in the total amount outstanding amounts validly called for loan but not yet loaned or committed, or both, under the loan call agreement; or
(b) any federal or state statutory or regulatory limitations applicable to the members."
C. Section 33-37-465 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 234 of 2000, is amended to read:
"Section 33-37-465. A member may make short-term loans to the corporation independently of the loan calls made pursuant to Section 33-37-460, except that the aggregate of the outstanding balance of the short-term loans and the outstanding amount of a loan call to that member may not exceed the statutory and regulatory limitations as provided in Section 33-37-460. These short-term loans are not subject to the limitations and restrictions described in Section 33-37-460. When the purpose of the short-term loan is to provide funds to the corporation for disbursement of a loan, the corporation may grant to the member funding the short-term loan a security interest in or collateral assignment of the loan on the condition that the security interest or collateral assignment is terminated upon payment of the short-term loan."
SECTION 5. (A) The General Assembly finds that many tax incentives outlive their usefulness and should exist only for a time certain. It is the intent of the General Assembly to provide for a sunset provision on each tax incentive, including credits and exemptions, enacted by this act.
(B) Each tax incentive, including credits and exemptions, enacted by this act shall be repealed for tax years beginning after five years from the date of enactment, unless a different time frame is otherwise provided herein.
SECTION 6. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor and applies to taxable years beginning January 1, 2006.
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