SENATE AMENDED

 

PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 1517, 1627, 1749

PRINTER'S NO.  3836

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

HOUSE BILL

 

No.

1330

Session of

2011

  

  

INTRODUCED BY QUIGLEY, CLYMER, GABLER, COX, ADOLPH, AUMENT, BAKER, BARRAR, BEAR, BENNINGHOFF, BLOOM, BOYD, B. BOYLE, BRADFORD, BRENNAN, CALTAGIRONE, CAUSER, CHRISTIANA, CONKLIN, D. COSTA, P. COSTA, CREIGHTON, CUTLER, DAY, DELOZIER, DeLUCA, DENLINGER, DePASQUALE, DiGIROLAMO, ELLIS, J. EVANS, EVERETT, FARRY, FLECK, GEIST, GERGELY, GIBBONS, GILLEN, GINGRICH, GODSHALL, GRELL, GROVE, HACKETT, HARKINS, HARPER, HARRIS, HEFFLEY, HENNESSEY, HESS, HORNAMAN, HUTCHINSON, KAUFFMAN, M. K. KELLER, W. KELLER, KILLION, KNOWLES, KORTZ, KOTIK, KRIEGER, KULA, MAJOR, MALONEY, MANN, MARSICO, McGEEHAN, METCALFE, METZGAR, MICCARELLI, MICOZZIE, MILLARD, MILLER, MILNE, MOUL, MURPHY, MURT, MUSTIO, MYERS, M. O'BRIEN, O'NEILL, PAYTON, PEIFER, PETRI, PYLE, QUINN, RAPP, READSHAW, REED, REESE, REICHLEY, ROAE, ROCK, SABATINA, SANTONI, SAYLOR, SCAVELLO, SCHRODER, SHAPIRO, SONNEY, STEPHENS, STERN, STEVENSON, TALLMAN, TAYLOR, TOEPEL, TURZAI, VEREB, VULAKOVICH, WATERS, LAWRENCE, WAGNER, HICKERNELL, EVANKOVICH, SACCONE, EMRICK, BARBIN, BURNS, TOOHIL AND M. SMITH, APRIL 11, 2011

  

  

SENATOR PICCOLA, EDUCATION, IN SENATE, AS AMENDED, JUNE 26, 2012   

  

  

  

AN ACT

  

1

Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An

2

act relating to the public school system, including certain

3

provisions applicable as well to private and parochial

4

schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the

5

laws relating thereto," providing for educational improvement

6

tax credit; and repealing provisions of the Tax Reform Code

7

of 1971 relating to educational improvement tax credit.

8

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

9

hereby enacts as follows:

10

Section 1.  The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known

11

as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding an

 


1

article to read:

2

ARTICLE XXV-B

3

EDUCATIONAL IMPROVEMENT TAX CREDIT

4

Section 2501-B.  Definitions.

5

The following words and phrases when used in this article

6

shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

7

context clearly indicates otherwise:

8

"Business firm."  An entity authorized to do business in this

9

Commonwealth and subject to taxes imposed under Article XVI of

<--

10

the act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.682, No.284), known as The

11

Insurance Company Law of 1921, or Article III, IV, VI, VII,

12

VIII, IX or XV of the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known

13

as the Tax Reform Code of 1971. The term includes a pass-through

14

entity.

15

"Contribution."  A donation of cash, personal property or

16

services, the value of which is the net cost of the donation to

17

the donor or the pro rata hourly wage, including benefits, of

18

the individual performing the services.

19

"Department."  The Department of Community and Economic

20

Development of the Commonwealth.

21

"Educational improvement organization."  A nonprofit entity

22

which:

23

(1)  is exempt from Federal taxation under section 501(c)

24

(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (Public Law 99-514,

25

26 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.); and

26

(2)  contributes at least 80% of its annual receipts as

27

grants to a public school, a chartered school as defined in

28

section 1376.1 or a private school approved under section

29

1376 for innovative educational programs.

30

For purposes of this definition, a nonprofit entity

- 2 -

 


1

"contributes" its annual cash receipts when it expends or

2

otherwise irrevocably encumbers those funds for expenditure

3

during the then current fiscal year of the nonprofit entity or

4

during the next succeeding fiscal year of the nonprofit entity.

5

A "nonprofit entity" includes a school district foundation,

6

public school foundation, charter school foundation or cyber

7

charter school foundation.

8

"Eligible prekindergarten student."  A student, including an

9

eligible student with a disability, who is enrolled in a

10

prekindergarten program and is a member of a household with a

11

maximum annual household income as increased by the applicable

12

income allowance.

13

"Eligible student."  A school-age student, including an

14

eligible student with a disability, who is enrolled in a school

15

and is a member of a household with a maximum annual household

16

income as increased by the applicable income allowance.

17

"Eligible student with a disability."  A prekindergarten

18

student or a school-age student who meets all of the following:

19

(1)  Is either enrolled in a special education school or

<--

20

has otherwise been identified, in accordance with 22 Pa. Code

21

Ch. 14 (relating to special education services and programs),

22

as a "child with a disability," as defined in 34 CFR § 300.8

23

(relating to child with a disability).

24

(2)  Needs special education and related services.

25

(3)  Is enrolled in a prekindergarten program or in a

26

school.

27

(4)  Is a member of a household with a household income

28

of not more than the maximum annual household income.

29

"Household."  An individual living alone or with the

30

following: a spouse, parent and their unemancipated minor

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1

children, other unemancipated minor children who are related by

2

blood or marriage or other adults or unemancipated minor

3

children living in the household who are dependent upon the

4

individual.

5

"Household income."  All moneys or property received of

6

whatever nature and from whatever source derived. The term does

7

not include the following:

8

(1)  Periodic payments for sickness and disability other

9

than regular wages received during a period of sickness or

10

disability.

11

(2)  Disability, retirement or other payments arising

12

under workers' compensation acts, occupational disease acts

13

and similar legislation by any government.

14

(3)  Payments commonly recognized as old-age or

15

retirement benefits paid to persons retired from service

16

after reaching a specific age or after a stated period of

17

employment.

18

(4)  Payments commonly known as public assistance or

19

unemployment compensation payments by a governmental agency.

20

(5)  Payments to reimburse actual expenses.

21

(6)  Payments made by employers or labor unions for

22

programs covering hospitalization, sickness, disability or

23

death, supplemental unemployment benefits, strike benefits,

24

Social Security and retirement.

25

(7)  Compensation received by United States servicemen

26

serving in a combat zone.

27

"Income allowance."

28

(1)  Subject to paragraph (2), the amount of:

29

(i)  Before July 1, 2011, $10,000 for each eligible

<--

30

student, eligible prekindergarten student and dependent

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1

member of a household.

2

(ii) (i)  After June 30, 2011, through June 30, 2012 

<--

3

2013, $12,000 for each eligible student, eligible

<--

4

prekindergarten student and dependent member of a

5

household.

6

(iii) (ii)  After June 30, 2012 2013, through June

<--

7

30, 2013 2014, $15,000 for each eligible student,

<--

8

eligible prekindergarten student and dependent member of

9

a household.

10

(2)  Beginning July 1, 2013 2014, the Department of

<--

11

Community and Economic Development shall annually adjust the

12

income allowance amounts under paragraph (1) to reflect any

13

upward changes in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban

14

Consumers for the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and

15

Maryland area in the preceding 12 months and shall

16

immediately submit the adjusted amounts to the Legislative

17

Reference Bureau for publication as a notice in the

18

Pennsylvania Bulletin. 

19

"Innovative educational program."  An advanced academic or

20

similar program that is not part of the regular academic program

21

of a public school but that enhances the curriculum or academic

22

program of a public school, chartered school as defined in

23

section 1376.1(a) or private school approved in accordance with

24

section 1376, or provides prekindergarten programs to public

25

school students, students of a chartered school as defined in

26

section 1376.1(a) or students of a private school approved in

27

accordance with section 1376.

28

"Maximum annual household income."

29

(1)  Except as stated in paragraph (2) and subject to

30

paragraph (3), the following:

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1

(i)  Before July 1, 2011, not more than $50,000.

<--

2

(ii) (i)  After June 30, 2011, through June 30, 2012 

<--

3

2013, not more than $60,000.

<--

4

(iii) (ii)  After June 30, 2012 2013, not more than

<--

5

$75,000.

6

(2)  With respect to an eligible student with a

7

disability, as calculated by multiplying:

8

(i)  the sum of:

9

(A)  the applicable amount under paragraph (1);

10

and

11

(B)  the applicable income allowance; by

12

(ii)  the applicable support level factor according

13

to the following table:

14

Support Level

Support Level Factor

15

1

1.50

16

2

2.993

17

(3)  Beginning July 1, 2013 2014, the Department of

<--

18

Community and Economic Development shall annually adjust the

19

income amounts under paragraphs (1) and (2) to reflect any

20

upward changes in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban

21

Consumers for the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and

22

Maryland area in the preceding 12 months and shall

23

immediately submit the adjusted amounts to the Legislative

24

Reference Bureau for publication as a notice in the

25

Pennsylvania Bulletin.

26

"Pass-through entity."  A partnership as defined in section

27

301(n.0) of the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the

28

Tax Reform Code of 1971, a single-member limited liability

29

company treated as a disregarded entity for Federal income tax

30

purposes or a Pennsylvania S corporation as defined in section

- 6 -

 


1

301(n.1) of the Tax Reform Code of 1971.

2

"Prekindergarten program."  A program of instruction for

3

three-year-old or four-year-old students that utilizes a

4

curriculum aligned with the curriculum of the school with which

5

it is affiliated and that provides:

6

(1)  a minimum of two hours of instructional and

7

developmental activities per day at least 60 days per school

8

year; or

9

(2)  a minimum of two hours of instructional and

10

developmental activities per day at least 20 days over the

11

summer recess.

12

"Prekindergarten scholarship organization."  A nonprofit

13

entity that:

14

(1)  Either is Is exempt from Federal taxation under

<--

15

section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986

16

(Public Law 99-514, 26 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.) or is operated as

17

a separate segregated fund by a scholarship organization that

18

has been qualified under section 2502-B.

19

(2)  Contributes at least 80% of its annual cash receipts

20

to a prekindergarten scholarship program by expending or

21

otherwise irrevocably encumbering those funds for

22

distribution during the then current fiscal year of the

23

organization or during the next succeeding fiscal year of the

24

organization.

25

"Prekindergarten scholarship program."  A program to provide

26

tuition to eligible prekindergarten students to attend a

27

prekindergarten program operated by or in conjunction with a

28

school located in this Commonwealth and that includes an

29

application and review process for the purpose of making awards

30

to eligible prekindergarten students and awards scholarships to

- 7 -

 


1

eligible prekindergarten students without limiting availability

2

to only students of one school or one building within a public

<--

3

school district or nonpublic school entity.

4

"Public school."  A public prekindergarten where compulsory

5

attendance requirements do not apply or a public kindergarten,

6

elementary school or secondary school at which the compulsory

7

attendance requirements of this Commonwealth may be met and that

8

meets the applicable requirements of Title VI of the Civil

9

Rights Act of 1964 (Public Law 88-352, 78 Stat. 241).

10

"Scholarship."  An award under a scholarship program to pay

<--

11

tuition and school-related fees to attend a school.

12

"Scholarship organization."  A nonprofit entity that:

13

(1)  is exempt from Federal taxation under section 501(c)

14

(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (Public Law 99-514,

15

26 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.); and

16

(2)  contributes at least 80% of its annual cash receipts

17

to a scholarship program.

18

For purposes of this definition, a nonprofit entity

19

"contributes" its annual cash receipts to a scholarship program

20

when it expends or otherwise irrevocably encumbers those funds

21

for distribution during the then current fiscal year of the

22

nonprofit entity or during the next succeeding fiscal year of

23

the nonprofit entity.

24

"Scholarship program."  A program to provide tuition and

<--

25

school-related fees to eligible students to attend a school

26

located in this Commonwealth. A scholarship program must include

27

an application and review process for the purpose of making

28

awards to eligible students. The award of scholarships to

29

eligible students shall be made without limiting availability to

30

only students of one school or one building within a school

<--

- 8 -

 


1

district or nonpublic school entity.

2

"School."  A public or nonpublic prekindergarten,

3

kindergarten, elementary school or secondary school at which the

4

compulsory attendance requirements of the Commonwealth may be

5

met and that meets the applicable requirements of Title VI of

6

the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Public Law 88-352, 78 Stat. 241).

7

"School age."  From the earliest admission age to a school's

8

prekindergarten or kindergarten program or, when no

9

prekindergarten or kindergarten program is provided, the

10

school's earliest admission age for beginners, until the end of

11

the school year the student attains 21 years of age or

12

graduation from high school, whichever occurs first.

13

"School-related fees."  Fees charged by a school to all

<--

14

students for books, instructional materials, technology

15

equipment and services, uniforms and activities.

16

"Special education school."  A school or program within a

17

school that is designated specifically and exclusively for

18

students with any of the disabilities listed in 34 CFR § 300.8

19

(relating to child with a disability) and meets one of the

20

following:

21

(1)  is licensed under the act of January 28, 1988

22

(P.L.24, No.11), known as the Private Academic Schools Act;

23

(2)  is accredited by an accrediting association approved

24

by the State Board of Education;

25

(3)  is a school for the blind or deaf receiving

26

Commonwealth appropriations; or

27

(4)  is operated by or under the authority of a bona fide

28

religious institution or by the Commonwealth or any political

29

subdivision thereof.

30

"Support level."  The level of support needed by an eligible

- 9 -

 


1

student with a disability, as stated in the following matrix:

2

(1)  Support level 1. The student is not enrolled in a

3

special education school.

4

(2)  Support level 2. The student is enrolled in a

5

special education school.

6

"Tax credit."  The educational improvement tax credit

7

established under this article.

8

Section 2502-B.  Qualification and application.

9

(a)  Establishment.--In accordance with section 14 of Article

10

III of the Constitution of Pennsylvania, an educational

11

improvement tax credit program is established to enhance the

12

educational opportunities available to all students in this

13

Commonwealth.

14

(b)  Information.--In order to qualify under this article, a

15

scholarship organization, a prekindergarten scholarship

16

organization or an educational improvement organization must

17

submit information to the department that enables the department

18

to confirm that the organization is exempt from taxation under

19

section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (Public

20

Law 99-514, 26 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.).

21

(c)  Scholarship organizations and prekindergarten

22

scholarship organizations.--A scholarship organization or

23

prekindergarten scholarship organization must certify to the

24

department that the organization is eligible to participate in

25

the program established under this article and must agree to

26

annually report the following information to the department by

27

September 1 of each year:

28

(1)  (i)  The number of scholarships awarded during the

29

immediately preceding school year to eligible

30

prekindergarten students.

- 10 -

 


1

(ii)  The total and average amounts of scholarships

2

awarded during the immediately preceding school year to

3

eligible prekindergarten students.

4

(iii)  The number of scholarships awarded during the

5

immediately preceding school year to eligible students in

6

grades kindergarten through eight.

7

(iv)  The total and average amounts of scholarships

8

awarded during the immediately preceding school year to

9

eligible students in grades kindergarten through eight.

10

(v)  The number of scholarships awarded during the

11

immediately preceding school year to eligible students in

12

grades 9 through 12.

13

(vi)  The total and average amounts of scholarships

14

awarded during the immediately preceding school year to

15

eligible students in grades 9 through 12.

16

(vii)  Where the scholarship organization or

17

prekindergarten scholarship organization collects

18

information on a county-by-county basis, the total number

19

and the total dollar amount of scholarships awarded

20

during the immediately preceding school year to residents

21

of each county in which the scholarship organization or

22

prekindergarten scholarship organization awarded

23

scholarships.

24

(viii)  The total number of scholarship applications

<--

25

processed and the amounts of any application fees

26

charged, either per scholarship application or in the

27

aggregate through a third-party processor.

28

(ix)  The organization's Federal Form 990 or other

29

Federal form indicating the tax status of the

30

organization for Federal tax purposes, if any, and a copy

- 11 -

 


1

of a compilation, review or audit of the scholarship

2

organization's financial statements conducted by a

3

certified public accounting firm.

4

(2)  The information required under paragraph (1) shall

5

be submitted on a form provided by the department. No later

6

than May 1 of each year, the department shall annually

7

distribute such sample forms, together with the forms on

8

which the reports are required to be made, to each listed

9

scholarship organization and prekindergarten scholarship

10

organization.

11

(3)  The department may not require any other information

12

to be provided by scholarship organizations or

13

prekindergarten scholarship organizations, except as

14

expressly authorized in this article.

15

(d)  Educational improvement organization.--

16

(1)  An application submitted by an educational

17

improvement organization must describe its proposed

18

innovative educational program or programs in a form

19

prescribed by the department. In prescribing the form, the

20

department shall consult with the Department of Education as

21

necessary. The department shall review and approve or

22

disapprove the application. In order to be eligible to

23

participate in the program established under this article, an

24

educational improvement organization must agree to annually

25

report the following information to the department by

26

September 1 of each year:

27

(i)  The name of the innovative educational program

28

or programs and the total amount of the grant or grants

29

made to those programs during the immediately preceding

30

school year.

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1

(ii)  A description of how each grant was utilized

2

during the immediately preceding school year and a

3

description of any demonstrated or expected innovative

4

educational improvements.

5

(iii)  The names of the public schools and school

6

districts where innovative educational programs that

7

received grants during the immediately preceding school

8

year were implemented.

9

(iv)  Where the educational improvement organization

10

collects information on a county-by-county basis, the

11

total number and the total dollar amount of grants made

12

during the immediately preceding school year for programs

13

at public schools in each county in which the educational

14

improvement organization made grants.

15

(v)  The Educational Improvement Organization's

<--

16

Federal Form 990 or other Federal form indicating the tax

17

status of the Educational Improvement Organization for

18

Federal tax purposes, if any, and a copy of a

19

compilation, review of audit of the Educational

20

Improvement Organization's financial statements conducted

21

by a certified public accounting firm.

22

(2)  The information required under paragraph (1) shall

23

be submitted on a form provided by the department. No later

24

than May 1 of each year, the department shall annually

25

distribute such sample forms, together with the forms on

26

which the reports are required to be made, to each listed

27

educational improvement organization.

28

(3)  The department may not require any other information

29

to be provided by educational improvement organizations,

30

except as expressly authorized in this article.

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1

(e)  Notification.--The department shall notify the

2

scholarship organization, prekindergarten scholarship

3

organization or educational improvement organization that the

4

organization meets the requirements of this article for that

5

fiscal year no later than 60 days after the organization has

6

submitted the information required under this section.

7

(f)  Publication.--The department shall annually publish a

8

list of each scholarship organization, prekindergarten

9

scholarship organization or educational improvement organization

10

qualified under this section in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. The

11

list shall also be posted and updated as necessary on the

12

publicly accessible Internet website of the department.

13

Section 2503-B.  Application.

14

(a)  Scholarship organization or prekindergarten scholarship

15

organization.--A business firm shall apply to the department for

16

a tax credit. A business firm shall receive a tax credit if the

17

scholarship organization or prekindergarten scholarship

18

organization that receives the contribution appears on the list

19

established under section 2502-B(f).

20

(b)  Educational improvement organization.--A business firm

21

must apply to the department for a tax credit. A business firm

22

shall receive a tax credit if the department has approved the

23

program provided by the educational improvement organization

24

that receives the contribution.

25

(c)  Availability of tax credits.--Tax credits shall be made

26

available by the department on a first-come-first-served basis

27

within the limitations established under section 2505-B(a).

28

(d)  Contributions.--A contribution by a business firm to a

29

scholarship organization, prekindergarten scholarship

30

organization or educational improvement organization shall be

- 14 -

 


1

made no later than 60 days following the approval of an

2

application under subsection (a) or (b).

3

Section 2504-B.  Tax credit.

4

(a)  Scholarship or educational improvement organizations.--

5

In accordance with section 2505-B(a), the Department of Revenue

6

shall grant a tax credit against any tax due under Article XVI

<--

7

of the act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.682, No.284), known as The

8

Insurance Company Law of 1921, or Article III, IV, VI, VII,

9

VIII, IX or XV of the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known

10

as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, to a business firm providing

11

proof of a contribution to a scholarship organization or

12

educational improvement organization in the taxable year in

13

which the contribution is made which shall not exceed 75% of the

14

total amount contributed during the taxable year by the business

15

firm. For the fiscal year 2011-2012 2012-2013, the tax credit

<--

16

shall not exceed $400,000 annually per business firm for

17

contributions made to scholarship organizations and educational

18

improvement organizations. For the fiscal year 2012-2013 

<--

19

2013-2014 and each fiscal year thereafter, the tax credit shall

<--

20

not exceed $750,000 annually per business firm for contributions

21

made to scholarship organizations or educational improvement

22

organizations.

23

(b)  Additional amount.--The Department of Revenue shall

24

grant a tax credit of up to 90% of the total amount contributed

25

during the taxable year if the business firm provides a written

26

commitment to provide the scholarship organization or

27

educational improvement organization with the same amount of

28

contribution for two consecutive tax years. The business firm

29

must provide the written commitment under this subsection to the

30

department at the time of application.

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1

(c)  Prekindergarten scholarship organizations.--In

2

accordance with section 2505-B(a), the Department of Revenue

3

shall grant a tax credit against any tax due under Article XVI

<--

4

of The Insurance Company Law of 1921 or Article III, IV, VI,

5

VII, VIII, IX or XV of the Tax Reform Code of 1971 to a business

6

firm providing proof of a contribution to a prekindergarten

7

scholarship organization in the taxable year in which the

8

contribution is made which shall be equal to 100% of the first

9

$10,000 contributed during the taxable year by the business

10

firm, and which shall not exceed 90% of the remaining amount

11

contributed during the taxable year by the business firm. For

<--

12

the fiscal year 2011-2012, the The tax credit shall not exceed

<--

13

$200,000 annually per business firm for contributions made to

14

prekindergarten scholarship organizations. For the fiscal year

<--

15

2012-2013, the tax credit shall not exceed $250,000 annually per

16

business firm for contributions made to prekindergarten

17

scholarship organizations.

18

(d)  Combination of tax credits.--A business firm may receive

19

tax credits from the Department of Revenue in any tax year for

20

any combination of contributions under subsection (a), (b) or

21

(c). In no case may a business firm receive tax credits in any

22

tax year in excess of $750,000 $400,000 for contributions under

<--

23

subsections (a) and (b) made during fiscal year 2012-2013, or in

<--

24

excess of $750,000 for contributions under subsections (a) and

25

(b) made during any fiscal year thereafter. In no case shall a

26

business firm receive tax credits in any tax year in excess of

27

$250,000 $200,000 for contributions under subsection (c).

<--

28

(e)  Pass-through entity.--

29

(1)  If a pass-through entity does not intend to use all

30

approved tax credits under this section, it may elect in

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1

writing to transfer all or a portion of the tax credit to

2

shareholders, members or partners in proportion to the share

3

of the entity's distributive income to which the shareholder,

4

member or partner is entitled for use in the taxable year in

5

which the contribution is made or in the taxable year

6

immediately following the year in which the contribution is

7

made. The election shall designate the year in which the

8

transferred tax credits are to be used and shall be made

9

according to procedures established by the Department of

10

Revenue.

11

(2)  A pass-through entity and a shareholder, member or

12

partner of a pass-through entity shall not claim the tax

13

credit under this section for the same contribution.

14

(3)  The shareholder, member or partner may not carry

15

forward, carry back, obtain a refund of or sell or assign the

16

tax credit.

17

(4)  The shareholder, member or partner may claim the

18

credit on a joint return, but the tax credit may not exceed

19

the separate income of that shareholder, member or partner.

20

(f)  Restriction on applicability of credits.--No tax credits

21

shall be applied against any tax withheld by an employer from an

22

employee under Article III of the Tax Reform Code of 1971.

23

(g)  Time of application for credits.--

24

(1)  Except as provided in paragraph (2), the department

25

may accept applications for tax credits available during a

26

fiscal year no earlier than July 1 of each fiscal year.

27

(2)  The application of any business firm for tax credits

28

available during a fiscal year as part of the second year of

29

a two-year commitment or as a renewal of a two-year

30

commitment that was fulfilled in the previous fiscal year may

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1

be accepted no earlier than May 15 preceding the fiscal year.

2

Section 2505-B.  Limitations.

3

(a)  Amount.--

4

(1)  (i)  For the fiscal year 2011-2012, the The total

<--

5

aggregate amount of all tax credits approved shall not

6

exceed $100,000,000. in a fiscal year. Such tax credits

<--

7

shall be used as follows:

8

(ii)  Not more than $67,000,000 of the total

<--

9

(1)  No less than $60,000,000 of the total aggregate

<--

10

amount of all tax credits approved shall be used to provide

11

tax credits for contributions from business firms to

12

scholarship organizations.

13

(iii)  Not more than $25,000,000 of the total

<--

14

(2)  No less than $30,000,000 of the total aggregate

<--

15

amount of all tax credits approved shall be used to provide

16

tax credits for contributions from business firms to

17

educational improvement organizations.

18

(iv)  Not more than $8,000,000 of the total aggregate

<--

19

(3)  Not more than $10,000,000 of the total aggregate 

<--

20

amount of all tax credits approved shall be used to provide

21

tax credits for contributions from business firms to

22

prekindergarten scholarship organizations.

23

(2)  (i)  In the fiscal year 2012-2013 and each fiscal

<--

24

year thereafter, the total aggregate amount of all tax

25

credits approved shall not exceed $200,000,000.

26

(ii)  Not more than $120,000,000 of the total

27

aggregate amount of all tax credits approved shall be

28

used to provide tax credits for contributions from

29

business firms to scholarship organizations.

30

(iii)  Not more than $60,000,000 of the total

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1

aggregate amount of all tax credits approved shall be

2

used to provide tax credits for contributions from

3

business firms to educational improvement organizations.

4

(iv)  Not more than $20,000,000 of the total

5

aggregate amount of all tax credits approved shall be

6

used to provide tax credits for contributions from

7

business firms to prekindergarten scholarship

8

organizations.

9

(b)  Activities.--No tax credit shall be approved for

10

activities that are a part of a business firm's normal course of

11

business.

12

(c)  Tax liability.--

13

(1)  Except as provided in paragraph (2), a tax credit

14

granted for any one taxable year may not exceed the tax

15

liability of a business firm.

16

(2)  In the case of a credit granted to a pass-through

17

entity which elects to transfer the credit according to

18

section 2504-B(e), a tax credit granted for any one taxable

19

year and transferred to a shareholder, member or partner may

20

not exceed the tax liability of the shareholder, member or

21

partner.

22

(d)  Use.--A tax credit not used by the applicant in the

23

taxable year the contribution was made or in the year designated

24

by the shareholder, member or partner to whom the credit was

25

transferred under section 2504-B(e) may not be carried forward

26

or carried back and is not refundable or transferable.

27

(e)  Nontaxable income.--A scholarship received by an

28

eligible student or eligible prekindergarten student shall not

29

be considered to be taxable income for the purposes of Article

30

III of the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax

- 19 -

 


1

Reform Code of 1971.

2

Section 2506-B.  Lists.

3

The Department of Revenue shall provide to the General

4

Assembly, by June 30 of each year, a list of all scholarship

5

organizations, prekindergarten scholarship organizations and

6

educational improvement organizations that receive contributions

7

from business firms granted a tax credit.

8

Section 2507-B.  Guidelines.

9

The department, in consultation with the Department of

10

Education, shall develop guidelines to determine the eligibility

11

of an innovative educational program.

12

Section 2.  Repeals are as follows:

13

(1)  The General Assembly declares that the repeal under

14

paragraph (2) is necessary to effectuate the addition of

15

Article XXV-B of the act.

16

(2)  Article XVII-F and section 2902-E(b) of the act of

17

March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of

18

1971, are repealed.

19

Section 3.  The provisions of Article XXV-B of the act are

20

severable. If any provision of that article or its application

21

to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity

22

shall not affect other provisions or applications of that

23

article which can be given effect without the invalid provision

24

or application.

25

Section 4.  This act shall take effect in 60 days July 1,

<--

26

2012, or immediately, whichever is later.

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