Bill Text: MO HB1171 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes the Economic-Education Partnership Act, which allows employers to retain withholding taxes up to the amount spent on educational benefits for employees and unpaid interns or up to the amount spent on educational benefits for employees and unpaid interns or up to the amount spent on job training for employees
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-05-01 - Rules - Reported Do Pass (H) [HB1171 Detail]
Download: Missouri-2014-HB1171-Introduced.html
SECOND REGULAR SESSION
97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE BUTLER.
4787L.01I D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To amend chapter 620, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to the economic-education partnership program.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 620, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 620.3030, to read as follows:
620.3030. 1. This section shall be known and may be cited as the "Economic-Education Partnership Act".
2. As used in this section, the following terms mean:
(1) "Educational benefits", the funds provided by an employer to a qualified individual or to an accredited educational institution for a period of up to five years to pay any portion of the tuition or fees for a qualified individual pursuing an associates degree, bachelors degree, masters degree, or doctorate degree in health care, engineering, or information technology related programs;
(2) "Employer", a business with facilities in Missouri that has entered into an agreement with the department of economic development that memorializes the employer's obligation to employ a qualified individual upon the completion of the individual's degree or training for at least the same length of time as the employer is authorized under this section to retain withholding taxes for the amount spent on providing educational benefits or training to the qualified individual;
(3) "Qualified individual":
(a) An individual:
a. Who is a resident of this state;
b. Who is employed by an employer in Missouri in a job for which the person is compensated at a rate that is no less than one hundred twenty percent of the state minimum wage;
c. Has an annual individual gross income of two hundred thousand dollars or less; and
d. Pursues an associates degree, bachelors degree, masters degree, or doctorate degree in health care, engineering, or information technology related programs, or receives training from the employer for an employment position in the health care, engineering, or information technology fields for no more than one year;
(b) An individual who is a resident of this state, is engaged in an unpaid internship at an employer in Missouri and pursues an associates degree, bachelors degree, masters degree, or doctorate degree in health care, engineering, or information technology related programs;
(4) "Withholding tax", the state tax imposed by sections 143.191 to 143.265.
3. An employer that provides educational benefits to a qualified individual, or trains a qualified individual for an employment position in the health care, engineering, or information technology fields for no more than one year, may retain one hundred percent of the withholding tax from the employer's employees up to:
(1) The amount of educational benefits provided for a period of five years from the first date on which the employer provides the educational benefits; or
(2) The amount of the wages the employer paid to the qualified individual while engaged in training the individual for an employment position in the health care, engineering, or information technology field for no more than one year for a period of five years from the first date on which the employer begins training the qualified individual.
4. Before an employer is authorized to retain withholding taxes under subsection 3 of this section, the employer shall enter into an agreement with the department of economic development that memorializes the employer's obligation to employ a qualified individual for at least the same length of time as the employer is authorized to retain withholding taxes for the amount spent on providing educational benefits or training to the qualified individual pursuant to this section. Any employer who fails to comply with the agreement with the department shall immediately cease retaining any withholding tax and shall forfeit all rights to retain withholding tax. The employer shall repay any amounts of withholding tax retained plus interest of five percent per annum.
5. An employer shall not retain withholding tax for educational benefits or training provided to any qualified individual who is a relative of a director, manager, or owner of the business within the fourth degree, by consanguinity or affinity.
6. The aggregate amount of withholding tax that may be retained by all employers under this section shall not exceed three hundred million dollars.
7. The department of economic development may audit employers to ensure compliance with the provisions of this section.
8. The department of economic development and the department of revenue may promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this section. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028. This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority, and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2014, shall be invalid and void.
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