THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY PIPPY, FERLO, FONTANA, WOZNIAK, ALLOWAY, STOUT, FOLMER, ORIE, RAFFERTY, LEACH, BROWNE, O'PAKE AND WAUGH, FEBRUARY 6, 2009

REFERRED TO FINANCE, FEBRUARY 6, 2009  

A RESOLUTION

Directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to

determine the impact of Pennsylvania's tax credit programs on

the Commonwealth's economy, job market and State and local

tax revenues.

WHEREAS, The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has enacted at

least 13 different tax credit programs that apply to businesses

and other taxpayers; and 

WHEREAS, These tax credit programs vary in size, scope and

purpose; and

WHEREAS, Taken together, the Commonwealth's tax credit

programs total approximately $350 million annually; and

WHEREAS, Information on the effectiveness of the

Commonwealth's tax credit programs in achieving their respective

goals and objectives is important information for the General

Assembly to consider; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee

conduct a study to determine the effect of the Commonwealth's

tax credit programs on the Commonwealth's economy, job market

and State and local tax revenues; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee

study include an assessment of the:

(1)  neighborhood assistance programs (Article XIX-A of

the Tax Reform Code of 1971);

(2)  employment incentive payments (Article XIX-A of the

Tax Reform Code of 1971);

(3)  Homeowner's Emergency Mortgage Assistance Fund

(Article IV-C of the Housing Finance Agency Law);

(4)  job creation tax credit (Article XVIII-B of the Tax

Reform Code of 1971);

(5)  research and development tax credit (Article XVII-B

of the Tax Reform Code of 1971);

(6)  keystone opportunity zone (Act 92 of October 6,

1998;

(7)  coal waste removal and ultraclean fuels tax credit

(Article XVIII-A of the Tax Reform Code of 1971);

(8)  educational improvement tax credit (Article XX-B of

the Public School Code of 1949, as amended);

(9)  keystone innovation zone (Act 12 of February 12,

2004);

(10)  first class cities economic development district

(Act 226 of December 1, 2004);

(11)  organ and bone marrow donor tax credit (Act 65 of

July 2, 2006);

(12)  strategic development areas (Act 151 of November

20, 2006);

(13)  resource enhancement and protection tax credit

(Article XVII-E of the Tax Reform Code of 1971);

(14)  life and health insurance guaranty association

credit (Article XVII of the Insurance Company Law of 1921);

(15)  property and causality guaranty association tax

credit (Article IX of the Tax Reform Code of 1971);

(16)  emergency tax credit (Article XX of the Tax Reform

Code of 1971); 

(17)  call center credit (Article II of the Tax Reform

Code of 1971);

and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee

determine the extent to which each of the above-listed programs

have clearly defined goals and objectives and whether the

Commonwealth collects the information necessary to assess

whether those goals and objectives are being achieved; and be it

further

RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee

report all findings to the Senate no later than one year from

the passage of this resolution.