BILL NUMBER: SB 295 INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator De León FEBRUARY 23, 2015 An act to amend Sections 17053.86 and 23686 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, relating to taxation, to take effect immediately, tax levy. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 295, as introduced, De León. College Access Tax Credit Fund. The Personal Income Tax Law and the Corporation Tax Law allow various credits against the taxes imposed by those laws, including, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2014, and before January 1, 2017, a credit equal to a certain percentage of a contribution to the College Access Tax Credit Fund for specified education purposes, as provided. This bill would extend the allowance of these credits to taxable years beginning before January 1, 2018. This bill would take effect immediately as a tax levy. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 17053.86 of the Revenue and Taxation Code is amended to read: 17053.86. (a) (1) For each taxableyearsyear beginning on or after January 1, 2014, and before January 1,2017,2018, there shall be allowed as a credit against the "net tax," as defined in Section 17039, an amount equal to the following: (A) For each taxable year beginning on and after January 1, 2014, and before January 1,2015,2016, 60 percent of the amount contributed by the taxpayer for the 2014 or 2015 taxable year to the College Access Tax Credit Fund, as allocated and certified by the California Educational Facilities Authority. (B) For each taxable year beginning on and after January 1,2015,2016, and before January 1,2016,2017, 55 percent of the amount contributed by the taxpayer for the20152016 taxable year to the College Access Tax Credit Fund, as allocated and certified by the California Educational Facilities Authority. (C) For each taxable year beginning on and after January 1,2016,2017, and before January 1,2017,2018, 50 percent of the amount contributed by the taxpayer for the20162017 taxable year to the College Access Tax Credit Fund, as allocated and certified by the California Educational Facilities Authority. (2) Contributions shall be made only in cash. (b) (1) The aggregate amount of credit that may be allocated and certified pursuant to this section and Section 23686 shall be an amount equal to the sum of all of the following: (A) Five hundred million dollars ($500,000,000) in credits for the 2014 calendar year and each calendar year thereafter. (B) The amount of previously unallocated and uncertified credits. (2) (A) For purposes of this section, the California Educational Facilities Authority shall do all of the following: (i) On or after January 1, 2014, and before January 1,2017,2018, allocate and certify tax credits to taxpayers under this section. (ii) Establish a procedure for taxpayers to contribute to the College Access Tax Credit Fund and to obtain from the California Educational Facilities Authority a certification for the credit allowed by this section. The procedure shall require the California Educational Facilities Authority to certify the contribution amount eligible for credit within 45 days following receipt of the contribution. (iii) Provide to the Franchise Tax Board a copy of each credit certificate issued for the calendar year by March 1 of the calendar year immediately following the year in which those certificates are issued. (B) (i) The California Educational Facilities Authority shall adopt any regulations necessary to implement this paragraph. (ii) Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code does not apply to any regulation adopted by the California Educational Facilities Authority pursuant to clause (i). (c) (1) In the case where the credit allowed by this section exceeds the "net tax," the excess may be carried over to reduce the "net tax" in the following year, and succeeding five years if necessary, until the credit is exhausted. (2) A deduction shall not be allowed under this part for amounts taken into account under this section in calculating the credit allowed by this section. (d) (1) The College Access Tax Credit Fund is hereby created as a special fund in the State Treasury. All revenue in this special fund shall be allocated as follows: (A) First to the General Fund in an amount equal to the aggregate amount of certified credits allowed pursuant to this section and Section 23686 for the taxable year. Funds allocated to the General Fund shall be considered General Fund revenues for purposes of Sections 8 and 8.5 of Article XVI of the California Constitution. (B) Second, upon appropriation, as follows: (i) To the Franchise Tax Board, the California Educational Facilities Authority, the Controller, and the Student Aid Commission for reimbursement of all administrative costs incurred by those agencies in connection with their duties under this section, Section 23686, and Section 69432.7 of the Education Code. (ii) To the Student Aid Commission for purposes of awarding Cal Grants to students pursuant to Section 69431.7 of the Education Code. (2) The tax credit allowed by subdivision (a) of this section and subdivision (a) of Section 23686 for donations to the College Access Tax Credit Fund shall be known as the College Access Tax Credit. (e) This section shall remain in effect only until December 1,2017,2018, and as of that date is repealed. SEC. 2. Section 23686 of the Revenue and Taxation Code is amended to read: 23686. (a) (1) For each taxable year beginning on or after January 1, 2014, and before January 1,2017,2018, there shall be allowed as a credit against the "tax," as defined in Section 23036, an amount equal to the following: (A) Fortaxable yearseach taxable year beginning on and after January 1, 2014, and before January 1,2015,2016, 60 percent of the amount contributed by the taxpayer for the 2014 or 2015 taxable year to the College Access Tax Credit Fund, as allocated and certified by the California Educational Facilities Authority. (B) Fortaxable yearseach taxable year beginning on and after January 1,2015,2016, and before January 1,2016,2017, 55 percent of the amount contributed by the taxpayer for the20152016 taxable year to the College Access Tax Credit Fund, as allocated and certified by the California Educational Facilities Authority. (C) Fortaxable yearseach taxable year beginning on and after January 1,2016,2017, and before January 1,2017,2018, 50 percent of the amount contributed by the taxpayer for the20162017 taxable year to the College Access Tax Credit Fund, as allocated and certified by the California Educational Facilities Authority. (2) Contributions shall be made only in cash. (b) (1) The aggregate amount of credit that may be allocated and certified pursuant to this section and Section 17053.86 shall be an amount equal to the sum of all of the following: (A) Five hundred million dollars ($500,000,000) in credits for the 2014 calendar year and each calendar year thereafter. (B) The amount of previously unallocated and uncertified credits. (2) (A) For purposes of this section, the California Educational Facilities Authority shall do all of the following: (i) On or after January 1, 2014, and before January 1,2017,2018, allocate and certify tax credits to taxpayers under this section. (ii) Establish a procedure for taxpayers to contribute to the College Access Tax Credit Fund and to obtain from the California Educational Facilities Authority a certification for the credit allowed by this section. The procedure shall require the California Educational Facilities Authority to certify the contribution amount eligible for credit within 45 days following receipt of the contribution. (iii) Provide to the Franchise Tax Board a copy of each credit certificate issued for the calendar year by March 1 of the calendar year immediately following the year in which those certificates are issued. (B) (i) The California Educational Facilities Authority shall adopt any regulations necessary to implement this paragraph. (ii) Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code does not apply to any regulation adopted by the California Educational Facilities Authority pursuant to clause (i). (c) (1) In the case where the credit allowed by this section exceeds the "tax," the excess may be carried over to reduce the "tax" in the following year, and succeeding five years if necessary, until the credit is exhausted. (2) A deduction shall not be allowed under this part for amounts taken into account under this section in calculating the credit allowed by this section. (d) This section shall remain in effect only until December 1,2017,2018, and as of that date is repealed. SEC. 3. This act provides for a tax levy within the meaning of Article IV of the Constitution and shall go into immediate effect.