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ARTICLE 12 AS AMENDED |
RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
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SECTION 1. Section 42-64.20-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-64.20 entitled |
"Rebuild Rhode Island Tax Credit Act" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
42-64.20-3. Definitions. |
(1) "Adaptive reuse" means the conversion of an existing structure from the use for which |
it was constructed to a new use by maintaining elements of the structure and adapting such elements |
to a new use. |
(2) "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 § 1563 of the Internal Revenue Code of |
1986 (26 U.S.C. § 1563) or the entity is an organization in a group of organizations under common |
control as defined pursuant to subsection (b) or (c) of § 414 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 |
(26 U.S.C. § 414). A taxpayer may establish by clear and convincing evidence, as determined by |
the tax administrator, 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 |
capital investment or full-time employee requirements of a business that applies for a credit under |
this chapter. |
(3) "Affordable housing" means housing for sale or rent with combined rental costs or |
combined mortgage loan debt service, property taxes, and required insurance that do not exceed |
thirty percent (30%) of the gross annual income of a household earning up to eighty percent (80%) |
of the area median income, as defined annually by the United States Department of Housing and |
Urban Development. |
(4) "Applicant" means a developer applying for a rebuild Rhode Island tax credit under this |
chapter. |
(5) "Business" means a corporation as defined in § 44-11-1(4), or a partnership, an S |
corporation, a non-profit corporation, a sole proprietorship, or a limited-liability corporation. A |
business shall include an affiliate of the business if that business applies for a credit based upon |
any capital investment made by an affiliate. |
(6) "Capital investment" in a real estate project means expenses by a developer incurred |
after application for: |
(i) Site preparation and construction, repair, renovation, improvement, equipping, or |
furnishing on real property or of a building, structure, facility, or improvement to real property; |
(ii) Obtaining and installing furnishings and machinery, apparatus, or equipment, including |
but not limited to, material goods for the operation of a business on real property or in a building, |
structure, facility, or improvement to real property. |
In addition to the foregoing, if a developer acquires or leases a qualified development |
project, 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 development project, shall be considered a |
capital investment by the developer and, if pertaining generally to the qualified development project |
being acquired or leased, shall be allocated to the premises of the qualified development project on |
the basis of the gross leasable area of the premises in relation to the total gross leasable area in the |
qualified development project. The capital investment described herein shall be defined through |
rules and regulations promulgated by the commerce corporation. |
(7) "Certified historic structure" means a property which is located in the state of Rhode |
Island and is |
(i) Listed individually on the national register of historic places; or |
(ii) Listed individually in the state register of historic places; or |
(iii) Located in a registered historic district and certified by either the Rhode Island |
historical preservation and heritage commission created pursuant to § 42-45-2 or the Secretary of |
the Interior as being of historic significance to the district. |
(8) "Commerce corporation" means the Rhode Island commerce corporation established |
pursuant to § 42-64-1 et seq. |
(9) "Commercial" shall mean non-residential development. |
(10) "Developer" means a person, firm, business, partnership, association, political |
subdivision, or other entity that proposes to divide, divides, or causes to be divided real property |
into a subdivision or proposes to build, or builds a building or buildings or otherwise improves land |
or existing structures, which division, building, or improvement qualifies for benefits under this |
chapter. |
(11) "Development" means the improvement of land through the carrying out of building, |
engineering, or other operations in, on, over, or under land, or the making of any material change |
in the use of any buildings or land for the purposes of accommodating land uses. |
(12) "Eligibility period" means the period in which a developer may claim a tax credit |
under this act, beginning with the tax period in which the commerce corporation accepts |
certification from the developer that it has met the requirements of the act and extending thereafter |
for a term of five (5) years. |
(13) "Full-time employee" means a person who is employed by a business for consideration |
for a minimum of at least thirty-five (35) hours per week, or who renders any other standard of |
service generally accepted by custom or practice as full-time employment, or who is employed by |
a professional employer organization pursuant to an employee leasing agreement between the |
business and the professional employer organization for a minimum of thirty-five (35) hours per |
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. |
(14) "Hope community" means a municipality for which the five-year (5) average |
percentage of families with income below the federal poverty level exceeds the state five-year (5) |
average percentage, both as most recently reported by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau |
of the Census. |
(15) “Manufacturer” shall mean any entity that: |
(a)(i) Uses any premises within the state primarily for the purpose of transforming raw |
materials into a finished product for trade through any or all of the following operations: adapting, |
altering, finishing, making, processing, refining, metalworking, and ornamenting, but shall not |
include fabricating processes incidental to warehousing or distribution of raw materials, such as |
alteration of stock for the convenience of a customer; or |
(b)(ii) Is described in codes 31-33 of the North American Industry Classification System, |
as revised from time to time. |
(15)(16) "Mixed use" means a development comprising both commercial and residential |
components. |
(176) "Partnership" means an entity classified as a partnership for federal income tax |
purposes. |
(187) "Placed in service" means the earlier of (i) substantial Substantial construction or |
rehabilitation work has been completed which that would allow for occupancy of an entire |
structure or some identifiable portion of a structure, as established in the application approved by |
the commerce corporation board or (ii) receipt Receipt by the developer of a certificate, permit, or |
other authorization allowing for occupancy of the project or some identifiable portion of the project |
by the municipal authority having jurisdiction. |
(198) "Project" means qualified development project as defined under subsection (22) (23). |
(2019) "Project area" means land or lands under common ownership or control in which a |
qualified development project is located. |
(210) "Project cost" means the costs incurred in connection with the qualified development |
project or qualified residential or mixed use project by the applicant until the issuance of a |
permanent certificate of occupancy, or until such other time specified by the commerce corporation, |
for a specific investment or improvement, as defined through rules and regulations promulgated by |
the commerce corporation. |
(221) "Project financing gap" means: |
(i) The part of the total project cost that remains to be financed after all other sources of |
capital have been accounted for (such the sources will include, but not be limited to, developer- |
contributed capital), which shall be defined through rules and regulations promulgated by the |
commerce corporation,; or |
(ii) The amount of funds that the state may invest in a project to gain a competitive |
advantage over a viable and comparable location in another state by means described in this chapter. |
(232) "Qualified development project" means a specific construction project or |
improvement, including lands, buildings, improvements, real and personal property or any interest |
therein, including lands under water, riparian rights, space rights and air rights, acquired, owned, |
leased, developed or redeveloped, constructed, reconstructed, rehabilitated or improved, |
undertaken by a developer, owner or tenant, or both, within a specific geographic area, meeting the |
requirements of this chapter, as set forth in an application made to the commerce corporation. |
(243) "Recognized historical structure" means a property which is located in the state of |
Rhode Island and is commonly considered to be of historic or cultural significance as determined |
by the commerce corporation in consultation with the state historic preservation officer. |
(24)(25) "Residential" means a development of residential dwelling units. |
(265) "Targeted industry" means any advanced, promising, or otherwise prioritized |
industry identified in the economic development vision and policy promulgated pursuant to § 42- |
64.17-1 or, until such time as any such economic development vision and policy is promulgated, |
as identified by the commerce corporation. |
(276) "Transit-oriented development area" means an area in proximity to transit |
infrastructure that will be further defined by regulation of the commerce corporation in consultation |
with the Rhode Island department of transportation. |
(287) "Workforce housing" means housing for sale or rent with combined rental costs or |
combined mortgage loan debt service, property taxes, and required insurance that do not exceed |
thirty percent (30%) of the gross annual income of a household earning between eighty percent |
(80%) and one hundred and forty percent (140%) of the area median income, as defined annually |
by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. |
SECTION 2. Section 42-64.20-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-64.20 entitled |
"Rebuild Rhode Island Tax Credit" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
42-64.20-5. Tax credits. |
(a) An applicant meeting the requirements of this chapter may be allowed a credit as set |
forth hereinafter against taxes imposed upon such person under applicable provisions of title 44 of |
the general laws for a qualified development project. |
(b) To be eligible as a qualified development project entitled to tax credits, an applicant's |
chief executive officer or equivalent officer shall demonstrate to the commerce corporation, at the |
time of application, that: |
(1) The applicant has committed a capital investment or owner equity of not less than |
twenty percent (20%) of the total project cost; |
(2) There is a project financing gap in which after taking into account all available private |
and public funding sources, the project is not likely to be accomplished by private enterprise |
without the tax credits described in this chapter; and |
(3) The project fulfills the state's policy and planning objectives and priorities in that: |
(i) The applicant will, at the discretion of the commerce corporation, obtain a tax |
stabilization agreement from the municipality in which the real estate project is located on such |
terms as the commerce corporation deems acceptable; |
(ii) It (A) is Is a commercial development consisting of at least 25,000 square feet occupied |
by at least one business employing at least 25 full-time employees after construction or such |
additional full-time employees as the commerce corporation may determine; (B) is Is a multi- |
family residential development in a new, adaptive reuse, certified historic structure, or recognized |
historical structure consisting of at least 20,000 square feet and having at least 20 residential units |
in a hope community; or (C) is Is a mixed-use development in a new, adaptive reuse, certified |
historic structure, or recognized historical structure consisting of at least 25,000 square feet |
occupied by at least one business, subject to further definition through rules and regulations |
promulgated by the commerce corporation; and |
(iii) Involves a total project cost of not less than $5,000,000, except for a qualified |
development project located in a hope community or redevelopment area designated under § 45- |
32-4 in which event the commerce corporation shall have the discretion to modify the minimum |
project cost requirement. |
(c) The commerce corporation shall develop separate, streamlined application processes |
for the issuance of Rebuild rebuild RI tax credits for each of the following: |
(1) Qualified development projects that involve certified historic structures; |
(2) Qualified development projects that involve recognized historical structures; |
(3) Qualified development projects that involve at least one manufacturer; and |
(4) Qualified development projects that include affordable housing or workforce housing. |
(d) Applications made for a historic structure or recognized historic structure tax credit |
under chapter 33.6 of title 44 shall be considered for tax credits under this chapter. The division of |
taxation, at the expense of the commerce corporation, shall provide communications from the |
commerce corporation to those who have applied for and are in the queue awaiting the offer of tax |
credits pursuant to chapter 33.6 of title 44 regarding their potential eligibility for the Rebuild |
rebuild RI Tax Credit tax credit program. |
(c)(e) Applicants (i) (1) who Who have received the notice referenced in subsection (d) |
above and who may be eligible qualifying for a tax credit pursuant to chapter 33.6 of title 44, (ii) |
(2) whose Whose application involves a certified historic structure or recognized historical |
structure, or (iii) (3) whose Whose project is occupied by at least one manufacturer shall be exempt |
from the requirements of subparagraphs subsections (b)(3)(ii) and (b)(3)(iii) of this section. The |
following procedure shall apply to such applicants: |
(1) (i) The division of taxation shall remain responsible for determining the eligibility of |
an applicant for tax credits awarded under chapter 33.6 of title 44; |
(2) (ii) The commerce corporation shall retain sole authority for determining the eligibility |
of an applicant for tax credits awarded under this chapter; and |
(3) (iii) The commerce corporation shall not award in excess of fifteen percent (15%) of |
the annual amount appropriated authorized in any fiscal year to applicants seeking tax credits |
pursuant to this subsection (ce). |
(d)(f) Maximum project credit. |
(i) (1) For qualified development projects, the maximum tax credit allowed under this |
chapter shall be the lesser of (1 (i) thirty Thirty percent (30%) of the total project cost; or (2) (ii) |
the The amount needed to close a project financing gap (after taking into account all other private |
and public funding sources available to the project), as determined by the commerce corporation. |
(ii) (2) The credit allowed pursuant to this chapter, inclusive of any sales and use tax |
exemptions allowed pursuant to this chapter, shall not exceed fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) |
for any qualified development project under this chapter; except as provided in subsection (iii) of |
this section (f)(iii) (f)(3) of this section; provided however, any qualified development project |
which that exceeds the project cap upon passage of this act shall be deemed not to exceed the cap, |
shall not be reduced, nor shall it be further increased. No building or qualified development project |
to be completed in phases or in multiple projects shall exceed the maximum project credit of fifteen |
million dollars ($15,000,000) for all phases or projects involved in the rehabilitation of such the |
building. Provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection and no more than once in a given |
fiscal year, the commerce corporation may consider the development of land and buildings by a |
developer on the "I-195 land" (as defined in § 42-64.24-3(6) of the general laws) as a separate, |
qualified development project from a qualified development project by a tenant or owner of a |
commercial condominium or similar legal interest including leasehold improvement, fit out, and |
capital investment. Such qualified development project by a tenant or owner of a commercial |
condominium or similar legal interest on the I-195 land may be exempted from subparagraph |
(d)(i)(1) subsection (f)(i)(1) (f)(1)(i) of this section. |
(iii) (3) The credit allowed pursuant to this chapter, inclusive of any sales and use tax |
exemptions allowed pursuant to this chapter, shall not exceed twenty-five million dollars |
($25,000,000) for the project for which the I-195 redevelopment district was authorized to enter |
into a purchase and sale agreement for parcels 42 and P4 on December 19, 2018, provided said |
that project is approved for credits pursuant to this chapter by the commerce corporation. |
(e)(g) Credits available under this chapter shall not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the |
project cost, provided, however, that the applicant shall be eligible for additional tax credits of not |
more than ten percent (10%) of the project cost, if the qualified development project meets any of |
the following criteria or other additional criteria determined by the commerce corporation from |
time to time in response to evolving economic or market conditions: |
(1) The project includes adaptive reuse or development of a recognized historical structure; |
(2) The project is undertaken by or for a targeted industry; |
(3) The project is located in a transit-oriented development area; |
(4) The project includes residential development of which at least twenty percent (20%) of |
the residential units are designated as affordable housing or workforce housing; |
(5) The project includes the adaptive reuse of property subject to the requirements of the |
industrial property remediation and reuse act, § 23-19.14-1 et seq.; or |
(6) The project includes commercial facilities constructed in accordance with the minimum |
environmental and sustainability standards, as certified by the commerce corporation pursuant to |
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design or other equivalent standards. |
(f)(h) Maximum aggregate credits. The aggregate sum authorized pursuant to this chapter, |
inclusive of any sales and use tax exemptions allowed pursuant to this chapter, shall not exceed one |
hundred and fifty million dollars ($150,000,000) two hundred ten million dollars ($210,000,000), |
excluding any tax credits allowed pursuant to subsection (f)(iii)(3) of this section. |
(gi) Tax credits shall not be allowed under this chapter prior to the taxable year in which |
the project is placed in service. |
(hj) The amount of a tax credit allowed under this chapter shall be allowable to the taxpayer |
in up to five, annual increments; no more than thirty percent (30%) and no less than fifteen percent |
(15%) of the total credits allowed to a taxpayer under this chapter may be allowable for any taxable |
year. |
(ik) If the portion of the tax credit allowed under this chapter exceeds the taxpayer's total |
tax liability for the year in which the relevant portion of the credit is allowed, the amount that |
exceeds the taxpayer's tax liability may be carried forward for credit against the taxes imposed for |
the succeeding four (4) years, or until the full credit is used, whichever occurs first. Credits allowed |
to a partnership, a limited-liability company taxed as a partnership, or multiple owners of property |
shall be passed through to the persons designated as partners, members, or owners respectively pro |
rata or pursuant to an executed agreement among such persons designated as partners, members, |
or owners documenting an alternate distribution method without regard to their sharing of other tax |
or economic attributes of such entity. |
(jl) The commerce corporation, in consultation with the division of taxation, shall establish, |
by regulation, the process for the assignment, transfer, or conveyance of tax credits. |
(km) For purposes of this chapter, any assignment or sales proceeds received by the |
taxpayer for its assignment or sale of the tax credits allowed pursuant to this section shall be exempt |
from taxation under title 44. If a tax credit is subsequently revoked or adjusted, the seller's tax |
calculation for the year of revocation or adjustment shall be increased by the total amount of the |
sales proceeds, without proration, as a modification under chapter 30 of title 44. In the event that |
the seller is not a natural person, the seller's tax calculation under chapters chapter 11, 13, 14, or |
17 of title 44 of the general laws, as applicable, for the year of revocation, or adjustment, shall be |
increased by including the total amount of the sales proceeds without proration. |
(ln) The tax credit allowed under this chapter may be used as a credit against corporate |
income taxes imposed under chapters chapter 11, 13, 14, or 17, of title 44, or may be used as a |
credit against personal income taxes imposed under chapter 30 of title 44 for owners of pass- |
through entities such as a partnership, a limited-liability company taxed as a partnership, or multiple |
owners of property. |
(mo) In the case of a corporation, this credit is only allowed against the tax of a corporation |
included in a consolidated return that qualifies for the credit and not against the tax of other |
corporations that may join in the filing of a consolidated tax return. |
(np) Upon request of a taxpayer and subject to annual appropriation, the state shall redeem |
such this credit, in whole or in part, for ninety percent (90%) of the value of the tax credit. The |
division of taxation, in consultation with the commerce corporation, shall establish by regulation a |
redemption process for tax credits. |
(oq) Projects eligible to receive a tax credit under this chapter may, at the discretion of the |
commerce corporation, be exempt from sales and use taxes imposed on the purchase of the |
following classes of personal property only to the extent utilized directly and exclusively in such |
the project: (1) Furniture, fixtures, and equipment, except automobiles, trucks, or other motor |
vehicles; or (2) Such other Other materials, including construction materials and supplies, that are |
depreciable and have a useful life of one year or more and are essential to the project. |
(pr) The commerce corporation shall promulgate rules and regulations for the |
administration and certification of additional tax credit under subsection (e), including criteria for |
the eligibility, evaluation, prioritization, and approval of projects that qualify for such additional |
tax credit. |
(qs) The commerce corporation shall not have any obligation to make any award or grant |
any benefits under this chapter. |
SECTION 3. Section 42-64.20-7 and 42-64.20-10 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-64.20 |
entitled "Rebuild Rhode Island Tax Credit" are hereby amended to read as follows: |
42-64.20-7. Rebuild Rhode Island tax credit fund. |
(a) There is hereby established at the commerce corporation a restricted account known as |
the rebuild Rhode Island tax-credit fund (the "Fund fund ") in which all amounts appropriated for |
the program created under this chapter shall be deposited. The fund shall be used (i)(1) to To pay |
for the redemption of tax credits or reimbursement to the state for tax credits applied against a |
taxpayer's liability; and (ii)(2) to To redeem or reimburse the state for any sales and use tax |
exemptions allowed pursuant to this chapter. The commerce corporation may pledge and reserve |
amounts deposited into the fund for the purpose of securing payment for the redemption of tax |
credits or for making reimbursements to municipalities pursuant to chapter 64.22 of this title 42 of |
the general laws. The fund shall be exempt from attachment, levy, or any other process at law or in |
equity. The director of the department of revenue shall make a requisition to the commerce |
corporation for funding during any fiscal year as may be necessary to pay for the redemption of tax |
credits presented for redemption or to reimburse the state for tax credits applied against a taxpayer's |
tax liability. The commerce corporation shall pay from the fund such amounts as requested by the |
director of the department of revenue necessary for redemption or reimbursement in relation to tax |
credits granted under this chapter; provided, however, that the commerce corporation shall not be |
required to pay from the fund such sums pledged and reserved by the commerce corporation, as |
permitted in this section, except for redemption of tax credits. |
(b) Notwithstanding anything in this chapter to the contrary, the commerce corporation |
may make a loan or equity investment as an alternative incentive in lieu of the provision of tax |
credits so long as the applicant otherwise qualifies for tax credits under this chapter. In addition to |
the qualification requirements of this chapter, any loan or equity investment shall be subject to the |
provisions of §§ 42-64.20-5(b), (d), (e), (f), (g), (n), (o), (p), and (h), (i), (j), (q), (r) and (s), 42- |
64.20-7, 42-64.20-8, 42-64.20-9, and 42-64.20-10 as if such the loan or equity investment were a |
tax credit. The commerce corporation may pay, reserve, and/or pledge monies for a loan or equity |
investment from the fund. |
42-64.20-10. Sunset. |
No credits shall be authorized to be reserved pursuant to this chapter after June 30, |
December 31, 2020. |
SECTION 4. Section 44-11-11 of the General Laws in Chapter 44-11 entitled "Business |
Corporation Tax" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
44-11-11. "Net income" defined. |
(a)(1) “Net income” means, for any taxable year and for any corporate taxpayer, the taxable |
income of the taxpayer for that taxable year under the laws of the United States, plus: |
(i) Any interest not included in the taxable income; |
(ii) Any specific exemptions; |
(iii) The tax imposed by this chapter; and minus: |
(iv) Interest on obligations of the United States or its possessions, and other interest exempt |
from taxation by this state; and |
(v) The federal net operating loss deduction. |
(2) All binding federal elections made by or on behalf of the taxpayer applicable either |
directly or indirectly to the determination of taxable income shall be binding on the taxpayer except |
where this chapter or its attendant regulations specifically modify or provide otherwise. Rhode |
Island taxable income shall not include the "gross-up of dividends" required by the federal Internal |
Revenue Code to be taken into taxable income in connection with the taxpayer's election of the |
foreign tax credit. |
(b) A net operating loss deduction shall be allowed, which shall be the same as the net |
operating loss deduction allowed under 26 U.S.C. § 172, except that: |
(1) Any net operating loss included in determining the deduction shall be adjusted to reflect |
the inclusions and exclusions from entire net income required by subsection (a) of this section and |
§ 44-11-11.1; |
(2) The deduction shall not include any net operating loss sustained during any taxable year |
in which the taxpayer was not subject to the tax imposed by this chapter; and |
(3) The deduction shall not exceed the deduction for the taxable year allowable under 26 |
U.S.C. § 172; provided, that the deduction for a taxable year may not be carried back to any other |
taxable year for Rhode Island purposes but shall only be allowable on a carry forward basis for the |
five (5) succeeding taxable years. |
(c) “Domestic international sales corporations” (referred to as DISCs), for the purposes of |
this chapter, will be treated as they are under federal income tax law and shall not pay the amount |
of the tax computed under § 44-11-2(a). Any income to shareholders of DISCs is to be treated in |
the same manner as it is treated under federal income tax law as it exists on December 31, 1984. |
(d) A corporation which that qualifies as a “foreign sales corporation” (FSC) under the |
provisions of subchapter N, 26 U.S.C. § 861 et seq., and which that has in effect for the entire |
taxable year a valid election under federal law to be treated as a FSC, shall not pay the amount of |
the tax computed under § 44-11-2(a). Any income to shareholders of FSCs is to be treated in the |
same manner as it is treated under federal income tax law as it exists on January 1, 1985. |
(e) For purposes of a corporation’s state tax liability, any deduction to income allowable |
under 26 U.S.C. 1400Z-2(c) may be claimed in the case of any investment held by the taxpayer for |
at least seven years. The division of taxation shall promulgate, in its discretion, rules and |
regulations relative to the accelerated application of deductions under 26 U.S.C. § 1400Z-2(c). |
SECTION 5. Section 44-30-12 of the General Laws in Chapter 44-30 entitled "Personal |
Income Tax" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
44-30-12. Rhode Island income of a resident individual. |
(a) General. The Rhode Island income of a resident individual means his or her adjusted |
gross income for federal income tax purposes, with the modifications specified in this section. |
(b) Modifications increasing federal adjusted gross income. There shall be added to federal |
adjusted gross income: |
(1) Interest income on obligations of any state, or its political subdivisions, other than |
Rhode Island or its political subdivisions; |
(2) Interest or dividend income on obligations or securities of any authority, commission, |
or instrumentality of the United States, but not of Rhode Island or its political subdivisions, to the |
extent exempted by the laws of the United States from federal income tax but not from state income |
taxes; |
(3) The modification described in § 44-30-25(g); |
(4)(i) The amount defined below of a nonqualified withdrawal made from an account in |
the tuition savings program pursuant to § 16-57-6.1. For purposes of this section, a nonqualified |
withdrawal is: |
(A) A transfer or rollover to a qualified tuition program under Section 529 of the Internal |
Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. § 529, other than to the tuition savings program referred to in § 16-57- |
6.1; and |
(B) A withdrawal or distribution which that is: |
(I) Not applied on a timely basis to pay "qualified higher education expenses" as defined |
in § 16-57-3(12) of the beneficiary of the account from which the withdrawal is made; |
(II) Not made for a reason referred to in § 16-57-6.1(e); or |
(III) Not made in other circumstances for which an exclusion from tax made applicable by |
Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. § 529, pertains if the transfer, rollover, |
withdrawal, or distribution is made within two (2) taxable years following the taxable year for |
which a contributions modification pursuant to subdivision subsection (c)(4) of this section is taken |
based on contributions to any tuition savings program account by the person who is the participant |
of the account at the time of the contribution, whether or not the person is the participant of the |
account at the time of the transfer, rollover, withdrawal or distribution; |
(ii) In the event of a nonqualified withdrawal under subparagraphs subsection(b)(4)(i)(A) |
or (b)(4)(i)(B) of this subdivision section, there shall be added to the federal adjusted gross income |
of that person for the taxable year of the withdrawal an amount equal to the lesser of: |
(A) The amount equal to the nonqualified withdrawal reduced by the sum of any |
administrative fee or penalty imposed under the tuition savings program in connection with the |
nonqualified withdrawal plus the earnings portion thereof, if any, includible in computing the |
person's federal adjusted gross income for the taxable year; and |
(B) The amount of the person's contribution modification pursuant to subdivision |
subsection (c)(4) of this section for the person's taxable year of the withdrawal and the two (2) |
prior taxable years less the amount of any nonqualified withdrawal for the two (2) prior taxable |
years included in computing the person's Rhode Island income by application of this subsection for |
those years. Any amount added to federal adjusted gross income pursuant to this subdivision shall |
constitute Rhode Island income for residents, nonresidents and part-year residents; and |
(5) The modification described in § 44-30-25.1(d)(3)(i).; |
(6) The amount equal to any unemployment compensation received but not included in |
federal adjusted gross income.; and |
(7) The amount equal to the deduction allowed for sales tax paid for a purchase of a |
qualified motor vehicle as defined by the Internal Revenue Code § 164(a)(6). |
(c) Modifications reducing federal adjusted gross income. There shall be subtracted from |
federal adjusted gross income: |
(1) Any interest income on obligations of the United States and its possessions to the extent |
includible in gross income for federal income tax purposes, and any interest or dividend income on |
obligations, or securities of any authority, commission, or instrumentality of the United States to |
the extent includible in gross income for federal income tax purposes but exempt from state income |
taxes under the laws of the United States; provided, that the amount to be subtracted shall in any |
case be reduced by any interest on indebtedness incurred or continued to purchase or carry |
obligations or securities the income of which is exempt from Rhode Island personal income tax, to |
the extent the interest has been deducted in determining federal adjusted gross income or taxable |
income; |
(2) A modification described in § 44-30-25(f) or § 44-30-1.1(c)(1); |
(3) The amount of any withdrawal or distribution from the "tuition savings program" |
referred to in § 16-57-6.1 which that is included in federal adjusted gross income, other than a |
withdrawal or distribution or portion of a withdrawal or distribution that is a nonqualified |
withdrawal; |
(4) Contributions made to an account under the tuition savings program, including the |
"contributions carryover" pursuant to paragraph (iv) of this subdivision subsection (c)(4)(iv) of |
this section, if any, subject to the following limitations, restrictions and qualifications: |
(i) The aggregate subtraction pursuant to this subdivision for any taxable year of the |
taxpayer shall not exceed five hundred dollars ($500) or one thousand dollars ($1,000) if a joint |
return; |
(ii) The following shall not be considered contributions: |
(A) Contributions made by any person to an account who is not a participant of the account |
at the time the contribution is made; |
(B) Transfers or rollovers to an account from any other tuition savings program account or |
from any other "qualified tuition program" under section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 |
U.S.C. § 529; or |
(C) A change of the beneficiary of the account; |
(iii) The subtraction pursuant to this subdivision shall not reduce the taxpayer's federal |
adjusted gross income to less than zero (0); |
(iv) The contributions carryover to a taxable year for purpose of this subdivision is the |
excess, if any, of the total amount of contributions actually made by the taxpayer to the tuition |
savings program for all preceding taxable years for which this subsection is effective over the sum |
of: |
(A) The total of the subtractions under this subdivision allowable to the taxpayer for all |
such preceding taxable years; and |
(B) That part of any remaining contribution carryover at the end of the taxable year which |
exceeds the amount of any nonqualified withdrawals during the year and the prior two (2) taxable |
years not included in the addition provided for in this subdivision for those years. Any such part |
shall be disregarded in computing the contributions carryover for any subsequent taxable year; |
(v) For any taxable year for which a contributions carryover is applicable, the taxpayer |
shall include a computation of the carryover with the taxpayer's Rhode Island personal income tax |
return for that year, and if for any taxable year on which the carryover is based the taxpayer filed a |
joint Rhode Island personal income tax return but filed a return on a basis other than jointly for a |
subsequent taxable year, the computation shall reflect how the carryover is being allocated between |
the prior joint filers; and |
(5) The modification described in § 44-30-25.1(d)(1).; |
(6) Amounts deemed taxable income to the taxpayer due to payment or provision of |
insurance benefits to a dependent, including a domestic partner pursuant to chapter 12 of title 36 or |
other coverage plan.; |
(7) Modification for organ transplantation. |
(i) An individual may subtract up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000) from federal adjusted |
gross income if he or she, while living, donates one or more of his or her human organs to another |
human being for human organ transplantation, except that for purposes of this subsection, "human |
organ" means all or part of a liver, pancreas, kidney, intestine, lung, or bone marrow. A subtract |
modification that is claimed hereunder may be claimed in the taxable year in which the human |
organ transplantation occurs. |
(ii) An individual may claim that subtract modification hereunder only once, and the |
subtract modification may be claimed for only the following unreimbursed expenses that are |
incurred by the claimant and related to the claimant's organ donation: |
(A) Travel expenses. |
(B) Lodging expenses. |
(C) Lost wages. |
(iii) The subtract modification hereunder may not be claimed by a part-time resident or a |
nonresident of this state.; |
(8) Modification for taxable Social Security income. |
(i) For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2016: |
(A) For a person who has attained the age used for calculating full or unreduced social |
security retirement benefits who files a return as an unmarried individual, head of household, or |
married filing separate whose federal adjusted gross income for such the taxable year is less than |
eighty thousand dollars ($80,000); or |
(B) A married individual filing jointly or individual filing qualifying widow(er) who has |
attained the age used for calculating full or unreduced social security retirement benefits whose |
joint federal adjusted gross income for such the taxable year is less than one hundred thousand |
dollars ($100,000), an amount equal to the social security benefits includable in federal adjusted |
gross income. |
(ii) Adjustment for inflation. The dollar amount contained in subparagraphs 44-30-12 |
subsections (c)(8)(i)(A) and 44-30-12 (c)(8)(i)(B) of this section shall be increased annually by an |
amount equal to: |
(A) Such dollar amount contained in subparagraphs subsections 44-30-12 (c)(8)(i)(A) and |
44-30-12 (c)(8)(i)(B) of this section adjusted for inflation using a base tax year of 2000, multiplied |
by; |
(B) The cost-of-living adjustment with a base year of 2000. |
(iii) For the purposes of this section the cost-of-living adjustment for any calendar year is |
the percentage (if any) by which the consumer price index for the preceding calendar year exceeds |
the consumer price index for the base year. The consumer price index for any calendar year is the |
average of the consumer price index as of the close of the twelve-(12) month (12) period ending on |
August 31, of such calendar year. |
(iv) For the purpose of this section the term "consumer price index" means the last |
consumer price index for all urban consumers published by the department of labor. For the purpose |
of this section the revision of the consumer price index which is most consistent with the consumer |
price index for calendar year 1986 shall be used. |
(v) If any increase determined under this section is not a multiple of fifty dollars ($50.00), |
such increase shall be rounded to the next lower multiple of fifty dollars ($50.00). In the case of a |
married individual filing separate return, if any increase determined under this section is not a |
multiple of twenty-five dollars ($25.00), such increase shall be rounded to the next lower multiple |
of twenty-five dollars ($25.00).; |
(9) Modification for up to fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) of taxable retirement income |
from certain pension plans or annuities. |
(i) For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2017, a modification shall be allowed for |
up to fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) of taxable pension and/or annuity income that is included |
in federal adjusted gross income for the taxable year: |
(A) For a person who has attained the age used for calculating full or unreduced social |
security retirement benefits who files a return as an unmarried individual, head of household, or |
married filing separate whose federal adjusted gross income for such taxable year is less than the |
amount used for the modification contained in § 44-30-12 subsection (c)(8)(i)(A) of this section |
an amount not to exceed $15,000 of taxable pension and/or annuity income includable in federal |
adjusted gross income; or |
(B) For a married individual filing jointly or individual filing qualifying widow(er) who |
has attained the age used for calculating full or unreduced social security retirement benefits whose |
joint federal adjusted gross income for such taxable year is less than the amount used for the |
modification contained in § 44-30-12 subsection (c)(8)(i)(B) of this section an amount not to |
exceed $15,000 of taxable pension and/or annuity income includable in federal adjusted gross |
income. |
(ii) Adjustment for inflation. The dollar amount contained by reference in §§ subsections |
44-30-12(c)(9)(i)(A) and 44-30-12(c)(9)(i)(B) of this section shall be increased annually for tax |
years beginning on or after January 1, 2018 by an amount equal to: |
(A) Such dollar amount contained by reference in §§ 44-30-12 subsections (c)(9)(i)(A) |
and 44-30-12(c)(9)(i)(B) of this section adjusted for inflation using a base tax year of 2000, |
multiplied by; |
(B) The cost-of-living adjustment with a base year of 2000. |
(iii) For the purposes of this section, the cost-of-living adjustment for any calendar year is |
the percentage (if any) by which the consumer price index for the preceding calendar year exceeds |
the consumer price index for the base year. The consumer price index for any calendar year is the |
average of the consumer price index as of the close of the twelve-month (12) period ending on |
August 31, of such calendar year. |
(iv) For the purpose of this section, the term "consumer price index" means the last |
consumer price index for all urban consumers published by the department of labor. For the purpose |
of this section, the revision of the consumer price index which is most consistent with the consumer |
price index for calendar year 1986 shall be used. |
(v) If any increase determined under this section is not a multiple of fifty dollars ($50.00), |
such increase shall be rounded to the next lower multiple of fifty dollars ($50.00). In the case of a |
married individual filing a separate return, if any increase determined under this section is not a |
multiple of twenty-five dollars ($25.00), such increase shall be rounded to the next lower multiple |
of twenty-five dollars ($25.00).; and |
(10) Modification for Rhode Island investment in opportunity zones. For purposes of a |
taxpayer’s state tax liability, in the case of any investment in a Rhode Island opportunity zone by |
the taxpayer for at least seven (7) years, a modification to income shall be allowed for the |
incremental difference between the benefit allowed under 26 U.S.C. § 1400Z-2(b)(2)(B)(iv) and |
the federal benefit allowed under 26 U.S.C. § 1400Z-2(c). |
(d) Modification for Rhode Island fiduciary adjustment. There shall be added to, or |
subtracted from, federal adjusted gross income (as the case may be) the taxpayer's share, as |
beneficiary of an estate or trust, of the Rhode Island fiduciary adjustment determined under § 44- |
30-17. |
(e) Partners. The amounts of modifications required to be made under this section by a |
partner, which relate to items of income or deduction of a partnership, shall be determined under § |
44-30-15. |
SECTION 6. Section 44-31.2-5 and 44-31.2-11 of the General Laws in Chapter 44-31.2 |
entitled "Motion Picture Production Tax Credits" are hereby amended to read as follows: |
44-31.2-5. Motion picture production company tax credit. |
(a) A motion picture production company shall be allowed a credit to be computed as |
provided in this chapter against a tax imposed by chapters 11, 14, 17, and 30 of this title. The |
amount of the credit shall be thirty percent (30%) of the state-certified production costs incurred |
directly attributable to activity within the state, provided that the primary locations are within the |
state of Rhode Island and the total production budget as defined herein is a minimum of one |
hundred thousand dollars ($100,000). The credit shall be earned in the taxable year in which |
production in Rhode Island is completed, as determined by the film office in final certification |
pursuant to § 44-31.2-6(c). |
(b) For the purposes of this section: "total production budget" means and includes the |
motion picture production company's pre-production, production, and post-production costs |
incurred for the production activities of the motion picture production company in Rhode Island in |
connection with the production of a state-certified production. The budget shall not include costs |
associated with the promotion or marketing of the film, video, or television product. |
(c) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, the credit shall not exceed seven million |
dollars ($7,000,000) and shall be allowed against the tax for the taxable period in which the credit |
is earned and can be carried forward for not more than three (3) succeeding tax years. Pursuant to |
rules promulgated by the tax administrator, the administrator may issue a waiver of the seven |
million dollars ($7,000,000) tax credit cap for any feature-length film or television series up to the |
remaining funds available pursuant to section (e) of this section. |
(d) Credits allowed to a motion picture production company, which is a subchapter S |
corporation, partnership, or a limited-liability company that is taxed as a partnership, shall be |
passed through respectively to persons designated as partners, members, or owners on a pro rata |
basis or pursuant to an executed agreement among such persons designated as subchapter S |
corporation shareholders, partners, or members documenting an alternate distribution method |
without regard to their sharing of other tax or economic attributes of such entity. |
(e) No more than fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) in total may be issued for any tax |
year beginning after December 31, 2007, for motion picture tax credits pursuant to this chapter |
and/or musical and theatrical production tax credits pursuant to chapter 31.3 of this title. After |
December 31, 2019, no more than twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) in total may be issued for |
any tax year for motion picture tax credits pursuant to this chapter and/or musical and theater |
production tax credits pursuant to chapter 31.3 of this title. Said credits shall be equally available |
to motion picture productions and musical and theatrical productions. No specific amount shall be |
set aside for either type of production. |
44-31.2-11. Sunset. |
No credits shall be issued on or after July 1, 2024 July 1, 2027, unless the production has |
received initial certification under § 44-31.2-6(a) prior to July 1, 2024 July 1, 2027. |
SECTION 7. Section 44-48.3-6 of the General Laws in Chapter 44-48.3 entitled "Rhode |
Island New Qualified Jobs Incentive Act 2015" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
44-48.3-6. Total amount of tax credit for eligible business. |
(a) The base amount of the tax credit for an eligible business for each new full-time job |
shall be up to two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) annually. |
(b) The total tax credit amount shall be calculated and credited to the business annually for |
each year of the eligibility period after the commerce corporation, in consultation with the division |
of taxation, has verified that the jobs covered by the tax credit have generated sufficient personal |
income taxes to comply with subsection (e) of this section. |
(c) In addition to the base amount of the tax credit, the amount of the tax credit to be |
awarded for each new full-time job may be increased, pursuant to the provisions of subsection (d) |
of this section, if the business meets any of the following criteria or such other additional criteria |
determined by the commerce corporation from time to time in response to evolving economic or |
market conditions: |
(1) For a business located within a hope community; |
(2) For a targeted industry; |
(3) For a business located within a transit oriented development area; and |
(4) For an out-of-state business that relocates a business unit or units or creates a significant |
number of new full-time jobs during the commitment period. |
(d) For any application made to the commerce corporation from 2015 through 2018, the |
tax credit for an eligible business for each new full-time job shall not exceed seven thousand five |
hundred dollars ($7,500) annually. |
(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) through (d) of this section, for each |
application approved by the commerce corporation prior to July 1, 2019, the amount of tax credits |
available to be obtained by the business annually shall not exceed the reasonable W-2 withholding |
received by the state for each new full-time job created by a business for applications received by |
the commerce corporation in 2015 through 2018. For each application approved by the commerce |
corporation after July 1, 2019, the amount of tax credits available to be obtained by the business |
annually shall not exceed seventy-five percent (75%) of the reasonable W-2 withholding received |
by the state for each new full-time job created by a business for applications received by the |
commerce corporation. |
(f) The commerce corporation shall establish regulations regarding the conditions under |
which a business may submit more than one application for tax credits over time. The commerce |
corporation may place limits on repeat applications. |
SECTION 8. Title 45 of the General Laws entitled "TOWNS AND CITIES" is hereby |
amended by adding thereto the following chapter: |
CHAPTER 24.6 |
SPECIAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS |
45-24.6-1. Declaration of purpose. |
(a) According to the United States Census Bureau estimates as of 2015, Rhode Island ranks |
second among the fifty (50) states in terms of population density. Notwithstanding this, there exists |
within the various municipalities of the state, certain large tracts of developable or blighted state- |
owned land, which areas represent in and of themselves and are often contiguous with areas of vital |
economic importance to the state. In light of this, the state declares that these tracts of state-owned |
land, and more specifically those tracts that are twenty (20) or more contiguous acres in size, are |
important state assets which require the coordination of federal, state, local, or private action to |
efficiently make use of these lands. |
(b) It is further declared that coordination is paramount to development as time delays, |
redundant approvals, and local eccentricities often impede development projects. |
(c) It is further declared that there is a statewide need for coordinated attention to and |
supervision of the development of these areas for the purpose of education, enjoyment, and welfare |
of the general public, the promotion of commercial and economic development, the attraction to |
our state of appropriate business, industrial, and tourist trade, resources, and investment, the |
development of an attractive environment that fosters the social welfare and health of the public. |
(d) It is further declared that the developmental tools presently available to municipalities |
in the state do not contain sufficient flexibility to address the unique problems arising from the |
projects and to govern comprehensive and coordinated development of areas subject to these |
projects consistently with the previously-declared public needs and purposes. Proper development |
of these areas, consistent with the general welfare, may require designation of special land-use |
districts and special land-use controls, which may be more stringent or more flexible than existing |
zoning, planning, and other developmental tools, and the adoption, implementation, and |
administration of a plan that establishes a framework for development including detailed design |
and development criteria, regulations, and enforcement procedures. |
(e) It is further declared that the most efficient and effective method to further the |
previously declared public policy of the state to encourage the appropriate, comprehensive, and |
coordinated development of these properties is to permit the creation of special economic |
development districts in the municipalities of the state and the creation of special economic |
development district commissions to adopt, implement, and administer plans of development that |
establish and enforce design and development criteria and regulations for the development of these |
areas. |
45-24.6-2. Short title. |
This chapter may be known and may be cited as the "Rhode Island Special Economic |
Development District Enabling Act". |
45-24.6-3. Definitions. |
As used in this chapter, the following words and terms have the following meanings, unless |
the context indicates another or different meaning or intent: |
(1) "Certificate of approval" means the document issued by a special economic |
development district commission approving an application for construction, erection, alteration, |
demolition, or use of a structure or land within the special economic development district, and |
pursuant to which a building permit may be issued. |
(2) "Certificate of rejection" means the document issued by a special economic |
development district commission rejecting an application for construction, erection, alteration, |
demolition, or use of a structure or land within a special economic development district. |
(3) "Commission" means a special economic development district commission or |
independent public instrumentality authorized by the general assembly and empowered by this |
chapter. |
(4) "Contiguous acres" means tracts or parcels of land that abut or connect without |
excepting therefrom streams, ponds, rivers, roads, bridges, or other types of paths or rights of way. |
(5) "Development map" means a map of a special economic development district that |
shows the parcels into which the district may have been divided according to the plan of |
development. |
(6) "District" means any developable or blighted state-owned tracts or parcels of land, |
which at its creation, aggregation and/or acquisition by a state agency or instrumentality consists |
of or consisted of twenty (20) or more contiguous acres in size. |
(7) "Permit" means a building permit issued by a duly licensed building inspector. |
(8) "Person" means a natural person or any other legal entity, including, but not limited to, |
a corporation, firm, partnership, or trust. |
(9) "Plan of development" or "plan" means a plan, including design and development |
criteria and regulations, for the development of a special economic development district adopted |
by a special economic development district commission pursuant to this chapter. |
(10) "Regulations" means the rules regulating the construction, erection, alteration, |
demolition, or use of a structure or land within a special development district adopted by a special |
economic development commission pursuant to a plan of development. |
(11) "Special economic development district" means an area of a municipality or |
municipalities that has been or will be established, designated, laid out, or defined by the general |
assembly, including, but not limited to, independent public instrumentalities created by the general |
assembly. |
(12) "Structure" means a building or anything that is constructed or erected and that |
requires location on the ground or attachment to something located on the ground. |
45-24.6-4. Special economic development districts authorized. |
(a) For the purposes stated in § 45-24.6-1, the general assembly may, by statute, establish, |
designate, lay out, and define, as special economic development districts, areas that are, may be or |
have been the subject of, or substantially affected by combined federal, state, local, or private |
action, in the same manner as municipalities are presently empowered to establish, designate, lay |
out, and define zoning districts, and which lands are developable or blighted state-owned tracts or |
parcels of land, and which, at the time of the creation of the district, consist of twenty (20) or more |
contiguous acres in size. Properties owned or controlled by the department of environmental |
management shall not be subject to the provisions of this chapter. |
(b) The boundaries of a special economic development district established, designated, laid |
out, and defined according to the provisions of this chapter, may be amended only by an act of the |
general assembly. |
(c) The powers of the district to achieve the purposes of this chapter shall be exercised by |
a commission as herein provided as a public corporation and instrumentality of the state, to adopt, |
implement, and administer a plan of development. |
Each district commission shall consist of seven (7) voting members. The governor of the |
state of Rhode Island shall appoint, with the advice and consent of the senate, the seven (7) voting |
members of the commission. The commission shall have the sole authority to adopt, implement, |
and administer a plan of development for the special economic development district. |
45-24.6-5. Powers of commission. |
A special economic development district commission established under this chapter shall |
have all powers necessary and incidental to the adoption, implementation, and administration of a |
plan of development, and any other powers that the general assembly may grant in the creation of |
the commission. |
45-24.6-6. Adoption of special development district plan – Regulation of structures |
and uses - Notice. |
(a) A special economic development district commission shall adopt a plan of |
development. Any plan of development adopted by a special economic development district |
commission pursuant to this chapter may regulate and restrict, by means of regulations duly adopted |
by the commission, the erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, or use of buildings, |
structures, or land within the special economic development district in a uniform, consistent, and |
nondiscriminatory manner that is rationally related to the purposes of this chapter. The plan may |
include regulations relating to allowable land uses,; the location and use of buildings,; street |
systems,; dimensional, height, and area coverage requirements,; setbacks and build-to lines,; |
frontage,; parking requirements,; landscaping,; pedestrian travel,; signs,; design review,; open |
spaces,; and population density. |
(b) Pursuant to the plan of development, the commission may divide the special economic |
development district into several parcels as indicated on a development map, and may regulate |
structures and uses differently in different parcels, so long as regulation of similar structures and |
uses is uniform within any one parcel. |
(c) A plan of development may be adopted or amended only after a public hearing before |
the commission, at which all interested parties have an opportunity to be heard. Notice of the time, |
place, nature, and purpose of the public hearing shall be given to all owners of real property within |
the bounds of the special economic development district and within two hundred feet (200') of the |
perimeter thereof, by registered or certified mail at least seven (7) days before the date of the |
hearing, and by publication of notice in a newspaper of general circulation within the municipality |
at least once each week for three (3) successive weeks prior to the date of the hearing. |
(d) The municipality shall not have concurrent jurisdiction over the special economic |
development district,. |
45-24.6-7. Permit required to erect, construct, alter, repair, or demolish structure – |
Commission quorum and voting. |
(a) Before any structure may be erected, constructed, altered, repaired, or demolished |
within a special economic development district, the person proposing the construction or other |
alteration shall file with the commission an application for permission to erect, construct, alter, |
repair, or demolish the structure, together with plans and specifications, all that may be required by |
regulations adopted by the commission. It is the duty of the commission to review the application, |
plans, and specifications, and no building permit shall be granted until the commission has acted |
on it. No construction or other alteration of a structure may be undertaken within a special |
development district without a permit. The commission may, by regulation, coordinate permit |
approvals with state building officials and fire marshals, city or town officials, or duly qualified |
independent staff or consultants. |
(b) Nothing in this chapter prevents, or is to be construed to prevent, ordinary maintenance |
or repair of any structure within the special economic development district; nor shall anything in |
this chapter prevent, or be construed to prevent, the continuance of the use of any building or |
improvement for any purpose to which the building or improvement was lawfully devoted at the |
time of the adoption of a plan of development, or to prevent or be construed to prevent the erection, |
construction, alteration, repair, or demolition of any structure under a permit issued by the inspector |
of buildings prior to the adoption of a plan of development pursuant to this chapter. |
(c) At all meetings of the commission, a majority of the commissioners is necessary and |
sufficient to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the act of a majority of the |
commissioners present at any meeting at which there is a quorum is the act of the commission, |
except as otherwise provided by law. |
45-24.6-8. Variances, deviations, and special exceptions. |
(a) Any commission that adopts or has adopted a plan conforming to this chapter has the |
authority to grant variances, deviations, and special exceptions of any regulations adopted pursuant |
to that plan, upon the application of an aggrieved property owner: |
(1) Special exceptions to the terms of the regulations may be granted in those cases |
specified in the regulations, and subject to those conditions and safeguards specified therein, where |
the use granted by special exception is reasonably necessary for the convenience or welfare of the |
public and does not substantially or permanently injure the value of neighboring property. |
(2) Variances may be granted where, owing to special conditions, enforcement of the |
regulations would result in unnecessary hardship, where the variance will not be contrary to the |
public interest, and the spirit of the plan will be observed and substantial justice done. |
(3) Deviations may be granted where the enforcement of the regulations relating to |
setbacks, build-to lines, and other area and dimensional restrictions would preclude the full |
enjoyment by the owner of a permitted use and amount to more than a mere inconvenience. |
(b) The commission shall hold a hearing on the application within a reasonable time, and |
give public notice and due notice of the hearing to the parties in interest and property owners within |
two hundred feet (200') of the affected property. At any hearing any party may appear in person or |
by agent or attorney. |
(c) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to restrict, amend, repeal, or otherwise |
supersede the jurisdiction of the commission regarding any area designated a special development |
district pursuant to this chapter. |
45-24.6-9. Appeals to superior court. |
(a) Any person or persons jointly or severally aggrieved by a decision of the commission |
may appeal to the superior court for the county in which the special economic development district |
is situated by filing a complaint stating the reasons of appeal within twenty (20) days after the |
decision has been filed in the office of the commission. The commission shall file the original |
documents acted upon by it and constituting the record of the hearing appealed from, or certified |
copies of the documents, together with any other facts that may be pertinent, with the clerk of the |
court within ten (10) days after being served with a copy of the complaint. When the complaint is |
filed by someone other than the original applicant or appellant, the original applicant or appellant |
and the members of the commission shall be made parties to the proceedings. The appeal shall not |
stay proceedings upon the decision being appealed, but the court may, in its discretion, grant a stay |
on appropriate terms and make any other orders that it deems necessary for an equitable disposition |
of the appeal. |
(b) If, before the date set for hearing in the superior court, an application is made to the |
court for leave to present additional evidence before the commission, and it is shown to the |
satisfaction of the court that the additional evidence is material and that there were good reasons |
for the failure to present it at the hearing before the commission, the court may order that the |
additional evidence be taken before the commission upon conditions determined by the court. The |
commission may modify its findings and decision by reason of the additional evidence and file that |
evidence and any modifications, new findings, or decisions with the superior court. |
(c) The review shall be conducted by the superior court without a jury. The court shall |
consider the record of the hearing before the commission, and if it appears to the court that |
additional evidence is necessary for the proper disposition of the matter, it may allow any party to |
the appeal to present evidence in open court, which evidence, along with the record shall constitute |
the record upon which the determination of the court is made. |
(d) The court shall not substitute its judgment for that of the commission as to the weight |
of the evidence on questions of fact. The court may affirm the decision of the commission or remand |
the case for further proceedings, or may reverse or modify the decision if substantial rights of the |
appellant have been prejudiced because of findings, inferences, conclusions, or decisions which |
are: |
(1) In violation of constitutional, statutory provisions; |
(2) In excess of the authority granted to the commission by statute; |
(3) Made upon unlawful procedure; |
(4) Affected by other error of law; |
(5) Clearly erroneous in view of the reliable, probative, and substantial evidence of the |
whole record; or |
(6) Arbitrary or capricious or characterized by abuse of discretion or clearly unwarranted |
exercise of discretion. |
45-24.6-10. Construction of chapter. |
Whenever the context permits in this chapter, the use of the plural includes the singular, |
the singular, the plural, and the use of any gender is deemed to include all genders. |
45-24.6-11. Severability. |
If any one or more sections, clauses, sentences, or parts of this chapter are for any reason |
adjudged unconstitutional or invalid in any court, the judgment does not affect, impair, or invalidate |
the remaining provisions of this chapter, but are confined in its operation to the specific provisions |
so held unconstitutional or invalid, and the inapplicability or invalidity of any section, clause, or |
provision of this chapter in any one or more instances or circumstances shall not be taken to affect |
or prejudice in any way its applicability or validity in any other instance. |
45-24.6-12. Applicability of other laws. |
(a) Any special economic development district commission created pursuant to this chapter |
will not be subject to the provisions of §§ 42-35-1 through 42-35-18. Any commission and its |
members will be subject to the provisions of §§ 36-14-1 through 36-14-21, §§ 38-2-1 through 38- |
2-16, and §§ 42-46-1 through 42-46-14. |
(b) In the event of a conflict between the provisions of this chapter and any other provisions |
of the general laws governing the powers of any other district commission created by or pursuant |
to the general laws, including, but not limited to, the I-195 redevelopment district established |
pursuant to chapter 64.14 of title 42, the provisions of this chapter shall prevail. The provisions of |
this chapter shall also prevail over any district commissions established by legislation promulgated |
after the effective date of this act, unless specifically exempted by that legislation. |
SECTION 9. Sections 42-64.14-5, 42-64.14-8 and 42-64.14-18 of the General Laws in |
Chapter 42-64.14 entitled "The I-195 Redevelopment Act of 2011" are hereby amended to read as |
follows: |
42-64.14-5. The I-195 redevelopment district created. |
(a) The I-195 redevelopment district is hereby constituted as an independent public |
instrumentality and body corporate and politic for the purposes set forth in this chapter with a |
separate legal existence from the city of Providence and from the state and the exercise by the |
commission of the powers conferred by this chapter shall be deemed and held to be the performance |
of an essential public function. The boundaries of the district are established in § 37-5-8. However, |
parcels P2 and P4, as delineated on that certain plan of land captioned "Improvements to Interstate |
Route 195, Providence, Rhode Island, Proposed Development Parcel Plans 1 through 10, Scale: 1" |
=20', May 2010, Bryant Associates, Inc., Engineers-Surveyors-Construction Managers, Lincoln, |
RI, Maguire Group, Inc., Architects/Engineers/Planners, Providence, RI," shall be developed and |
continued to be used as parks or park supporting activity; provided, however, the commission may, |
from time to time, pursuant to action taken at a meeting of the commission in public session, adjust |
the boundaries of parcel P4 provided that at all times parcel P4 shall contain no fewer than one |
hundred eighty-six thousand one hundred eighty-six square feet (186,186 ft2) of land and provided, |
further, that the city of Providence shall not be responsible for the upkeep of the parks unless a |
memorandum of understanding is entered into between the commission or the state and the city of |
Providence that grants full funding to the city for that purpose. |
(b) The property owned by the district is designated as a special economic development |
district pursuant to § 45-24.6-4 and constitutes state-owned land within the meaning of that section. |
The I-195 redevelopment district commission established in this chapter shall oversee, |
plan, implement, and administer the development of the areas within the district consistent with |
and subject to the city of Providence comprehensive plan adopted by the city pursuant to § 45-22- |
2.1 et seq. and the city of Providence zoning ordinances pursuant to § 45-24-27 et seq. as previously |
enacted by the city of Providence, and as may be enacted and/or amended from time to time through |
July 1, 2012, or enacted and/or amended thereafter with the consent of the commission. |
(c)(d)(c) The city of Providence shall not be required to install or pay for the initial |
installation of any public or private utility infrastructure within the district. |
(d)(c)(d) It is the intent of the general assembly by the passage of this chapter to vest in |
the commission all powers, authority, rights, privileges, and titles that may be necessary to enable |
it to accomplish the purposes herein set forth, and this chapter and the powers granted hereby shall |
be liberally construed in conformity with those purposes. |
42-64.14-8. Additional general powers. |
In addition to the powers of the commission otherwise provided herein, the commission |
shall have the powers set forth below and shall be subject to the limitations herein set forth. Except |
as may be expressly limited by action of the commission at a regular or special meeting, the |
commission shall have the powers necessary to put into effect the powers of the commission as set |
forth below and as herein limited. |
(a) The commission is authorized and empowered to fix, revise, charge, collect, and abate |
fees, rates, assessments, delinquency charges, and other charges for its services, and other services, |
facilities, and commodities furnished or supplied by it, including penalties for violations of such |
regulations as the commission may from time to time promulgate under this chapter. Fees, rates, |
assessments, delinquency charges, and other charges of general application shall be adopted and |
revised by the commission in accordance with procedures to be established by the commission for |
assuring that interested persons are afforded notice and an opportunity to present data, views, and |
arguments. The commission shall hold at least one public hearing on its schedule of fees, rates, and |
charges or any revision thereof prior to adoption, notice of which shall be published in a newspaper |
of substantial circulation in the district at least fifteen (15) days in advance of the hearing, and |
notice of the hearing shall be provided to the city council of the city of Providence. No later than |
the date of such publication the commission shall make available to the public the proposed |
schedule of fees, rates, and charges. Fees, rates, rents, assessments, abatements, and other charges |
established by the commission shall not be subject to supervision or regulation by any department, |
division, district, board, bureau, or agency of the state or any of its political subdivisions. In order |
to provide for the collection and enforcement of its fees, rates, rents, assessments, and other charges, |
the commission is hereby granted all the powers and privileges with respect to such collection and |
enforcement held by the city of liens for unpaid taxes. Provided however that the commission shall |
be required to collect all project application fees, zoning fees and charges, building permit fees, fire |
code compliance or other public safety permit fees or charges, planning fees, historic district fees |
and charges, and other similar fees and charges that would otherwise be payable to the city of |
Providence in connection with such projects located in the city of Providence and remit the greater |
of one-half (1/2) of such fees collected by the commission to the city of Providence, or one-half |
(1/2) of such fees the city of Providence would have received from the project under the city's |
ordinances uniformly applied. The city of Providence shall continue to be entitled to collect all |
other customary fees for development and maintenance within the district as uniformly applied |
throughout the city of Providence, including, but not limited to, utility tie-in, connection fees, |
maintenance fees and assessments. |
(b) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, in order to provide for the |
consolidated, coordinated, efficient, and effective exercise of public development powers affecting |
or benefiting the city of Providence and the state within the boundaries of the district as defined in |
§ 37-5-8, the commission shall have the powers of: |
(i)(1) A special development district as provided for in chapter 45-24.4 24.4 of title 45; |
(ii)(2) A redevelopment agency as provided for in chapters 45-31, 45-31.1, 45-31.2, 45-32, |
and 45-33 31, 31.1, 31.2, 32, and 33 of title 45 within areas of the district which that are part of |
an enterprise zone as provided for in chapter 42-64.3. Within the district, the term "blighted area |
and substandard area" shall be deemed to include areas where the presence of hazardous materials, |
as defined in § 23-19.14-2, impairs the use, reuse, or redevelopment of impacted sites.; |
(iii)(3) A municipal public buildings authority as provided for in chapter 45-50 50 of title |
45 .; |
(iv)(4) A subsidiary of the Rhode Island commerce corporation and the enactment of this |
chapter shall constitute the approval of the general assembly as required by § 42-64-7.1.; |
(v)(5) The city planning board as established pursuant to chapter 45-23 23 23 of title 45.; |
(vi)(6) The city zoning board as established pursuant to chapter 45-24 24 of title 45, |
including, but not limited to, the granting of any use or dimensional variances or special use |
permits.; |
(vii)(7) The city historic district commission established pursuant to chapter 45-24.1 24.1 |
of title 45.; |
(viii)(8) Any other city board existing or created that exercises any of the authorities of a |
planning board, zoning board, design review board or historic district commission. Provided, |
however, and notwithstanding the foregoing, the commission shall at all times ensure that all |
projects and development subject to the jurisdiction of the commission are consistent with and |
subject to the city of Providence comprehensive plan adopted by the city pursuant to § 45-22-2.1 |
et seq. and the city of Providence zoning ordinances pursuant to § 45-24-27 et seq. as previously |
enacted by the city of Providence, and as may be enacted and/or amended from time to time through |
July 1, 2012, or enacted and/or amended thereafter with the consent of the commission.; |
(ix)(9) A special economic development district as provided for in chapter 24.6 of title 45. |
(3)(c) For the benefit of the district, the commission shall have the power to enter into |
agreements with the city of Providence for: |
(i)(1) The exercise of powers for tax increment financing as provided for in chapter 45- |
33.2 33.2 of title 45; |
(ii)(2) The imposition of impact fees as provided for in chapter 45-22.4 22.4 of title 45 in |
order to provide infrastructure capacity to or make physical improvements within the district; or |
(iii)(3) Approval within the district of a district management authority as provided for in |
chapter 45-59 59 of title 45, for purposes of undertaking activities consistent with the approved |
plans for the district adopted pursuant to § 42-64.14-8 this section. |
(4)(d) Title and survey adjustments. The commission is authorized to adjust boundary lines, |
survey lines and property descriptions of the parcels of land comprising the I-195 surplus land as |
may be necessary or appropriate to facilitate or enhance project design plans and for the location |
and/or relocation of city streets, utility corridors, easements and rights-of-way. |
(5)(e) The commission is authorized and empowered, in the name of and for the State state |
of Rhode Island, to enter into contracts for the sale, transfer or conveyance, in fee simple, by lease |
or otherwise of the any of the I-195 Surplus surplus lands identified in § 37-5-8 in order to achieve |
the purposes of this chapter and customary terms for commercial real estate transactions of this |
nature, and containing the following provisions: |
(i) (1) The terms for each parcel shall be the fair market value of such parcel at the time of |
conveyance as determined by the commission. |
(ii) (2) As a condition to the sale, lease or other transfer of each parcel or any portion |
thereof, any buyer, tenant or transferee that is a not-for-profit, organization or entity that is |
otherwise exempt from municipal real estate taxes, including, without limitation, any independent |
public instrumentality, governmental or quasi-governmental agency, body, division, or official, or |
any affiliate or subsidiary thereof, shall have entered into an agreement for payments to the city in |
accordance with § 42-64.14-14 relating to tax-exempt parcels, or such other things acceptable to |
the city. |
(iii) (3) Promptly after taking title to a parcel, the buyer shall cause such parcel to be |
attractively landscaped and maintained for use as green space until such time as development of |
the parcel in accordance with this section begins. |
(iv) (4) Development of the parcels, as appropriate, shall be in accordance with the findings |
set forth in this chapter and with the buyer's approved development plan for the identified parcels, |
as the same may be amended from time to time with the approval of the commission. |
(v) (5) As a condition to the contract for the sale, lease, transfer or conveyance an approved |
development plan shall include a construction schedule that shall commence within twelve (12) |
months from the effective date of the contract and all construction shall be complete within three |
(3) years from the commencement of said construction unless otherwise amended and approved by |
the commission at a duly posted public meeting of the commission. |
(6) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter 42-64.14 or any other law to the contrary, |
the commission shall exercise all powers authorized by §§ 42-64.14-7 and 42-64.14-8 in a manner |
consistent with and subject to the city of Providence comprehensive plan adopted by the city |
pursuant to 45-22-2.1 et seq. and the city of Providence zoning ordinances pursuant to 45-24-27 et |
seq. as previously enacted by the city of Providence, and as may be enacted and/or amended from |
time to time through July 1, 2012, or enacted thereafter with the consent of the commission. |
(7)(f) Under no circumstances shall the commission establish, authorize, zone, plan, or |
permit in the district a so-called "casino" or any form of gambling, including but not limited to |
those activities governed by title 41 of the Rhode Island general laws, so-called "video-gambling" |
or any lotteries whatsoever except for the sale of lottery tickets pursuant to title 42, section 61 |
chapter 61 of this title 42 of the general laws. Furthermore, upon conveyance, but in any event |
before approving any project, development, or redevelopment, the commission shall ensure that a |
deed restriction, running to the benefit of the city of Providence and the state, is recorded against |
the subject property effectuating and memorializing such restriction. The aforementioned |
restriction shall run with the land and be binding upon all successors and assign. Any deed |
restriction conveyed to the state pursuant to this subsection may be waived only by statute, |
resolution or other action by the general assembly which that complies with the constitutional |
requirements for the expansion of gambling. |
42-64.14-18. Inconsistent laws or ordinance inoperative. |
Except as otherwise provided herein, any provisions of any special law and part of any |
special law and all ordinances and parts of ordinances pertaining to development within the district |
which that are inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter shall be inoperative and cease to be |
effective. The provisions of this chapter shall be deemed to provide an exclusive, additional, |
alternative, and complete method for the doing of the things authorized hereby and shall be deemed |
and construed to be supplemental and additional to, and not in derogation of, powers conferred |
upon the commission by law and on the city by its charter; provided, however, that insofar as the |
express provisions of this chapter are inconsistent with the provisions of any general or special law, |
administrative order or regulation, or ordinance of the city, the provisions of this chapter shall be |
controlling; provided, however, to the extent of any inconsistency or conflict between this chapter |
and chapter 24.6 of title 45, the provisions of chapter 24.6 of title 45 shall be controlling. |
SECTION 10. Title 42 of the General Laws entitled "STATE AFFAIRS AND |
GOVERNMENT" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter: |
CHAPTER 64.33 |
THE RHODE ISLAND SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT FUND |
42-64.33-1. Short title. |
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Rhode Island Small Business |
Development Fund." |
42-64.33-2. Definitions. |
(a) As used in this chapter: |
(1) "Affiliate" means an entity that directly, or indirectly, through one or more |
intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with another entity. For |
the purposes of this chapter, an entity is "controlled by" another entity if the controlling entity holds, |
directly or indirectly, the majority voting or ownership interest in the controlled entity or has control |
over the day-to-day operations of the controlled entity by contract or by law. |
(2) "Applicable percentage" means zero percent (0%) for the first three (3) credit allowance |
dates, and twenty-one and one-half percent (21.5%) for the fourth, fifth, and sixth credit allowance |
dates. |
(3) "Capital investment" means any equity or debt investment in a small business |
development fund by a small business fund investor that: |
(i) Is acquired after the effective date of this chapter at its original issuance solely in |
exchange for cash; |
(ii) Has one hundred percent (100%) of its cash purchase price used by the small business |
development fund to make qualified investments in eligible businesses located in this state within |
three (3) years of the initial credit allowance date; and |
(iii) Is designated by the small business development fund as a capital investment under |
this chapter and is certified by the Corporation corporation pursuant to § 42-64.33-4. This term |
shall include any capital investment that does not meet the provisions of § 42-64.33-4(a) if the |
investment was a capital investment in the hands of a prior holder. |
(4) "Corporation" means the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation. commerce |
corporation. |
(5) "Credit allowance date" means the date on which a capital investment is made and each |
of the five (5) anniversary dates of the date thereafter. |
(6) "Eligible business" means a business that, at the time of the initial qualified investment |
in the company: |
(i) Has less than two hundred fifty (250) employees; |
(ii) Has not more than fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) in net income from the |
preceding tax year; |
(iii) Has its principal business operations in this state; and |
(iv) Is engaged in industries related to clean energy, biomedical innovation, life sciences, |
information technology, software, cyber physical systems, cybersecurity, data analytics, defense, |
shipbuilding, maritime, composites, advanced business services, design, food, manufacturing, |
transportation, distribution, logistics, arts, education, hospitality, tourism, or, if not engaged in the |
industries, the Corporation corporation makes a determination that the investment will be |
beneficial to the economic growth of the state. |
(7) "Eligible distribution" means: |
(i) A distribution of cash to one or more equity owners of a small business fund investor to |
fully or partially offset a projected increase in the owner's federal or state tax liability, including |
any penalties and interest, related to the owner's ownership, management, or operation of the small |
business fund investor; |
(ii) A distribution of cash as payment of interest and principal on the debt of the small |
business fund investor or small business development fund; or |
(iii) A distribution of cash related to the reasonable costs and expenses of forming, |
syndicating, managing, and operating the small business fund investor or the small business |
development fund, or a return of equity or debt to affiliates of a small business fund investor or |
small business development fund. The distributions may include reasonable and necessary fees paid |
for professional services, including legal and accounting services, related to the formation and |
operation of the small business development fund. |
(8) "Jobs created" means a newly created position of employment that was not previously |
located in the state at the time of the qualified investment in the eligible business and requiring a |
minimum of thirty five (35) hours worked each week, measured each year by subtracting the |
number of full-time, thirty-five (35) hours-per-week (35) employment positions at the time of the |
initial qualified investment in the eligible business from the monthly average of full-time, thirty- |
five (35) hours-per-week (35) employment positions for the applicable year. The number shall not |
be less than zero. |
(9) "Jobs retained" means a position requiring a minimum of thirty five (35) hours worked |
each week that existed prior to the initial qualified investment. Retained jobs shall be counted each |
year based on the monthly average of full-time, thirty-five (35) hours-per-week (35) employment |
positions for the applicable year. The number shall not exceed the initial amount of retained jobs |
reported and shall be reduced each year if employment at the eligible business concern drops below |
that number. |
(10) "Minority business enterprise" means an eligible business which is certified by the |
Rhode Island office of diversity, equity and opportunity as being a minority or women business |
enterprise. |
(11) "Principal business operations" means the location where at least sixty percent (60%) |
of a business's employees work or where employees who are paid at least sixty percent (60%) |
percent of the business's payroll work. A business that has agreed to relocate employees using the |
proceeds of a qualified investment to establish its principal business operations in a new location |
shall be deemed to have its principal business operations in the new location if it satisfies these |
requirements no later than one hundred eighty (180) days after receiving a qualified investment. |
(12) "Purchase price" means the amount paid to the small business development fund that |
issues a capital investment which that shall not exceed the amount of capital investment authority |
certified pursuant to § 42-64.33-4. |
(13) "Qualified investment" means any investment in an eligible business or any loan to an |
eligible business with a stated maturity date of at least one year after the date of issuance, excluding |
revolving lines of credit and senior secured debt unless the eligible business has a credit refusal |
letter or similar correspondence from a depository institution or a referral letter or similar |
correspondence from a depository institution referring the business to a small business development |
fund; provided that, with respect to any one eligible business, the maximum amount of investments |
made in the business by one or more small business development funds, on a collective basis with |
all of the businesses' affiliates, with the proceeds of capital investments shall be twenty percent |
(20%) of the small business development fund's capital investment authority, exclusive of |
investments made with repaid or redeemed investments or interest or profits realized thereon. An |
eligible business, on a collective basis with all of the businesses' affiliates, is prohibited from |
receiving more than four million dollars ($4,000,000) in investments from one or more small |
business development funds with the proceeds of capital investments. |
(14) "Small business development fund" means an entity certified by the Corporation |
corporation under § 42-64.33-4. |
(15) "Small business fund investor" means an entity that makes a capital investment in a |
small business development fund. |
(16) "State" means the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. |
(17) "State tax liability" means any liability incurred by any entity under § 44-17-1 et seq. |
42-64.33-3. Tax credit established. |
(a) Upon making a capital investment in a small business development fund, a small |
business fund investor earns a vested right to a credit against the entity's state tax liability that may |
be utilized on each credit allowance date of the capital investment in an amount equal to the |
applicable percentage for the credit allowance date multiplied by the purchase price paid to the |
small business development fund for the capital investment. The amount of the credit claimed by |
any entity shall not exceed the amount of the entity's state tax liability for the tax year for which |
the credit is claimed. Any amount of credit that an entity is prohibited from claiming in a taxable |
year as a result of this section may be carried forward for a period of seven (7) years. It is the intent |
of this chapter that an entity claiming a credit under this section is not required to pay any additional |
tax that may arise as a result of claiming the credit. |
(b) No credit claimed under this section shall be refundable or saleable on the open market. |
Credits earned by or allocated to a partnership, limited liability company, or S- corporation may be |
allocated to the partners, members, or shareholders of the entity for their direct use for state tax |
liability as defined in this chapter in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the |
partners, members, or shareholders, and a small business development fund must notify the |
Corporation corporation of the names of the entities that are eligible to utilize credits pursuant to |
an allocation of credits or a change in allocation of credits or due to a transfer of a capital investment |
upon the allocation, change, or transfer. The allocation shall be not considered a sale for purposes |
of this section. |
(c) The Corporation corporation shall provide copies of issued certificates to the division |
of taxation. |
42-64.33-4. Application, approval and allocations. |
(a) A small business development fund that seeks to have an equity or debt investment |
certified as a capital investment and eligible for credits under this chapter shall apply to the |
Corporation corporation. The Corporation corporation shall begin accepting applications within |
ninety (90) days of the effective date of this chapter. The small business development fund shall |
include the following: |
(1) The amount of capital investment requested; |
(2) A copy of the applicant's or an affiliate of the applicant's license as a rural business |
investment company under 7 U.S.C. § 2009cc, or as a small business investment company under |
15 U.S.C. § 681, and a certificate executed by an executive officer of the applicant attesting that |
the license remains in effect and has not been revoked; |
(3) Evidence that, as of the date the application is submitted, the applicant or affiliates of |
the applicant have invested at least one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) in nonpublic |
companies; |
(4) An estimate of the number of jobs that will be created or retained in this state as a result |
of the applicant's qualified investments; |
(5) A business plan that includes a strategy for reaching out to and investing in minority |
business enterprises and a revenue impact assessment projecting state and local tax revenue to be |
generated by the applicant's proposed qualified investment prepared by a nationally recognized, |
third-party, independent economic forecasting firm using a dynamic economic forecasting model |
that analyzes the applicant's business plan over the ten (10) years following the date the application |
is submitted to the Corporation corporation; and |
(6) A nonrefundable application fee of five thousand dollars ($5,000), payable to the |
Corporation corporation. |
(b) Within thirty (30) days after receipt of a completed application, the Corporation |
corporation shall grant or deny the application in full or in part. The Corporation corporation |
shall deny the application if: |
(1) The applicant does not satisfy all of the criteria described in subsection (a) of this |
section; |
(2) The revenue impact assessment submitted with the application does not demonstrate |
that the applicant's business plan will result in a positive economic impact on this state over a ten- |
(10) year (10) period that exceeds the cumulative amount of tax credits that would be issued to the |
applicant if the application were approved; or |
(3) The Corporation corporation has already approved the maximum amount of capital |
investment authority under subsection (g) of this section. |
(c) If the Corporation corporation denies any part of the application, it shall inform the |
applicant of the grounds for the denial. If the applicant provides any additional information required |
by the Corporation corporation or otherwise completes its application within fifteen (15) days of |
the notice of denial, the application shall be considered completed as of the original date of |
submission. If the applicant fails to provide the information or fails to complete its application |
within the fifteen-(15) day (15) period, the application remains denied and must be resubmitted in |
full with a new submission date. |
(d) If the application is deemed to be complete and the applicant deemed to meet all of the |
requirements of Section 42-64.33-4 subsections (a) and (b), the Corporation corporation shall |
certify the proposed equity or debt investment as a capital investment that is eligible for credits |
under this chapter, subject to the limitations contained in subsection (g) of this section. The |
Corporation corporation shall provide written notice of the certification to the small business |
development fund. |
(e) The Corporation corporation shall certify capital investments in the order that the |
applications were received by the Corporation corporation. Applications received on the same day |
shall be deemed to have been received simultaneously. |
(f) For applications that are complete and received on the same day, the Corporation |
corporation shall certify applications in proportionate percentages based upon the ratio of the |
amount of capital investments requested in an application to the total amount of capital investments |
requested in all applications. |
(g) The Corporation corporation shall certify sixty-five million dollars ($65,000,000) in |
capital investments pursuant to this section; provided that not more than twenty million dollars |
($20,000,000) may be allocated to any individual small business development fund certified under |
this section. |
(h) Within sixty (60) days of the applicant receiving notice of certification, the small |
business development fund shall issue the capital investment to and receive cash in the amount of |
the certified amount from a small business fund investor. At least forty-five percent (45%) of the |
small business fund investor's capital investment shall be composed of capital raised by the small |
business fund investor from sources, including directors, members, employees, officers, and |
affiliates of the small business fund investor, other than the amount of capital invested by the |
allocatee claiming the tax credits in exchange for the allocation of tax credits; provided that at least |
ten percent (10%) of the capital investment shall be derived from the small business investment |
fund's managers. The small business development fund shall provide the Corporation corporation |
with evidence of the receipt of the cash investment within sixty-five (65) days of the applicant |
receiving notice of certification. If the small business development fund does not receive the cash |
investment and issue the capital investment within the time period following receipt of the |
certification notice, the certification shall lapse and the small business development fund shall not |
issue the capital investment without reapplying to the Corporation corporation for certification. |
Lapsed certifications revert to the authority and shall be reissued pro rata to applicants whose |
capital investment allocations were reduced pursuant to this chapter and then in accordance with |
the application process. |
42-64.33-5. Tax credit recapture and exit. |
(a) The Corporation corporation, working in coordination with the division of taxation |
Division of Taxation, may recapture, from any entity that claims a credit on a tax return, the credit |
allowed under this chapter if: |
(1) The small business development fund does not invest one hundred (100%) percent of |
its capital investment authority in qualified investments in this state within three (3) years of the |
first credit allowance date; |
(2) The small business development fund, after satisfying subsection (a)(1) of this section, |
fails to maintain qualified investments equal to one hundred (100%) percent of its capital |
investment authority until the sixth anniversary of the initial credit allowance date. For the purposes |
of this subsection, a qualified investment is considered maintained even if the qualified investment |
was sold or repaid so long as the small business development fund reinvests an amount equal to the |
capital returned or recovered by the small business development fund from the original investment, |
exclusive of any profits realized, in other qualified investments in this state within twelve (12) |
months of the receipt of the capital. Amounts received periodically by a small business |
development fund shall be treated as continually invested in qualified investments if the amounts |
are reinvested in one or more qualified investments by the end of the following calendar year. A |
small business development fund shall not be required to reinvest capital returned from qualified |
investments after the fifth anniversary of the initial credit allowance date, and the qualified |
investments shall be considered held continuously by the small business development fund through |
the sixth anniversary of the initial credit allowance date; |
(3) The small business development fund, before exiting the program in accordance with |
subsection (e) of this section, makes a distribution or payment that results in the small business |
development fund having less than one hundred percent (100%) of its capital investment authority |
invested in qualified investments in this state or available for investment in qualified investments |
and held in cash and other marketable securities; |
(4) The small business development fund, before exiting the program in accordance with |
subsection (e) of this section, fails to make qualified investments in minority business enterprises |
that when added together equal at least ten percent (10%) of the small business development fund's |
capital investment authority; or |
(5) The small business development fund violates subsection (d) of this section. |
(b) Recaptured credits and the related capital investment authority revert to the Corporation |
corporation and shall be reissued pro rata to applicants whose capital investment allocations were |
reduced pursuant to § 42-64.33-4(f) of this section and then in accordance with the application |
process. |
(c) Enforcement of each of the recapture provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall |
be subject to a six-(6) month (6) cure period. No recapture shall occur until the small business |
development fund has been given notice of noncompliance and afforded six (6) months from the |
date of the notice to cure the noncompliance. |
(d) No eligible business that receives a qualified investment under this chapter, or any |
affiliates of the eligible business, may directly or indirectly: |
(1) Own or have the right to acquire an ownership interest in a small business development |
fund or member or affiliate of a small business development fund, including, but not limited to, a |
holder of a capital investment issued by the small business development fund; or |
(2) Loan to or invest in a small business development fund or member or affiliate of a small |
business development fund, including, but not limited to, a holder of a capital investment issued by |
a small business development fund, where the proceeds of the loan or investment are directly or |
indirectly used to fund or refinance the purchase of a capital investment under this chapter. |
(e) On or after the sixth anniversary of the initial credit allowance date, a small business |
development fund may apply to the Corporation corporation to exit the program and no longer be |
subject to regulation under this chapter. The Corporation corporation shall respond to the exit |
application within thirty (30) days of receipt. In evaluating the exit application, the fact that no |
credits have been recaptured and that the small business development fund has not received a notice |
of recapture that has not been cured pursuant to subsection (c) of this section shall be sufficient |
evidence to prove that the small business development fund is eligible for exit. The Corporation |
corporation shall not unreasonably deny an exit application submitted under this subsection. If the |
exit application is denied, the notice shall include the reasons for the determination. |
(f) If the number of jobs created or retained by the eligible businesses that received |
qualified investments from the small business development fund, calculated pursuant to reports |
filed by the small business development fund pursuant to § 42-64.33-7, is: |
(1) Less than sixty percent (60%) of the amount projected in the approved small business |
development fund's business plan filed as part of its application for certification under § 42- 64.33- |
4, then the state shall receive thirty percent (30%) of any distribution or payment to an equity or |
debt holder in an approved small business development fund made after its exit from the program |
in excess of eligible distributions; or |
(2) Greater than sixty percent (60%) but less than one hundred percent (100%) of the |
amount projected in the approved small business development fund's business plan filed as part of |
its application for certification under § 42-64.33-4, then the state shall receive fifteen percent (15%) |
of any distribution or payment to an equity or debt holder in an approved small business |
development fund made after its exit from the program in excess of eligible distributions. |
(g) At the time a small business development fund applies to the Corporation corporation |
to exit the program, it shall calculate the aggregate internal rate of return of its qualified |
investments. If the small business development fund's aggregate internal rate of return on its |
qualified investments at exit exceeds ten percent (10%), then, after eligible distributions, the state |
shall receive ten percent (10%) of any distribution or payment in excess of the aggregate ten percent |
(10%) internal rate of return to an equity or debtholder in an approved small business development |
fund. |
(h) The Corporation corporation shall not revoke a tax credit certificate after the small |
business development fund's exit from the program. |
42-64.33-6. Request for determination. |
A small business development fund, before making a qualified investment, may request |
from the Corporation corporation a written opinion as to whether the business in which it is |
proposed to invest is an eligible business. The Corporation corporation, not later than the fifteenth |
business day after the date of receipt of the request, shall notify the small business development |
fund of its determination. If the Corporation corporation fails to notify the small business |
development fund by the fifteenth business day of its determination, the business in which the small |
business development fund proposes to invest shall be considered an eligible business. |
42-64.33-7. Reporting obligations. |
(a) Each small business development fund shall submit a report to the Corporation |
corporation on or before the fifth business day after the first, second, and third anniversaries of |
the closing date. The report shall provide documentation as to the small business development |
fund's qualified investments and include: |
(1) A bank statement evidencing each qualified investment; |
(2) The name, location, status as a minority business enterprise if applicable, and industry |
of each business receiving a qualified investment, including either the determination letter set forth |
in § 42-64.33-6 or evidence that the business qualified as an eligible business at the time the |
investment was made; |
(3) The number of employment positions created or retained as a result of the small |
business development fund's qualified investments as of the last day of the preceding calendar year; |
and |
(4) Such other reasonable information as the corporation may require. |
(b) On or before the last day of February of each year following the final year in which the |
report required in subsection (a) of this section is due, the small business development fund shall |
submit an annual report to the Corporation corporation including the following: |
(1) The number of employment positions created or retained as a result of the small |
business development fund's qualified investments as of the last day of the preceding calendar year; |
(2) The number of minority business enterprises that have received qualified investments |
and the amount of qualified investment that such minority business enterprises have received; |
(3) The average annual salary of the positions described in subsection (b)(1) of this section; |
(4) The follow-on capital investment that has occurred along with or after the small |
business development fund's investment as of the last day of the preceding calendar year; and |
(5) Such other reasonable information as the corporation may require. |
(c) A copy of the reports required under this section must also be sent concurrently to the |
speaker of the house, president of the senate, house finance chairperson, senate finance chairperson, |
and the general treasurer. |
(d) On or before each September 30, the corporation shall publish a report on the small |
business development fund and provide such report to the speaker of the house of representatives, |
president of the senate, house finance chair, senate finance chair, and the general treasurer. The |
report shall contain information on the program implementation, investments made, fund |
performance, and to the extent practicable, track the economic impact of the investments |
completed. |
42-64.33-8. Limitations. |
The incentives provided under this chapter shall not be granted in combination with any |
other job-specific benefit provided by the state, the commerce corporation, or any other state |
agency, board, commission, quasi-public corporation, or similar entity without the express |
authorization of the commerce corporation. |
42-64.33-9. Rules and regulations. |
The Corporation and Division of Taxation corporation and division of taxation may issue |
reasonable rules and regulations, consistent with this chapter, as are necessary to carry out the intent |
and purpose and implementation of the responsibilities under this chapter. |
SECTION 11. Section 42-64.21-9 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-64.21 entitled |
"Rhode Island Tax Increment Financing" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
42-64.21-9. Sunset. |
The commerce corporation shall enter into no agreement under this chapter after December |
31, June 30, 2020. |
SECTION 12. Section 42-64.22-15 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-64.22 entitled "Tax |
Stabilization Incentive" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
42-64.22-15. Sunset. |
The commerce corporation shall enter into no agreement under this chapter after June 30, |
December 31, 2020. |
SECTION 13. Section 42-64.23-8 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-64.23 entitled "First |
Wave Closing Fund" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
42-64.23-8. Sunset. |
No financing shall be authorized to be reserved pursuant to this chapter after June 30, |
December 31, 2020. |
SECTION 14. Section 42-64.24-8 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-64.24 entitled "I-195 |
Redevelopment Project Fund" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
42-64.24-8. Sunset. |
No funding, credits, or incentives shall be authorized or authorized to be reserved pursuant |
to this chapter after June 30, December 31, 2020. |
SECTION 15. Section 42-64.25-14 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-64.25 entitled |
"Small Business Assistance Program" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
42-64.25-14. Sunset. |
No grants, funding, or incentives shall be authorized pursuant to this chapter after June 30, |
December 31, 2020. |
SECTION 16. Section 42-64.26-12 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-64.26 entitled "Stay |
Invested in RI Wavemaker Fellowship" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
42-64.26-12. Sunset. |
No incentives or credits shall be authorized pursuant to this chapter after June 30, |
December 31, 2020. |
SECTION 17. Section 42-64.27-6 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-64.27 entitled "Main |
Street Rhode Island Streetscape Improvement Fund" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
42-64.27-6. Sunset. |
No incentives shall be authorized pursuant to this chapter after June 30, December 31, |
2020. |
SECTION 18. Section 42-64.28-10 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-64.28 entitled |
"Innovation Initiative" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
42-64.28-10. Sunset. |
No vouchers, grants, or incentives shall be authorized pursuant to this chapter after June |
30, December 31, 2020. |
SECTION 19. Section 42-64.29-8 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-64.29 entitled |
"Industry Cluster Grants" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
42-64.29-8. Sunset. |
No grants or incentives shall be authorized to be reserved pursuant to this chapter after |
June 30, December 31, 2020. |
SECTION 20. Section 42-64.31-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-64.31 entitled "High |
School, College, and Employer Partnerships" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
42-64.31-4. Sunset. |
No grants shall be authorized pursuant to this chapter after June 30, December 31, 2020. |
SECTION 21. Section 42-64.32-6 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-64.32 entitled "Air |
Service Development Fund" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
42-64.32-6. Sunset. |
No grants, credits, or incentives shall be authorized or authorized to be reserved pursuant |
to this chapter after June 30, December 31, 2020. |
SECTION 22. Section 44-48.3-14 of the General Laws in Chapter 44-48.3 entitled "Rhode |
Island New Qualified Jobs Incentive Act 2015" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
44-48.3-14. Sunset. |
No credits shall be authorized to be reserved pursuant to this chapter after June 30, |
December 31, 2020. |
SECTION 23. This article shall take effect upon passage. |