(a) A description of each eligible activity being conducted or proposed to be conducted by the person.
(b) Whether any of the eligible activities will occur in an economically distressed area, as designated by the department under s. 560.704 (1).
(c) Whether any of the eligible activities will benefit members of a targeted group, as determined by the department under s. 560.704 (2).
(d) A compliance schedule that includes a sequence of anticipated actions to be taken or goals to be achieved by the person before the person may receive tax benefits under s. 560.703.
(e) The reporting requirements with which the person must comply.
(f) If feasible, a determination of the tax benefits the person will be authorized to claim under s. 560.703 (2) if the person fulfills the terms of the contract.
2,811
Section
811. 560.702 of the statutes is created to read:
560.702 Eligible activities. A person who conducts or proposes to conduct any of the following may be certified under s. 560.701 (2):
(1) Job creation project. A project that creates and maintains for a period of time established by the department by rule full-time jobs in addition to any existing full-time jobs provided by the person.
(2) Capital investment project. A project that involves a significant investment of capital, as defined by the department by rule under s. 560.706 (2) (b), by the person in new equipment, machinery, real property, or depreciable personal property.
(3) Employee training project. A project that involves significant investments in the training or reeducation of employees, as defined by the department by rule under s. 560.706 (2) (c), by the person for the purpose of improving the productivity or competitiveness of the business of the person.
(4) Project related to persons with corporate headquarters in Wisconsin. A project that will result in the location or retention of a person's corporate headquarters in Wisconsin or that will result in the retention of employees holding full-time jobs in Wisconsin if the person's corporate headquarters are located in Wisconsin.
2,812
Section
812. 560.703 of the statutes is created to read:
560.703 Limits on tax benefits and claiming tax benefits. (1) Limits. (a) Except as provided in par. (b), the total tax benefits available to be allocated by the department under ss. 560.701 to 560.706 may not exceed the sum of the tax benefits remaining to be allocated under ss. 560.71 to 560.785, 560.797, 560.798, 560.7995, and 560.96 on the effective date of this paragraph .... [LRB inserts date].
(b) The department may submit to the joint committee on finance a request in writing to exceed the total tax benefits specified in par. (a). The department shall submit with its request a justification for seeking an increase under this paragraph. The joint committee on finance, following its review, may approve or disapprove an increase in the total tax benefits available to be allocated under ss. 560.701 to 560.706.
(2) Authority to claim tax benefits. The department may authorize a person certified under s. 560.701 (2) to claim tax benefits only after the person has submitted a report to the department that documents to the satisfaction of the department that the person has complied with the terms of the contract under s. 560.701 (3) and the requirements of any applicable rules promulgated under s. 560.706 (2).
(3) Notice of eligibility. The department shall provide to the person and to the department of revenue a notice of eligibility to receive tax benefits that reports the amount of tax benefits for which the person is eligible.
2,813
Section
813. 560.704 of the statutes is created to read:
560.704 Eligible activities in economically distressed areas and benefiting members of targeted groups. The department may authorize a person certified under s. 560.701 (2) to claim additional tax benefits under s. 560.703 if, after conducting an investigation, the department determines any of the following:
(1) The person conducts at least one eligible activity in an area designated by the department as economically distressed. In designating an area as economically distressed under this subsection, the department shall follow the methodology established by rule under s. 560.706 (2) (e).
(2) The person conducts at least one eligible activity that benefits, creates, retains, or significantly upgrades full-time jobs for, that trains, or that reeducates, members of a targeted group.
2,814
Section
814. 560.705 of the statutes is created to read:
560.705 Revocation of certification. The department shall revoke the certification of a person who does any of the following:
(1) Supplies false or misleading information to obtain certification under s. 560.701 (2).
(2) Supplies false or misleading information to obtain tax benefits under s. 560.703.
(3) Leaves the state to conduct substantially the same business outside of the state.
(4) Ceases operations in the state and does not renew operation of the business or a similar business within 12 months.
2,815
Section
815. 560.706 of the statutes is created to read:
560.706 Responsibilities of the department. The department shall do all of the following:
(1) Accountability. (a) Annually verify information submitted to the department of revenue under ss. 71.07 (2dy), 71.28 (1dy), 71.47 (1dy), and 76.637 by persons certified under s. 560.701 (2) and eligible to receive tax benefits under s. 560.703.
(b) Notify and obtain written approval from the secretary for any certification under sub. (2) (j).
(2) Rules. Establish by rule all of the following:
(a) A schedule of hourly wage ranges to be paid, and health insurance benefits to be provided, to an employee by a person certified under s. 560.701 (2) and the corresponding per employee tax benefit for which a person certified under s. 560.701 (2) may be eligible.
(b) A definition of "significant investment of capital" for purposes of s. 560.702 (2), together with a corresponding schedule of tax benefits for which a person who is certified under s. 560.701 (2) and who conducts a project described in s. 560.702 (2) may be eligible. The department shall include in the definition required under this paragraph a schedule of investments that takes into consideration the size or nature of the business.
(c) A definition of "significant investments in the training or reeducation of employees" for purposes of s. 560.702 (3), together with a corresponding schedule of tax benefits for which a person who is certified under s. 560.701 (2) and who conducts a project under s. 560.702 (3) may be eligible.
(d) A schedule of tax benefits for which a person who is certified under s. 560.701 (2) and who conducts a project that will result in the location or retention of a person's corporate headquarters in Wisconsin may be eligible.
(e) The methodology for designating an area as economically distressed under s. 560.704 (1). The methodology under this paragraph shall require the department to consider the most current data available for the area and for the state on the following indicators:
1. Unemployment rate.
2. Percentage of families with incomes below the poverty line established under
42 USC 9902 (2).
3. Median family income.
4. Median per capita income.
5. Average annual wage.
6. Real property values.
7. Other significant or irregular indicators of economic distress, such as a natural disaster.
(f) A schedule of additional tax benefits for which a person who is certified under s. 560.701 (2) and who conducts an eligible activity described under s. 560.704 may be eligible.
(g) Reporting requirements, minimum benchmarks, and outcomes expected of a person certified under s. 560.701 (2) before that person may receive tax benefits under s. 560.703.
(h) Policies, criteria, and methodology for allocating a portion of the tax benefits available under s. 560.703 to rural areas.
(i) Policies, criteria, and methodology for allocating a portion of the tax benefits available under s. 560.703 to small businesses.
(j) Policies and criteria for certifying a person who may be eligible for tax benefits greater than or equal to $3,000,000.
(k) Procedures for implementing ss. 560.701 to 560.706.
(3) Reporting. Annually, 6 months after the report has been submitted under s. 560.01 (2) (am), submit to the joint legislative audit committee and to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s. 13.172 (3) a comprehensive report assessing the program under ss. 560.701 to 560.706. The report under this subsection shall update the applicable information provided in the report under s. 560.01 (2) (am).
2,816
Section
816. 560.71 (4) of the statutes is created to read:
560.71 (4) No development zone may be designated under this section after the effective date of this subsection .... [LRB inserts date].
2,817
Section
817. 560.737 (4) of the statutes is created to read:
560.737 (4) No premises of a business incubator may be designated as part of a development zone under this section after the effective date of this subsection .... [LRB inserts date].
2,818
Section
818. 560.74 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
560.74 (1) At Except as provided under sub. (6), at any time after a development zone is designated by the department, a local governing body may submit an application to change the boundaries of the development zone. If the boundary change reduces the size of a development zone, the local governing body shall explain why the area excluded should no longer be in a development zone. The department may require the local governing body to submit additional information.
2,819
Section
819. 560.74 (6) of the statutes is created to read:
560.74 (6) The department may not accept any applications under sub. (1) to change the boundaries of a development zone designated under s. 560.71 on or after the effective date of this subsection .... [LRB inserts date].
2,820
Section
820. 560.745 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
560.745 (1) (b) The local governing body may apply to the department for one 60-month extension of the designation. The department shall promulgate rules establishing criteria for approving an extension of a designation of an area as a development zone under this subsection. No applications may be accepted by the department under this paragraph on or after the effective date of this paragraph .... [LRB inserts date].
2,821
Section
821. 560.745 (2) (am) of the statutes is amended to read:
560.745 (2) (am) Notwithstanding par. (a), the department may increase the established limit for tax benefits for a development zone. The department may not increase the limit for tax benefits established for any development zone designated under s. 560.71 on or after the effective date of this paragraph .... [LRB inserts date].
2,822
Section
822. 560.78 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:
560.78 (1m) No person may be certified under s. 560.765 (3) on or after the effective date of this subsection .... [LRB inserts date].
2,823
Section
823. 560.78 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
560.78 (3) (a) Except as provided in par. pars. (b) and (c), if the economic activity for which a person is seeking certification under s. 560.765 (3) is the relocation of a business into a development zone from a location that is outside the development zone but within the limits of a city, village, town or federally recognized American Indian reservation in which that development zone is located, the local governing body that nominated that area as a development zone under s. 560.72 shall determine whether sub. (2) (a) or (b) applies.
2,824
Section
824. 560.78 (3) (c) of the statutes is created to read:
560.78 (3) (c) No local governing body may make any determination under this subsection on or after the effective date of this paragraph .... [LRB inserts date].
2,825
Section
825. 560.785 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
560.785 (1) (intro.) For the development zone program under ss. 560.70 and 560.71 to 560.78, the development opportunity zone program under s. 560.795 and the enterprise development zone program under s. 560.797, the department shall promulgate rules that further define a person's eligibility for tax benefits. The rules shall do at least all of the following:
2,826
Section
826. 560.797 (2) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
560.797 (2) (a) (intro.) Subject to pars. (c) and, (d), and (e), the department may designate an area as an enterprise development zone for a project if the department determines all of the following:
2,827
Section
827. 560.797 (2) (bg) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
560.797 (2) (bg) (intro.) Notwithstanding par. (a) and subject to pars. (c) and, (d), and (e), the department may designate an area as an enterprise development zone for a project if the department determines all of the following:
2,828
Section
828. 560.797 (2) (e) of the statutes is created to read:
560.797 (2) (e) The department may not designate any area as an enterprise development zone on or after the effective date of this paragraph .... [LRB inserts date].
2,829
Section
829. 560.797 (3) (c) of the statutes is created to read:
560.797 (3) (c) The department may not accept or approve any applications or project plans submitted under par. (a) on or after the effective date of this paragraph .... [LRB inserts date].
2,830
Section
830. 560.797 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
560.797 (4) (a) If Except as provided in par. (h), if the department approves a project plan under sub. (3) and designates the area in which the person submitting the project plan conducts or intends to conduct the project as an enterprise development zone under the criteria under sub. (2), the department shall certify the person as eligible for tax benefits.
2,831
Section
831. 560.797 (4) (h) of the statutes is created to read:
560.797 (4) (h) No person may be certified under this subsection on or after the effective date of this paragraph .... [LRB inserts date].
2,832
Section
832. 560.798 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
560.798 (2) (a) The Except as provided under par. (c), the department may designate one area in the state as an agricultural development zone. The area must be located in a rural municipality. An agricultural business that is located in an agricultural development zone and that is certified by the department under sub. (3) is eligible for tax benefits as provided in sub. (3).
2,833
Section
833. 560.798 (2) (c) of the statutes is created to read:
560.798 (2) (c) No area may be designated as an agricultural development zone on or after the effective date of this paragraph .... [LRB inserts date].
2,834
Section
834. 560.798 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
560.798 (3) (a) The Except as provided under par. (c), the department may certify for tax benefits in an agricultural development zone a new or expanding agricultural business that is located in the agricultural development zone. In determining whether to certify a business under this subsection, the department shall consider, among other things, the number of jobs that will be created or retained by the business.
