New Jersey-2024-A962-Introduced

An Act concerning eligibility for New Jersey Economic Development Authority financing and incentive programs, and amending various parts of statutory law.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. Section 20 of P.L.2004, c.65 (C.34:1B-186) is amended to read as follows:

20. The New Jersey [Commerce Commission] Economic Development Authority shall establish and administer a program to approve the issuance of sales and use tax exemption certificates to qualifying businesses as specified in sections 19 through 22 of P.L.2004, c.65 (C.34:1B-185 through C.34:1B-188). The receipts from the certificate holder's purchase of eligible property located or placed at the business location covered by the project approval within the period established pursuant to the terms and conditions of the project approval for the approved business location shall be exempt from the tax imposed under the "Sales and Use Tax Act," P.L.1966, c.30 (C.54:32B-1 et seq.).

(cf: P.L.2007, c.253, s.17)

2. Section 21 of P.L.2004, c.65 (C.34:1B-187) is amended to read as follows:

21. a. A business seeking to participate in the sales and use tax exemption certificate program established pursuant to sections 19 through 22 of P.L.2004, c.65 (C.34:1B-185 through C.34:1B-188) shall submit a project application to the New Jersey [Commerce Commission] Economic Development Authority in such form as required by the New Jersey [Commerce Commission] Economic Development Authority.

b. The location for the project shall be situated in designated Planning Area 1 or 2, as defined in the State Development and Redevelopment Plan adopted by the State Planning Commission; provided however, that a business project involving the renovation or expansion of an existing facility that is not located in designated Planning Area 1 or 2 may be eligible to participate in the program, at the determination of the New Jersey [Commerce Commission] Economic Development Authority, if all other applicable criteria are satisfied.

A business located in an urban enterprise zone designated pursuant to the "New Jersey Urban Enterprise Zones Act," P.L.1983, c.303 (C.52:27H-60 et al.) as of the effective date of [this section] Section 21 of P.L.2004, c.65 (C.34:1B-187) shall not be eligible to participate in this program if the relocation project is from a facility within the urban enterprise zone to a facility outside an urban enterprise zone; provided however, that if the relocation is to a facility already owned or leased by the same business and that business already employs at least the same number of persons as those being relocated from the urban enterprise zone, it may be eligible to apply.

c. To be eligible to apply for the sales and use tax exemption certificate program, a business shall have operated continuously in this State, in whole or in part, in its current form or as a predecessor entity, for at least 10 years prior to filing an application and shall satisfy at least one of the following criteria:

(1) the business has 1,000 or more full-time employees in the State and the project involves relocating 500 or more full-time employees into a new business location or locations;

(2) the business is a life sciences business or a manufacturing facility and the project is: constructing one or more new research and development facilities, constructing one or more new manufacturing facilities in this State, or relocating to a new headquarters in this State that will employ 125 or more full-time manufacturing employees or 250 or more full-time employees in any non-manufacturing position;

(3) the business is a life sciences business or a manufacturing business and the project is constructing a new, or substantially rehabilitating a vacant, property that will separately or collectively:

(a) be predominately a new research and development facility;

(b) be predominately a new manufacturing facility;

(d) separately or collectively be a combination of subparagraphs (a), (b), and (c);

provided, that the new or substantially rehabilitated facility will house a minimum of 125 full-time manufacturing employees or 250 full-time employees in any non-manufacturing position. For the purposes of this subparagraph, "predominantly" means a majority of the employees housed in the new facility are engaged in that activity, or a majority of the square footage of the new facility is used in that activity; or a majority of the total value of the investment made will be employed in that activity; or other measures of activity as may be determined by the New Jersey [Commerce Commission] Economic Development Authority that demonstrate that a critical concentration of research and development, manufacturing, or both, will occur at the new facility; or

(4) the business is, at the time of enactment of this section, currently receiving a structured finance special guarantee pursuant to N.J.A.C.19:31-2.1(c)3.ii.

(5) for the project.

d. For the purposes of determining a number of full-time employees pursuant to subsection c. of this section, the full-time employees of the members of a "controlled group of corporations" as defined pursuant to section 1563 of the federal Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 26 U.S.C. s.1563, shall be considered the employees of a single employer.

e. A project may be completed in up to two phases provided that it will be the national headquarters of a life sciences or manufacturing company, and will include a significant research and development facility, a significant manufacturing facility, or combination thereof if: (1) the first completed phase will house at least 100 full-time manufacturing employees or 200 full-time employees in any non-manufacturing position, and the second phase will house at least 50 additional manufacturing employees or 100 additional employees in any non-manufacturing position; and (2) the project is pre-approved for phases and that all phases are completed within 30 months of project approval.

f. Upon approval of a project, the Executive Director of the New Jersey [Commerce Commission] Economic Development Authority shall notify the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury of the terms and conditions of the project approval and the director shall issue a certificate of exemption pursuant to the terms and conditions of the project approval. In general, the sales and use tax exemption certificate provided by sections 19 through 22 of P.L.2004, c.65 (C.34:1B-185 through C.34:1B-188) should not apply to purchases initiated by the business after the date that the temporary certificate of occupancy is issued, or in cases where no temporary certificate of occupancy is issued should not apply to purchases initiated by the business more than one year from the project commencement date; however, the duration of the certificate of exemption shall be pursuant to the terms and conditions of the project approval.

(cf: P.L.2007, c.253, s.18)

3. Section 22 of P.L.2004, c.65 (C.34:1B-188) is amended to read as follows:

22. The New Jersey [Commerce Commission] Economic Development Authority shall, after consultation with the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury, adopt rules and regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) necessary to govern the proper conduct and operation of the program consistent with the provisions of sections 19 through 22 of P.L.2004, c.65
(C.34:1B-185 through C.34:1B-188).

(cf: P.L.2007, c.253, s.19)

4. Section 2 of P.L.2011, c.149 (C.34:1B-243) is amended to read as follows:

2. As used in P.L.2011, c.149 (C.34:1B-242 et seq.):

"Affiliate" means an entity that directly or indirectly controls, is under common control with, or is controlled by the business. Control exists in all cases in which the entity is a member of a controlled group of corporations as defined pursuant to section 1563 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. s.1563) or the entity is an organization in a group of organizations under common control as defined pursuant to subsection (b) or (c) of section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. s.414). A taxpayer may establish by clear and convincing evidence, as determined by the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury, that control exists in situations involving lesser percentages of ownership than required by those statutes. An affiliate of a business may contribute to meeting either the qualified investment or full-time employee requirements of a business that applies for a credit under section 3 of P.L.2007, c.346
(C.34:1B-209).

"Authority" means the New Jersey Economic Development Authority established by section 4 of P.L.1974, c.80 (C.34:1B-4).

"Aviation district" means the area within a one-mile radius of the outermost boundary of the "Atlantic City International Airport," established pursuant to section 24 of P.L.1991, c.252
(C.27:25A-24).

"Business" means an applicant proposing to own or lease premises in a qualified business facility that is:

a corporation that is subject to the tax imposed pursuant to section 5 of P.L.1945, c.162 (C.54:10A-5);

a corporation that is subject to the tax imposed pursuant to sections 2 and 3 of P.L.1945, c.132 (C.54:18A-2 and C.54:18A-3), section 1 of P.L.1950, c.231 (C.17:32-15) or N.J.S.17B:23-5;

a partnership;

an S corporation;

a limited liability company; or

a non-profit corporation.

If the business or tenant is a cooperative or part of a cooperative, then the cooperative may qualify for credits by counting the full-time employees and capital investments of its member organizations, and the cooperative may distribute credits to its member organizations. If the business or tenant is a cooperative that leases to its member organizations, the lease shall be treated as a lease to an affiliate or affiliates.

A business shall include an affiliate of the business if that business applies for a credit based upon any capital investment made by or full-time employees of an affiliate.

"Capital investment" in a qualified business facility means expenses by a business or any affiliate of the business incurred after application for:

a. site preparation and construction, repair, renovation, improvement, equipping, or furnishing on real property or of a building, structure, facility, or improvement to real property;

b. obtaining and installing furnishings and machinery, apparatus, or equipment, including but not limited to material goods subject to bonus depreciation under sections 168 and 179 of the federal Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. s.168 and s.179), for the operation of a business on real property or in a building, structure, facility, or improvement to real property;

c. receiving Highlands Development Credits under the Highlands Transfer Development Rights Program authorized pursuant to section 13 of P.L.2004, c.120 (C.13:20-13); or

d. any of the foregoing.

In addition to the foregoing, in a Garden State Growth Zone, the following qualify as a capital investment: any development, redevelopment, and relocation costs, including, but not limited to, site acquisition if made within 24 months of application to the authority, engineering, legal, accounting, and other professional services required; and relocation, environmental remediation, and infrastructure improvements for the project area, including, but not limited to, on- and off-site utility, road, pier, wharf, bulkhead, or sidewalk construction or repair.

In addition to the foregoing, if a business acquires or leases a qualified business facility, the capital investment made or acquired by the seller or owner, as the case may be, if pertaining primarily to the premises of the qualified business facility, shall be considered a capital investment by the business and, if pertaining generally to the qualified business facility being acquired or leased, shall be allocated to the premises of the qualified business facility on the basis of the gross leasable area of the premises in relation to the total gross leasable area in the qualified business facility. The capital investment described herein may include any capital investment made or acquired within 24 months prior to the date of application so long as the amount of capital investment made or acquired by the business, any affiliate of the business, or any owner after the date of application equals at least 50 percent of the amount of capital investment, allocated to the premises of the qualified business facility being acquired or leased on the basis of the gross leasable area of the premises in relation to the total gross leasable area in the qualified business facility made or acquired prior to the date of application.

"College or university" means a county college, an independent institution of higher education, a public research university, or a State college.

"Commitment period" means the period of time that is 1.5 times the eligibility period.

"County college" means an educational institution established by one or more counties, pursuant to chapter 64A of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

"Deep poverty pocket" means a population census tract having a poverty level of 20 percent or more, and which is located within the qualified incentive area and has been determined by the authority to be an area appropriate for development and in need of economic development incentive assistance.

"Disaster recovery project" means a project located on property that has been wholly or substantially damaged or destroyed as a result of a federally-declared disaster which, after utilizing all disaster funds available from federal, State, county, and local funding sources, demonstrates to the satisfaction of the authority that access to additional funding authorized pursuant to the "New Jersey Economic Opportunity Act of 2013," P.L.2013, c.161 (C.52:27D-489p et al.), is necessary to complete the redevelopment project, and which is located within the qualified incentive area and has been determined by the authority to be in an area appropriate for development and in need of economic development incentive assistance.

"Distressed municipality" means a municipality that is qualified to receive assistance under P.L.1978, c.14 (C.52:27D-178 et seq.), a municipality under the supervision of the Local Finance Board pursuant to the provisions of the "Local Government Supervision Act (1947)," P.L.1947, c.151 (C.52:27BB-1 et seq.), a municipality identified by the Director of the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs to be facing serious fiscal distress, a SDA municipality, or a municipality in which a major rail station is located.

"Doctoral university" means a university located within New Jersey that is classified as a doctoral university under the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education's Basic Classification methodology on the effective date of P.L.2017, c.221.

"Eligibility period" means the period in which a business may claim a tax credit under the Grow New Jersey Assistance Program, beginning with the tax period in which the authority accepts certification of the business that it has met the capital investment and employment requirements of the Grow New Jersey Assistance Program and extending thereafter for a term of not more than 10 years, with the term to be determined solely at the discretion of the applicant.

"Eligible position" or "full-time job" means a full-time position in a business in this State which the business has filled with a full-time employee.

"Full-time employee" means a person:

a. who is employed by a business for consideration for at least 35 hours a week, or who renders any other standard of service generally accepted by custom or practice as full-time employment; or

b. who is employed by a professional employer organization pursuant to an employee leasing agreement between the business and the professional employer organization, in accordance with P.L.2001, c.260 (C.34:8-67 et seq.) for at least 35 hours a week, or who renders any other standard of service generally accepted by custom or practice as full-time employment, and whose wages are subject to withholding as provided in the "New Jersey Gross Income Tax Act," N.J.S.54A:1-1 et seq.; or

c. who is a resident of another State but whose income is not subject to the "New Jersey Gross Income Tax Act," N.J.S.54A:1-1 et seq. or who is a partner of a business who works for the partnership for at least 35 hours a week, or who renders any other standard of service generally accepted by custom or practice as full-time employment, and whose distributive share of income, gain, loss, or deduction, or whose guaranteed payments, or any combination thereof, is subject to the payment of estimated taxes, as provided in the "New Jersey Gross Income Tax Act," N.J.S.54A:1-1 et seq.; and

d. who, except for purposes of the Statewide workforce, is provided, by the business, with employee health benefits under a health benefits plan authorized pursuant to State or federal law.

With respect to a logistics, manufacturing, energy, defense, aviation, or maritime business, excluding primarily warehouse or distribution operations, located in a port district having a container terminal:

the requirement that employee health benefits are to be provided shall be deemed to be satisfied if the benefits are provided in accordance with industry practice by a third party obligated to provide such benefits pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement;

full-time employment shall include, but not be limited to, employees that have been hired by way of a labor union hiring hall or its equivalent;

35 hours of employment per week at a qualified business facility shall constitute one "full-time employee," regardless of whether or not the hours of work were performed by one or more persons.

For any project located in a Garden State Growth Zone which qualifies under the "Municipal Rehabilitation and Economic Recovery Act," P.L.2002, c.43 (C.52:27BBB-1 et al.), or any project located in the Atlantic City Tourism District as established pursuant to section 5 of P.L.2011, c.18 (C.5:12-219) and regulated by the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, and which will include a retail facility of at least 150,000 square feet, of which at least 50 percent will be occupied by either a full-service supermarket or grocery store, 30 hours of employment per week at a qualified business facility shall constitute one "full-time employee," regardless of whether the hours of work were performed by one or more persons, and the requirement that employee health benefits are to be provided shall be deemed to be satisfied if the employees of the business are covered by a collective bargaining agreement.

"Full-time employee" shall not include any person who works as an independent contractor or on a consulting basis for the business. Full-time employee shall also not include any person who at the time of project application works in New Jersey for consideration for at least 35 hours per week, or who renders any other standard of service generally accepted by custom or practice as full-time employment but who prior to project application was not provided, by the business, with employee health benefits under a health benefits plan authorized pursuant to State or federal law.

"Garden State Create Zone" means the campus of a doctoral university, and the area within a three-mile radius of the outermost boundary of the campus of a doctoral university, according to a map appearing in the doctoral university's official catalog or other official publication on the effective date of P.L.2017, c.221.

"Garden State Growth Zone" or "growth zone" means the four New Jersey cities with the lowest median family income based on the 2009 American Community Survey from the US Census, (Table 708. Household, Family, and Per Capita Income and Individuals, and Families Below Poverty Level by City: 2009); or a municipality which contains a Tourism District as established pursuant to section 5 of P.L.2011, c.18 (C.5:12-219) and regulated by the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority.

"Highlands development credit receiving area or redevelopment area" means an area located within a qualified incentive area and designated by the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council for the receipt of Highlands Development Credits under the Highlands Transfer Development Rights Program authorized pursuant to section 13 of P.L.2004, c.120 (C.13:20-13).

"Incentive agreement" means the contract between the business and the authority, which sets forth the terms and conditions under which the business shall be eligible to receive the incentives authorized pursuant to the program.

"Incentive effective date" means the date the authority issues a tax credit based on documentation submitted by a business pursuant to paragraph (1) of subsection b. of section 6 of P.L.2011, c.149 (C.34:1B-247).

"Independent institution of higher education" means a college or university incorporated and located in New Jersey, which by virtue of law or character or license is a nonprofit educational institution authorized to grant academic degrees and which provides a level of education which is equivalent to the education provided by the State's public institutions of higher education, as attested by the receipt of and continuation of regional accreditation by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, and which is eligible to receive State aid under the provisions of the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey, but does not include any educational institution dedicated primarily to the education or training of ministers, priests, rabbis or other professional persons in the field of religion.

"Major rail station" means a railroad station located within a qualified incentive area which provides access to the public to a minimum of six rail passenger service lines operated by the New Jersey Transit Corporation.

"Mega project" means:

a. a qualified business facility located in a port district housing a business in the logistics, manufacturing, energy, defense, or maritime industries, either:

(1) having a capital investment in excess of $20,000,000, and at which more than 125 full-time manufacturing employees or 250 full-time employees in any non-manufacturing position of the business are created or retained; or

(2) at which more than 500 full-time manufacturing employees or 1,000 full-time employees in any non-manufacturing position of the business are created or retained;

b. a qualified business facility located in an aviation district housing a business in the aviation industry, in a Garden State Growth Zone, or in a priority area housing the United States headquarters and related facilities of an automobile manufacturer, either:

(2) at which more than 500 full-time manufacturing employees or 1,000 full-time employees in any non-manufacturing position of the business are created or retained;

c. a qualified business facility located in an urban transit hub housing a business of any kind, having a capital investment in excess of $50,000,000, and at which more than 125 full-time manufacturing employees or 250 full-time employees in any non-manufacturing position of the business are created or retained;

d. a project located in an area designated in need of redevelopment, pursuant to P.L.1992, c.79 (C.40A:12A-1 et al.) prior to the enactment of P.L.2014, c.63 (C.34:1B-251 et al.) within Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean, or Salem counties having a capital investment in excess of $20,000,000, and at which more than 150 full-time employees of the business are created or retained; or

e. a qualified business facility primarily used by a business principally engaged in research, development, or manufacture of a drug or device, as defined in R.S.24:1-1, or primarily used by a business licensed to conduct a clinical laboratory and business facility pursuant to the "New Jersey Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act," P.L.1975, c.166 (C.45:9-42.26 et seq.), either:

(1) having a capital investment in excess of $20,000,000, and at which more than 250 full-time employees of the business are created or retained, or

(2) at which more than 1,000 full-time employees of the business are created or retained.

"Minimum environmental and sustainability standards" means standards established by the authority in accordance with the green building manual prepared by the Commissioner of Community Affairs pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2007, c.132 (C.52:27D-130.6), regarding the use of renewable energy, energy-efficient technology, and non-renewable resources in order to reduce environmental degradation and encourage long-term cost reduction.

"Moderate-income housing" means housing affordable, according to United States Department of Housing and Urban Development or other recognized standards for home ownership and rental costs, and occupied or reserved for occupancy by households with a gross household income equal to more than 50 percent but less than 80 percent of the median gross household income for households of the same size within the housing region in which the housing is located.

"Municipal Revitalization Index" means the 2007 index by the Office for Planning Advocacy within the Department of State measuring or ranking municipal distress.

"New full-time job" means an eligible position created by the business at the qualified business facility that did not previously exist in this State. For the purposes of determining a number of new full-time jobs, the eligible positions of an affiliate shall be considered eligible positions of the business.

"Other eligible area" means the portions of the qualified incentive area that are not located within a distressed municipality, or the priority area.

"Partnership" means an entity classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes.

"Port district" means the portions of a qualified incentive area that are located within:

a. the "Port of New York District" of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, as defined in Article II of the Compact Between the States of New York and New Jersey of 1921; or

b. a 15-mile radius of the outermost boundary of each marine terminal facility established, acquired, constructed, rehabilitated, or improved by the South Jersey Port District established pursuant to "The South Jersey Port Corporation Act," P.L.1968, c.60 (C.12:11A-1 et seq.).

"Priority area" means the portions of the qualified incentive area that are not located within a distressed municipality and which:

a. are designated pursuant to the "State Planning Act," P.L.1985, c.398 (C.52:18A-196 et seq.), as Planning Area 1 (Metropolitan), Planning Area 2 (Suburban), a designated center under the State Development and Redevelopment Plan, or a designated growth center in an endorsed plan until June 30, 2013, or until the State Planning Commission revises and readopts New Jersey's State Strategic Plan and adopts regulations to revise this definition;

b. intersect with portions of: a deep poverty pocket, a port district, or federally-owned land approved for closure under a federal Commission on Base Realignment and Closure action;

c. are the proposed site of a disaster recovery project, a qualified incubator facility, a highlands development credit receiving area or redevelopment area, a tourism destination project, or transit oriented development; or

d. contain: a vacant commercial building having over 400,000 square feet of office, laboratory, or industrial space available for occupancy for a period of over one year; or a site that has been negatively impacted by the approval of a "qualified business facility," as defined pursuant to section 2 of P.L.2007, c.346 (C.34:1B-208).

"Professional employer organization" means an employee leasing company registered with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development pursuant to P.L.2001, c.260 (C.34:8-67 et seq.).

"Program" means the "Grow New Jersey Assistance Program" established pursuant to section 3 of P.L.2011, c.149 (C.34:1B-244).

"Public research university" means a public research university as defined in section 3 of P.L.1994, c.48 (C.18A:3B-3).

"Qualified business facility" means any building, complex of buildings or structural components of buildings, and all machinery and equipment located within a qualified incentive area, used in connection with the operation of a business that is not engaged in final point of sale retail business at that location unless the building, complex of buildings or structural components of buildings, and all machinery and equipment located within a qualified incentive area, are used in connection with the operation of:

a. a final point of sale retail business located in a Garden State Growth Zone that will include a retail facility of at least 150,000 square feet, of which at least 50 percent is occupied by either a full-service supermarket or grocery store; or

b. a tourism destination project located in the Atlantic City Tourism District as established pursuant to section 5 of P.L.2011, c.18 (C.5:12-219).

"Qualified incentive area" means:

a. an aviation district;

b. a port district;

c. a distressed municipality or urban transit hub municipality;

d. an area (1) designated pursuant to the "State Planning Act," P.L.1985, c.398 (C.52:18A-196 et seq.), as:

(a) Planning Area 1 (Metropolitan);

(b) Planning Area 2 (Suburban); or

(2) located within a smart growth area and planning area designated in a master plan adopted by the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission pursuant to subsection (i) of section 6 of P.L.1968, c.404 (C.13:17-6) or subject to a redevelopment plan adopted by the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission pursuant to section 20 of P.L.1968, c.404 (C.13:17-21);

(3) located within any land owned by the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, established pursuant to P.L.1971, c.137 (C.5:10-1 et seq.), within the boundaries of the Hackensack Meadowlands District as delineated in section 4 of P.L.1968, c.404 (C.13:17-4);

(4) located within a regional growth area, rural development area zoned for industrial use as of the effective date of P.L.2016, c.75, town, village, or a military and federal installation area designated in the comprehensive management plan prepared and adopted by the Pinelands Commission pursuant to the "Pinelands Protection Act," P.L.1979, c.111 (C.13:18A-1 et seq.);

(5) located within the planning area of the Highlands Region as defined in section 3 of P.L.2004, c.120 (C.13:20-3) or a highlands development credit receiving area or redevelopment area;

(6) located within a Garden State Growth Zone;

(7) located within land approved for closure under any federal Commission on Base Realignment and Closure action; or

(8) located only within the following portions of the areas designated pursuant to the "State Planning Act," P.L.1985, c.398 (C.52:18A-196 et al.), as Planning Area 4A (Rural Planning Area), Planning Area 4B (Rural/Environmentally Sensitive) or Planning Area 5 (Environmentally Sensitive) if Planning Area 4A (Rural Planning Area), Planning Area 4B (Rural/Environmentally Sensitive) or Planning Area 5 (Environmentally Sensitive) is located within:

(a) a designated center under the State Development and Redevelopment Plan;

(b) a designated growth center in an endorsed plan until the State Planning Commission revises and readopts New Jersey's State Strategic Plan and adopts regulations to revise this definition as it pertains to Statewide planning areas;

(c) any area determined to be in need of redevelopment pursuant to sections 5 and 6 of P.L.1992, c.79 (C.40A:12A-5 and C.40A:12A-6) or in need of rehabilitation pursuant to section 14 of P.L.1992, c.79 (C.40A:12A-14);

(d) any area on which a structure exists or previously existed including any desired expansion of the footprint of the existing or previously existing structure provided the expansion otherwise complies with all applicable federal, State, county, and local permits and approvals;

(e) the planning area of the Highlands Region as defined in section 3 of P.L.2004, c.120 (C.13:20-3) or a highlands development credit receiving area or redevelopment area; or

(f) any area on which an existing tourism destination project is located.

"Qualified incentive area" shall not include any property located within the preservation area of the Highlands Region as defined in section 3 of P.L.2004, c.120 (C.13:20-3).

"Qualified incubator facility" means a commercial building located within a qualified incentive area: which contains 50,000 or more square feet of office, laboratory, or industrial space; which is located near, and presents opportunities for collaboration with, a research institution, teaching hospital, college, or university; and within which, at least 50 percent of the gross leasable area is restricted for use by one or more technology startup companies during the commitment period.

"Retained full-time job" means an eligible position that currently exists in New Jersey and is filled by a full-time employee but which, because of a potential relocation by the business, is at risk of being lost to another state or country, or eliminated. For the purposes of determining a number of retained full-time jobs, the eligible positions of an affiliate shall be considered eligible positions of the business. For the purposes of the certifications and annual reports required in the incentive agreement pursuant to subsection e. of section 4 of P.L.2011, c.149 (C.34:1B-245), to the extent an eligible position that was the basis of the award no longer exists, a business shall include as a retained full-time job a new eligible position that is filled by a full-time employee provided that the position is included in the order of date of hire and is not the basis for any other incentive award. For a project located in a Garden State Growth Zone which qualified for the "Municipal Rehabilitation and Economic Recovery Act," P.L.2002, c.43 (C.52:27BBB-1 et al.), retained full-time job shall include any employee previously employed in New Jersey and transferred to the new location in the Garden State Growth Zone which qualified for the "Municipal Rehabilitation and Economic Recovery Act," P.L.2002, c.43 (C.52:27BBB-1 et al.).

"SDA district" means an SDA district as defined in section 3 of P.L.2000, c.72 (C.18A:7G-3).

"SDA municipality" means a municipality in which an SDA district is situate.

"State college" means a State college or university established pursuant to chapter 64 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

"Targeted industry" means any industry identified from time to time by the authority including initially, a transportation, manufacturing, defense, energy, logistics, life sciences, technology, health, and finance business, but excluding a primarily warehouse or distribution business.

"Technology startup company" means a for profit business that has been in operation fewer than five years and is developing or possesses a proprietary technology or business method of a high-technology or life science-related product, process, or service which the business intends to move to commercialization.

"Tourism destination project" means a qualified non-gaming business facility that will be among the most visited privately owned or operated tourism or recreation sites in the State, and which is located within the qualified incentive area and has been determined by the authority to be in an area appropriate for development and in need of economic development incentive assistance, including a non-gaming business within an established Tourism District with a significant impact on the economic viability of that District.

"Transit oriented development" means a qualified business facility located within a 1/2-mile radius, or one-mile radius for projects located in a Garden State Growth Zone, surrounding the mid-point of a New Jersey Transit Corporation, Port Authority Transit Corporation, or Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corporation rail, bus, or ferry station platform area, including all light rail stations.

"Urban transit hub" means an urban transit hub, as defined in section 2 of P.L.2007, c.346 (C.34:1B-208), that is located within an eligible municipality, as defined in section 2 of P.L.2007, c.346 (C.34:1B-208) and also located within a qualified incentive area.

"Urban transit hub municipality" means a municipality: a. which qualifies for State aid pursuant to P.L.1978, c.14 (C.52:27D-178 et seq.), or which has continued to be a qualified municipality thereunder pursuant to P.L.2007, c.111; and b. in which 30 percent or more of the value of real property was exempt from local property taxation during tax year 2006. The percentage of exempt property shall be calculated by dividing the total exempt value by the sum of the net valuation which is taxable and that which is tax exempt.

(cf: P.L.2017, c.221, s.1)

5. Section 3 of P.L.2011, c.149 (C.34:1B-244) is amended to read as follows:

3. a. The Grow New Jersey Assistance Program is hereby established as a program under the jurisdiction of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority and shall be administered by the authority. The purpose of the program is to encourage economic development and job creation and to preserve jobs that currently exist in New Jersey but which are in danger of being relocated outside of the State. To implement this purpose, the program may provide tax credits to eligible businesses for an eligibility period not to exceed 10 years.

To be eligible for any tax credits pursuant to P.L.2011, c.149 (C.34:1B-242 et al.), a business's chief executive officer or equivalent officer shall demonstrate to the authority, at the time of application, that:

(1) the business, expressly including its landlord or seller, will make, acquire, or lease a capital investment equal to, or greater than, the applicable amount set forth in subsection b. of this section at a qualified business facility at which it will:

(a) retain full-time jobs in an amount equal to or greater than the applicable number set forth in subsection c. of this section;

(b) create new full-time jobs in an amount equal to or greater than the applicable number set forth in subsection c. of this section; or

(c) in combination, retain full-time jobs and create new full-time jobs in an amount equal to or greater than the applicable number set forth in subsection c. of this section;

(2) the qualified business facility shall be constructed in accordance with the minimum environmental and sustainability standards;

(3) the capital investment resultant from the award of tax credits and the resultant retention and creation of full-time jobs will yield a net positive benefit to the State equaling at least 110 percent of the requested tax credit allocation amount, which determination is calculated prior to taking into account the value of the requested tax credit and shall be based on the benefits generated during the first 20 years following the completion of the project, except that:

(a) for a mega project or a project located in a Garden State Growth Zone, the determination shall be based on the benefits generated during a period of up to 30 years following the completion of the project, as determined by the authority, and

(b) for a project located in a Garden State Growth Zone which qualified for the "Municipal Rehabilitation and Economic Recovery Act," P.L.2002, c.43 (C.52:27BBB-1 et al.), the net positive benefit determination shall be based on the benefits generated during a period of up to 35 years following completion of the project, as determined by the authority, and shall equal at least 100 percent of the requested tax credit allocation amount and may utilize the value of those property taxes subject to the provisions of section 24 of P.L.2013 c.161 (C.52:27D-489s), or the value of those property taxes that would have been assessed on the new construction, improvements, or substantial rehabilitation of structures on real property if the structures were not exempt because they are on real property owned by a public entity, and incremental sales and excise taxes that are derived from activities within the area and which are rebated or retained by the municipality pursuant to the "New Jersey Urban Enterprise Zones Act," P.L.1983, c.303 (C.52:27H-60 et seq.) or any other law providing for such rebate or retention; and

(4) except as provided in subsection f. of this section, the award of tax credits will be a material factor in the business's decision to create or retain the minimum number of new or retained full-time jobs for eligibility under the program.

With respect to the provisions of paragraph (3) of this subsection, in the case of a project located in a Garden State Growth Zone, the authority, in its discretion, may award bonuses in its net positive benefit calculation.

b. For all projects approved after the effective date of P.L.2013, c.161, the minimum capital investment required to be eligible under this program shall be as follows:

(1) for the rehabilitation, improvement, fit-out, or retrofit of an existing industrial, warehousing, logistics, or research and development premises for continued similar use by the business in at least 51 percent of the gross leasable area of the premises, a minimum investment of $20 per square foot of gross leasable area;

(2) for the new construction of an industrial, warehousing, logistics, or research and development premises for similar use by the business in at least 51 percent of the gross leasable area of the premises, a minimum investment of $60 per square foot of gross leasable area;

(3) for the rehabilitation, improvement, fit-out, or retrofit of an existing premises that does not qualify pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2) of this subsection, a minimum investment of $40 per square foot of gross leasable area; and

(4) for the new construction of a premises that does not qualify pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2) of this subsection, a minimum investment of $120 per square foot of gross leasable area.

The minimum capital investment required by this subsection shall be reduced by one-third for projects located in a Garden State Growth Zone or projects located within Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean, or Salem counties.

c. The minimum number of new or retained full-time jobs required to be eligible under this program shall be as follows:

(1) for a business that is a technology startup company or a manufacturing company, a minimum of five new or 13 retained full time manufacturing jobs or 10 new or 25 retained full-time non-manufacturing jobs;

(2) for a business engaged primarily in a targeted industry other than a technology startup company or a manufacturing company, a minimum of 25 new or 35 retained full-time jobs; and

(3) for any other business, a minimum of 35 new or 50 retained full-time jobs.

The minimum number of new or retained full-time jobs required by this subsection shall be reduced by one-quarter for projects located in a Garden State Growth Zone or projects located within Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean, or Salem counties.

d. To assist the authority in determining whether a proposed capital investment will yield a net positive benefit, the business's chief executive officer, or equivalent officer, shall submit a certification to the authority indicating: (1) that any existing full-time jobs are at risk of leaving the State or being eliminated; (2) that any projected creation or retention, as applicable, of new full-time jobs would not occur but for the provision of tax credits under the program; and (3) that the business's chief executive officer, or equivalent officer, has reviewed the information submitted to the authority and that the representations contained therein are accurate, provided however, that in satisfaction of the provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection, the certification with respect to a project in a Garden State Growth Zone that qualifies under the "Municipal Rehabilitation and Economic Recovery Act," P.L.2002, c.43 (C.52:27BBB-1 et al.), or a project located in a Garden State Growth Zone which contains a Tourism District as established pursuant to section 5 of P.L.2011, c.18 (C.5:12-219) and regulated by the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, shall indicate that the provision of tax credits under the program is a material factor in the business decision to make a capital investment and locate in a Garden State Growth Zone that qualifies under the "Municipal Rehabilitation and Economic Recovery Act," P.L.2002, c.43 (C.52:27BBB-1 et al.), or a Garden State Growth Zone which contains a Tourism District as established pursuant to section 5 of P.L.2011, c.18 (C.5:12-219) and regulated by the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority. In the event that this certification by the business's chief executive officer, or equivalent officer, is found to be willfully false, the authority may revoke any award of tax credits in their entirety, which revocation shall be in addition to any other criminal or civil penalties that the business and the officer may be subject to. When considering an application involving intra-State job transfers, the authority shall require the business to submit the following information as part of its application: a full economic analysis of all locations under consideration by the business; all lease agreements, ownership documents, or substantially similar documentation for the business's current in-State locations; and all lease agreements, ownership documents, or substantially similar documentation for the potential out-of-State location alternatives, to the extent they exist. Based on this information, and any other information deemed relevant by the authority, the authority shall independently verify and confirm, by way of making a factual finding by separate vote of the authority's board, the business's assertion that the jobs are actually at risk of leaving the State, and as to the date or dates at which the authority expects that those jobs would actually leave the State, or, with respect to projects located in a Garden State Growth Zone that qualifies under the "Municipal Rehabilitation and Economic Recovery Act," P.L.2002, c.43 (C.52:27BBB-1 et al.), or projects located in a Garden State Growth Zone which contains a Tourism District as established pursuant to section 5 of P.L.2011, c.18 (C.5:12-219) and regulated by the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, the business's assertion that the provision of tax credits under the program is a material factor in the business's decision to make a capital investment and locate in a Garden State Growth Zone that qualifies under the "Municipal Rehabilitation and Economic Recovery Act," P.L.2002, c.43 (C.52:27BBB-1 et al.), or in a Garden State Growth Zone which contains a Tourism District as established pursuant to section 5 of P.L.2011, c.18 (C.5:12-219) and regulated by the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, before a business may be awarded any tax credits under this section.

e. A project that consists solely of point-of-final-purchase retail facilities shall not be eligible for a grant of tax credits. If a project consists of both point-of-final-purchase retail facilities and non-retail facilities, only the portion of the project consisting of non-retail facilities shall be eligible for a grant of tax credits. For a qualified business facility that is a mixed-use project that includes retail facilities and that is located in a Garden State Growth Zone or the Atlantic City Tourism District as established pursuant to section 5 of P.L.2011, c.18 (C.5:12-219) and regulated by the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, retail facilities in an amount up to 7.5 percent of the mixed-use project may be included in the mixed-use project application for a grant of tax credits along with the non-retail facilities, and that application may include in the aggregate the pro-rata number of full-time employees employed by any number of tenants or other occupants of the included retail facilities. If a warehouse facility is part of a point-of-final-purchase retail facility and supplies only that facility, the warehouse facility shall not be eligible for a grant of tax credits. For the purposes of this section, a retail facility of at least 150,000 square feet, of which at least 50 percent is occupied by a full-service supermarket or grocery store, located in a Garden State Growth Zone which qualified under the "Municipal Rehabilitation and Economic Recovery Act," P.L.2002, c.43 (C.52:27BBB-1 et al.), or a tourism destination project in the Atlantic City Tourism District as established pursuant to section 5 of P.L.2011, c.18 (C.5:12-219), or catalog distribution centers shall not be considered point-of-final-purchase retail facilities.

f. The authority may determine as eligible for tax credits under the program any business that is required to respond to a request for proposals and to fulfill a contract with the federal government although the business's chief executive officer or equivalent officer has not demonstrated to the authority that the award of tax credits will be a material factor in the business's decision to retain the minimum number of retained full-time jobs, as otherwise required by this section. The authority may, in its discretion, consider the economic benefit of the retained jobs servicing the contract in conducting a net benefit analysis required by paragraph (4) of subsection a. of this section. For the purposes of this subsection, "retained full-time jobs" includes jobs that are at risk of being eliminated. Applications to the authority for eligibility under the program pursuant to the criteria set forth in this subsection shall be completed by December 31, 2013. Submission of a proposal to the federal government prior to authority approval shall not disqualify a business from the program.

g. Nothing shall preclude a business from applying for tax credits under the program for more than one project pursuant to one or more applications.

(cf: P.L.2014, c.63, s.3)

6. Section 5 of P.L.2011, c.149 (C.34:1B-246) is amended to read as follows:

5. a. The total amount of the tax credit for an eligible business for each new or retained full-time job shall be as set forth in subsections b. through f. of this section. The total tax credit amount shall be calculated and credited to the business annually for each year of the eligibility period. Notwithstanding any other provisions of P.L.2013, c.161 (C.52:27D-489p et al.), a business may assign its ability to apply for the tax credit under this subsection to a non-profit organization with a mission dedicated to attracting investment and completing development and redevelopment projects in a Garden State Growth Zone. The non-profit organization or organization operating a qualified incubator facility may make an application on behalf of a business which meets the requirements for the tax credit, or a group of non-qualifying businesses or positions, located at a qualified business facility, that shall be considered a unified project for the purposes of the incentives provided under this section. For any project located in a Garden State Growth Zone that qualifies under the "Municipal Rehabilitation and Economic Recovery Act," P.L.2002, c.43 (C.52:27BBB-1 et al.), or any project located in a Garden State Growth Zone which contains a Tourism District as established pursuant to section 5 of P.L.2011, c.18 (C.5:12-219) and regulated by the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, and which will include a retail facility of at least 150,000 square feet, of which at least 50 percent will be occupied by either a full-service supermarket or grocery store, a business may assign its ability to apply for the tax credit under this subsection to the developer of the facility. The developer may make an application on behalf of the business which meets the requirements for the tax credit, or a group of non-qualifying businesses located at the business facility, that shall be considered a unified project for the purposes of the incentives provided under this section, and the developer may apply for tax credits available based on the number of jobs provided by the business or businesses and the total capital investment of the business or businesses and the developer.

b. The base amount of the tax credit for each new or retained full-time job shall be as follows:

(1) (a) for a qualified business facility located within an urban transit hub municipality, located within a Garden State Growth Zone, or which is a mega project, $5,000 per year;

(b) for a qualified business facility located within a Garden State Create Zone and used by an eligible business in a targeted industry to conduct a collaborative research relationship with a doctoral university within the zone, $5,000 per year;

(2) for a qualified business facility located within a distressed municipality but not qualifying under paragraph (1) of this subsection, $4,000 per year;

(3) for a project in a priority area, $3,000 per year; and

(4) for a project in other eligible areas, $500 per year.

c. In addition to the base amount of the tax credit, the amount of the tax credit to be awarded for each new or retained full-time job shall be increased if the qualified business facility meets any of the following priority criteria or other additional or replacement criteria determined by the authority from time to time in response to evolving economic or market conditions:

(1) for a qualified business facility located in a deep poverty pocket or in an area that is the subject of a Choice Neighborhoods Transformation Plan funded by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, an increase of $1,500 per year;

(2) for a qualified business facility located in a qualified incubator facility, an increase of $500 per year;

(3) for a qualified business facility located in a mixed-use development that incorporates sufficient moderate income housing on site to accommodate a minimum of 20 percent of the full-time employees of the business, an increase of $500 per year;

(4) for a qualified business facility located within a transit oriented development, an increase of $2,000 per year;

(5) for a qualified business facility, other than a mega project, at which the capital investment in industrial premises for industrial use by the business is in excess of the minimum capital investment required for eligibility pursuant to subsection b. of section 3 of P.L.2011, c.149 (C.34:1B-244), an increase of $1,000 per year for each additional amount of investment that exceeds the minimum amount required for eligibility by 20 percent, with a maximum increase of $3,000 per year;

(6) for a business with new full-time jobs and retained full-time jobs at the project with an average salary in excess of the existing average salary for the county in which the project is located, or, in the case of a project in a Garden State Growth Zone, a business that employs full-time positions at the project with an average salary in excess of the average salary for the Garden State Growth Zone, an increase of $250 per year during the commitment period for each 35 percent by which the project's average salary levels exceeds the county or Garden State Growth Zone average salary, with a maximum increase of $1,500 per year;

(7) for a business with large numbers of new full-time jobs and retained full-time jobs during the commitment period, the increases shall be in accordance with the following schedule:

(a) if the number of new full-time manufacturing jobs and retained full-time manufacturing jobs is between 126 and 200, or the number of new full-time non-manufacturing jobs and retained full-time non-manufacturing jobs is between 251 and 400, $500 per year;

(b) if the number of new full-time manufacturing jobs and retained full-time manufacturing jobs is between 201 and 300, or the number of new full-time non-manufacturing jobs and retained full-time non-manufacturing jobs is between 401 and 600, $750 per year;

(c) if the number of new full-time manufacturing jobs and retained full-time manufacturing jobs is between 301 and 400, or the number of new full-time non-manufacturing jobs and retained full-time non-manufacturing jobs is between 601 and 800, $1000 per year;

(d) if the number of new full-time manufacturing jobs and retained full-time manufacturing jobs is between 401 and 500, or the number of new full-time non-manufacturing jobs and retained full-time non-manufacturing jobs is between 801 and 1,000, $1,250 per year;

(e) if the number of new full-time manufacturing jobs and retained full-time manufacturing jobs is in excess of 501, or the number of new full-time non-manufacturing jobs and retained full-time non-manufacturing jobs is in excess of 1,000, $1,500 per year;

(8) for a business in a targeted industry, an increase of $500 per year;

(9) for a qualified business facility exceeding the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design's "Silver" rating standards or completes substantial environmental remediation, an additional increase of $250 per year;

(10) for a mega project or a project located within a Garden State Growth Zone at which the capital investment in industrial premises for industrial use by the business exceeds the minimum capital investment required for eligibility pursuant to subsection b. of section 3 of P.L.2011, c.149 (C.34:1B-244), an increase of $1,000 per year for each additional amount of investment that exceeds the minimum amount by 20 percent, with a maximum increase of $5,000 per year;

(11) for a project in which a business retains at least [400] 200 jobs and is located within the municipality in which it was located immediately prior to the filing of the application hereunder and is the United States headquarters of an automobile manufacturer, an increase of $1,500 per year;

(12) for a project located in a municipality in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean, and Salem counties with a 2007 Municipality Revitalization Index greater than 465, an increase of $1,000 per year;

(13) for a project located within a half-mile of any light rail station constructed after the effective date of P.L.2013, c.161 (C.52:27D-489p et al.), an increase of $1,000 per year;

(14) for a marine terminal project in a municipality located outside the Garden State Growth Zone, but within the geographical boundaries of the South Jersey Port District, an increase of $1,500 per year;

(15) for a project located within an area determined to be in need of redevelopment pursuant to sections 5 and 6 of P.L.1992, c.79 (C.40A:12A-5 and C.40A:12A-6), and which is located within a quarter mile of at least one United States Highway and at least two New Jersey State Highways, an increase of $1,500 per year;

(16) for a project that generates solar energy on site for use within the project of an amount that equals at least 50 percent of the project's electric supply service needs, an increase of $250 per year;

(17) for a qualified business facility that includes a vacant commercial building having over 1,000,000 square feet of office or laboratory space available for occupancy for a period of over one year, an increase of $1,000 per year; and

(18) for an eligible business in a targeted industry at a qualified business facility on the campus of a college or university other than a doctoral university, or at a qualified business facility within a three-mile radius of the outermost boundary of the campus of a college or university other than a doctoral university, which facility is used by the business to conduct a collaborative research relationship with the college or university, an increase of $1,000 per year. The boundary of the campus of a college or university shall be based upon a map appearing in the college's or university's official catalog or other official publication on the effective date of P.L.2017, c.221.

d. The gross amount of the tax credit for an eligible business for each new or retained full-time job shall be the sum of the base amount as set forth pursuant to subsection b. of this section and the various additional bonus amounts for which the business is eligible pursuant to subsection c. of this section, subject to the following limitations:

(1) for a mega project or a project in a Garden State Growth Zone, the gross amount for each new or retained full-time job shall not exceed $15,000 per year;

(2) for a qualified business facility located within an urban transit hub municipality or a Garden State Create Zone, the gross amount for each new or retained full-time job shall not exceed $12,000 per year;

(3) for a qualified business facility in a distressed municipality the gross amount for each new or retained full-time job shall not exceed $11,000 per year;

(4) for a qualified business facility in other priority areas, the gross amount for each new or retained full-time job shall not exceed $10,500 per year;

(5) for a qualified business facility in other eligible areas, the gross amount for each new or retained full-time job shall not exceed $6,000 per year; and

(6) for a disaster recovery project, the gross amount for each new or retained full-time job shall not exceed $2,000 per year.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein and in the provisions of subsections a. through f. of this section, but subject to the provisions of paragraph (1) of subsection f. of this section, for a project located within a Garden State Growth Zone which qualifies for the "Municipal Rehabilitation and Economic Recovery Act," P.L.2002, c.43 (C.52:27BBB-1 et al.), which creates 35 or more full-time jobs new to the municipality, the total tax credit shall be:

(a) for a project which creates 18 or more full-time manufacturing jobs or 35 or more full-time non-manufacturing jobs new to the municipality and makes a capital investment of at least $5,000,000, the total tax credit amount per full-time job shall be the greater of: (i) the total tax credit amount for a qualifying project in a Garden State Growth Zone as calculated pursuant to subsections a. through f. of this section; or (ii) the total capital investment of the project divided by the total number of full-time jobs at that project but not greater than $2,000,000 per year over the grant term of ten years;

(b) for a project which creates a combination of 35 or more full-time manufacturing jobs or 70 or more full-time non-manufacturing jobs new to the municipality and makes a capital investment of at least $10,000,000, the total tax credit amount per full-time job shall be the greater of: (i) the total tax credit amount for a qualifying project in a Garden State Growth Zone as calculated pursuant to subsections a. through f. of this section; or (ii) the total capital investment of the project divided by the total number of full-time jobs at that project but not greater than $3,000,000 per year over the grant term of ten years;

(c) for a project which creates a combination of 50 or more full-time manufacturing jobs or 100 or more full-time non-manufacturing jobs new to the municipality and makes a capital investment of at least $15,000,000, the total tax credit amount per full-time job shall be the greater of: (i) the total tax credit amount for a qualifying project in a Garden State Growth Zone as calculated pursuant to subsections a. through f. of this section; or (ii) the total capital investment of the project divided by the total number of full-time jobs at that project but not greater than $4,000,000 per year over the grant term of ten years;

(d) for a project which creates a combination of 75 or more full-time manufacturing jobs or 150 or more full-time non-manufacturing jobs new to the municipality and makes a capital investment of at least $20,000,000, the total tax credit amount per full-time job shall be the greater of: (i) the total tax credit amount for a qualifying project in a Garden State Growth Zone as calculated pursuant to subsections a. through f. of this section; or (ii) the total capital investment of the project divided by the total number of full-time jobs at that project but not greater than $5,000,000 per year over the grant term of ten years; or

(e) for a project which creates a combination of 125 or more full-time manufacturing jobs or 250 or more full-time non-manufacturing jobs new to the municipality and makes a capital investment of at least $30,000,000, the total tax credit amount per full-time job shall be the greater of: (i) the total tax credit amount for a qualifying project in a Garden State Growth Zone as calculated pursuant to subsections a. through f. of this section; or (ii) the total capital investment of the project divided by the total number of full-time jobs as defined herein at that project divided by the ten-year grant term.

e. After the determination by the authority of the gross amount of tax credits for which a business is eligible pursuant to subsection d. of this section, the final total tax credit amount shall be calculated as follows: (1) for each new full-time job, the business shall be allowed tax credits equaling 100 percent of the gross amount of tax credits for each new full-time job; and (2) for each retained full-time job, the business shall be allowed tax credits equaling the lesser of 50 percent of the gross amount of tax credits for each retained full-time job, or one-tenth of the capital investment divided by the number of retained and new full-time jobs per year over the grant term of ten years, unless the jobs are part of a mega project which is the United States headquarters of an automobile manufacturer located within a priority area or in a Garden State Growth Zone, in which case the business shall be entitled to tax credits equaling 100 percent of the gross amount of tax credits for each retained full-time job, or unless the new qualified business facility would replace a facility that has been wholly or substantially damaged as a result of a federally-declared disaster, in which case the business shall be entitled to tax credits equaling 100 percent of the gross amount of tax credits for each retained full-time job.

f. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections a. through e. of this section, for each application approved by the authority's board, the amount of tax credits available to be applied by the business annually shall not exceed:

(1) $35,000,000 and provides a net benefit to the State as provided herein with respect to a qualified business facility in a Garden State Growth Zone which qualifies under the "Municipal Rehabilitation and Economic Recovery Act," P.L.2002, c.43 (C.52:27BBB-1 et al.), or which contains a Tourism District as established pursuant to section 5 of P.L.2011, c.18 (C.5:12-219) and regulated by the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority;

(2) $30,000,000 and provides a net benefit to the State as provided herein with respect to a mega project or a qualified business facility in a Garden State Growth Zone;

(3) $10,000,000 and provides a net benefit to the State as provided herein with respect to a qualified business facility in an urban transit hub municipality or a Garden State Create Zone;

(4) $8,000,000 and provides a net benefit to the State as provided herein with respect to a qualified business facility in a distressed municipality;

(5) $4,000,000 and provides a net benefit to the State as provided herein with respect to a qualified business facility in other priority areas, but not more than 90 percent of the withholdings of the business from the qualified business facility; and

(6) $2,500,000 and provides a net benefit to the State as provided herein with respect to a qualified business facility in other eligible areas, but not more than 90 percent of the withholdings of the business from the qualified business facility.

Under paragraphs (1) through (6) of this subsection, with the exception of a project located within a Garden State Growth Zone which qualifies for the "Municipal Rehabilitation and Economic Recovery Act," P.L.2002, c.43 (C.52:27BBB-1 et al.), or which contains a Tourism District as established pursuant to section 5 of P.L.2011, c.18 (C.5:12-219) and regulated by the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, that divides the total capital investment of the project by the total number of full-time jobs at that project, for each application for tax credits in excess of $4,000,000 annually, the amount of tax credits available to be applied by the business annually shall be the lesser of the maximum amount under the applicable subsection or an amount determined by the authority necessary to complete the project, with such determination made by the authority's utilization of a full economic analysis of all locations under consideration by the business; all lease agreements, ownership documents, or substantially similar documentation for the business's current in-State locations, as applicable; and all lease agreements, ownership documents, or substantially similar documentation for the potential out-of-State location alternatives, to the extent they exist. Based on this information, and any other information deemed relevant by the authority, the authority shall independently verify and confirm the amount necessary to complete the project.

(cf: P.L.2017, c.221, s.2)

7. Section 23 of P.L.2004, c.65 (C.52:27H-87.1) is amended to read as follows:

23. a. Retail sales of energy and utility service to:

(1) a qualified business that employs at least [250] 188 people within an enterprise zone, at least [50%] 33 percent of whom are directly employed in a manufacturing process, for the exclusive use or consumption of such business within an enterprise zone, and

(2) a group of two or more persons: (a) each of which is a qualified business that are all located within a single redevelopment area adopted pursuant to the "Local Redevelopment and Housing Law," P.L.1992, c.79 (C.40A:12A-1 et al.); (b) that collectively employ at least [250] 188 people within an enterprise zone, at least [50%] 33 percent of whom are directly employed in a manufacturing process; (c) are each engaged in a vertically integrated business, evidenced by the manufacture and distribution of a product or family of products that, when taken together, are primarily used, packaged and sold as a single product; and (d) collectively use the energy and utility service for the exclusive use or consumption of each of the persons that comprise a group within an enterprise zone; are exempt from the taxes imposed under the "Sales and Use Tax Act," P.L.1966, c.30 (C.54:32B-1 et seq.).

A qualified business will continue to be subject to applicable Board of Public Utilities tariff regulations except that its bills from utility companies and third party suppliers for energy and utility service shall not include charges for sales and use tax.

b. A business that meets the requirements of subsection a. of this section shall not be allowed the exemption granted pursuant to this section until it has complied with such requirements for obtaining the exemption as may be provided pursuant to P.L.1983, c.303 (C.52:27H-60 et al.) and P.L.1966, c.30 (C.54:32B-1 et seq.). The Executive Director of the New Jersey [Commerce Commission] Economic Development Authority shall provide prompt notice to the President of the Board of Public Utilities and to the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury, of a qualified business that has qualified for the exemption under this subsection, and shall provide the president and the director an annual list of all businesses that qualify.

c. (1) Retail sales of energy and utility service to a business facility located within a county that is designated for the [50%] 50 percent tax exemption under section 1 of P.L.1993, c.373 (C.54:32B-8.45) are exempt from the taxes imposed under the "Sales and Use Tax Act," P.L.1966, c.30 (C.54:32B-1 et seq.); provided that the business certifies that it employs at least [50] 38 people at that facility, at least [50%] 33 percent of whom are directly employed in a manufacturing process, and provided that the energy and utility services are consumed exclusively at that facility.

(2) A business facility that meets the requirements of paragraph (1) of this subsection may file an application for the energy and utility service sales tax exemption with the New Jersey [Commerce Commission] Economic Development Authority, and the commission shall promulgate regulations and forms for that purpose. The New Jersey [Commerce Commission] Economic Development Authority shall process an application submitted under this paragraph within 20 business days of receipt thereof. An exemption shall commence for a business upon notice of approval of its application and shall expire for any year in which the business fails to meet the requirements of paragraph (1) of this subsection. Upon approval, the Executive Director of the New Jersey [Commerce Commission] Economic Development Authority shall provide prompt notice to the applicant and also shall provide prompt notice to the President of the Board of Public Utilities and to the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury. The Executive Director of the New Jersey [Commerce Commission] Economic Development Authority also shall provide the president and the director with an annual list of all businesses that have been approved under this subsection.

(cf: P.L.2007, c.253, s.41)

8. This act shall take effect immediately

STATEMENT

This bill reduces by 50 percent, the number of manufacturing jobs required to be eligible for New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) financing and incentive programs.

The sales and use tax exemption program permits certain companies to obtain a sales tax exemption certificate for the purchase of items to construct or rehabilitate a new business location. Under the bill, a life science or manufacturing company relocating 125 full-time manufacturing jobs or 250 full-time non-manufacturing jobs may be eligible for the exemption. The program currently requires the relocation of 250 full-time employees regardless of whether the job is a manufacturing job or not.

The GROW NJ program provides tax credits to eligible businesses based upon defined job creation and capital investment criteria. Under the bill, the number of full-time jobs that must be created or retained to qualify for the GROW program is reduced by 50 percent for manufacturing jobs, but remains the same for non-manufacturing jobs. The definition of a mega project is altered so that the number of jobs that must be created to qualify as a mega project is reduced by 50 percent for manufacturing jobs, but remains the same for non-manufacturing jobs. The alternate benefit calculation for a GROW project in a Garden State Growth Zone which qualifies for the "Municipal Rehabilitation and Economic Recovery Act," divides the total capital investment by the number of jobs to be created, with the number of full-time manufacturing jobs used in this calculation being reduced by 50 percent for each investment and job creation category used to make the calculation.

The Urban Enterprise Zones (UEZ) manufacturers energy sales tax exemption allows UEZ certified manufacturers an exemption from the sales and use tax on electricity and natural gas and its transmission consumed at the UEZ certified location. Under the bill, the employment requirement for a business is reduced from 250 full-time employees, with at least 50 percent being involved in the manufacturing process to 188 full-time employees with at least 33 percent being involved in the manufacturing process.