SB21: Bill Text

SB21,4014 Section 4014. 238.325 of the statutes is renumbered 235.325 and amended to read:

SB21,1503,19 235.325 Evaluation by corporation authority. (1) The corporation authority shall evaluate applications received under s. 238.32 235.32 (2) and (3).

SB21,1503,25 (2) Subject to s. 238.335 235.335 (5), the corporation authority may reduce the size of an area nominated as a development zone, if the corporation authority determines the boundaries as proposed by the local governing body in an application under s. 238.32 235.32 (2) or (3) are inconsistent with the purpose of the development zone program. Any nominated area which is reduced under this subsection need not comply with s. 238.335 235.335 (1) and (4).

SB21,1504,5 (3) After evaluating an application submitted under s. 238.32 235.32 (2) or (3), the corporation authority may approve the application, subject to any reduction in the size of the nominated area under sub. (2). If the corporation authority approves the application, the corporation authority shall designate the area as a development zone, subject to s. 238.31 235.31, and notify the local governing body.

SB21,4015 Section 4015. 238.335 of the statutes is renumbered 235.335, and 235.335 (6) (a) 2. and (c) and (7), as renumbered, are amended to read:

SB21,1504,9 235.335 (6) (a) 2. Each area meets at least 3 of the criteria listed in s. 238.31 235.31 (1) (e) 4.

SB21,1504,12 (c) If an application is submitted by the governing body of a county under s. 238.32 235.32 (2) or (3), up to 4 separate areas may be nominated or designated as one development zone, if par. (a) 1. to 3. applies.

SB21,1504,15 (7) The corporation authority may waive the requirements of this section in a particular case, if the corporation authority determines that application of the requirement is impractical with respect to a particular development zone.

SB21,4016 Section 4016. 238.34 of the statutes is renumbered 235.34, and 235.34 (1), (2), (3) (intro.) and (a), (4), (5) and (6), as renumbered, are amended to read:

SB21,1504,23 235.34 (1) Except as provided under sub. (6), at any time after a development zone is designated by the corporation authority, 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 corporation authority may require the local governing body to submit additional information.

SB21,1505,2 (2) The corporation authority may approve an application for a boundary change if the development zone, as affected by the boundary changes, meets the applicable requirements of s. 238.335 235.335 and 3 of the criteria under s. 238.31 235.31 (1) (e) 4.

SB21,1505,4 (3) (intro.) If the corporation authority approves an application for a boundary change under sub. (2), it shall do all of the following:

SB21,1505,6 (a) Redetermine the limit on the tax benefits for the development zone established under s. 238.345 235.345 (2) (a).

SB21,1505,9 (4) The change in the boundaries or tax benefits limit of a development zone shall be effective on the day the corporation authority notifies the local governing body under sub. (3) (b).

SB21,1505,14 (5) No change in the boundaries of a development zone may affect the duration of an area as a development zone under s. 238.345 235.345 (1) (a). The corporation authority may consider a change in the boundary of a development zone when evaluating an application for an extension of the designation of an area as a development zone under s. 238.345 235.345 (1) (b).

SB21,1505,17 (6) The corporation authority may not accept any applications under sub. (1) to change the boundaries of a development zone designated under s. 238.31 235.31 on or after March 6, 2009.

SB21,4017 Section 4017. 238.345 of the statutes is renumbered 235.345, and 235.345 (1) (a) and (b), (2) (a), (am), (b), (c) 1. and 2. and (d) and (3) (intro.), (a) and (b), as renumbered, are amended to read:

SB21,1505,23 235.345 (1) (a) The designation of an area as a development zone shall be effective for 240 months, beginning on the day the corporation authority notifies the local governing body under s. 238.325 235.325 (3) of the designation.

SB21,1506,4 (b) The local governing body may apply to the corporation authority for one 60-month extension of the designation. The corporation authority shall adopt rules policies and procedures 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 corporation authority under this paragraph on or after March 6, 2009.

SB21,1506,7 (2) (a) When the corporation authority designates a development zone under s. 238.31 235.31, it shall establish a limit for tax benefits for the development zone determined by allocating to the development zone a portion of $38,155,000.

SB21,1506,11 (am) Notwithstanding par. (a), the corporation authority may increase the established limit for tax benefits for a development zone. The corporation authority may not increase the limit for tax benefits established for any development zone designated under s. 238.31 235.31 on or after March 6, 2009.

SB21,1506,13 (b) Annually the corporation authority shall estimate the amount of forgone state revenue because of tax benefits claimed by persons in each development zone.

SB21,1506,16 (c) 1. Ninety days after the day on which the corporation authority determines that the forgone tax revenues under par. (b) will equal or exceed the limit for the development zone established under par. (a) or (am).

SB21,1506,18 2. The day that the corporation authority withdraws its designation of an area as a development zone under sub. (3).

SB21,1506,20 (d) The corporation authority shall immediately notify the local governing body of a change in the expiration date of the development zone under par. (c).

SB21,1506,22 (3) (intro.) The corporation authority may withdraw the designation of an area as a development zone if any of the following applies:

SB21,1507,2 (a) No person is certified as eligible to receive tax benefits under s. 238.365 235.365 (3) during the 12-month period beginning on the day the area is designated as a development zone and the corporation authority determines that the local governing body that nominated the zone is not in compliance with s. 238.363 235.363.

SB21,1507,5 (b) No person is certified as eligible to receive tax benefits under s. 238.365 235.365 (3) during the 24-month period beginning on the day the area is designated a development zone.

SB21,4018 Section 4018. 238.35 of the statutes is renumbered 235.35, and 235.35 (intro.), (6), (7), (8) and (10), as renumbered, are amended to read:

SB21,1507,9 235.35 Additional duties of the corporation authority. (intro.) The corporation authority shall do all of the following:

SB21,1507,15 (6) Notify University of Wisconsin System Authority small business development centers, the Wisconsin housing and development centers, the central administration of all University of Wisconsin System Authority campuses and regional planning commissions about the development zone program and encourage those entities to provide advice to the corporation authority or local governing bodies on ways to improve the development zone program.

SB21,1507,16 (7) Prepare forms for the certification described under s. 238.365 235.365 (5).

SB21,1507,18 (8) Annually verify information submitted to the corporation authority under s. 71.07 (2dx), 71.28 (1dx), 71.47 (1dx), or 76.636.

SB21,1507,22 (10) Enter into an agreement with the local governing body of a 1st class city where a development zone is designated under s. 238.31 235.31 (3) (c) 1. to provide efficient administration of the development zone program within the development zone.

SB21,4019 Section 4019. 238.363 of the statutes is renumbered 235.363, and 235.363 (1) (intro.) and (c) and (4), as renumbered, are amended to read:

SB21,1508,3 235.363 (1) (intro.) If an area nominated by a local governing body is designated as a development zone under s. 238.31 235.31, the local governing body shall do all of the following:

SB21,1508,5 (c) Assist the corporation authority in the administration of the development zone program.

SB21,1508,9 (4) The local governing body of a 1st class city where a development zone is designated under s. 238.31 235.31 (3) (c) 1. shall enter into an agreement with the corporation authority to provide efficient administration of the development zone program within the development zone.

SB21,4020 Section 4020. 238.365 of the statutes is renumbered 235.365, and 235.365 (intro.), (2), (3) (intro.), (b) and (j) and (5) (g) and (h), as renumbered, are amended to read:

SB21,1508,14 235.365 Certification for tax benefits. (intro.) The corporation authority shall do all of the following:

SB21,1508,16 (2) Determine whether a person applying for tax benefits engages or will engage in economic activity that violates s. 238.38 235.38 (1).

SB21,1508,19 (3) (intro.) Subject to s. 238.38 235.38, certify persons who are eligible to claim tax benefits while an area is designated as a development zone, according to the following criteria:

SB21,1508,21 (b) The person's commitment not to engage in economic activity that violates s. 238.38 235.38 (1).

SB21,1508,23 (j) Any other criteria established under rules policies and procedures adopted by the corporation authority.

SB21,1508,25 (5) (g) The limit under s. 238.368 235.368 on tax benefits the person may claim while an area is designated as a development zone.

SB21,1509,2 (h) Other information required by the corporation authority or the department of revenue.

SB21,4021 Section 4021. 238.368 of the statutes is renumbered 235.368, and 235.368 (1) (a) and (b) (intro.), 1. and 2., (2) (intro.) and (b) and (3) (a) (intro.) and 1. and (b), as renumbered, are amended to read:

SB21,1509,8 235.368 (1) (a) The corporation authority shall establish a limit on the maximum amount of tax benefits a person certified under s. 238.365 235.365 (3) may claim while an area is designated as a development zone.

SB21,1509,10 (b) (intro.) When establishing a limit on tax benefits under par. (a), the corporation authority shall do all of the following:

SB21,1509,11 1. Consider all of the criteria described in s. 238.365 235.365 (3) (a) to (e).

SB21,1509,17 2. Establish a limit which does not greatly exceed a recommended limit, established under rules policies and procedures adopted by the corporation authority based on the cost, number and types of full-time jobs that will be created, retained, or upgraded, including full-time jobs available to members of the targeted population, as a result of the economic activity of the person certified under s. 238.365 235.365 (3).

SB21,1509,20 (2) (intro.) The corporation authority may, upon request, increase a limit on tax benefits established under sub. (1) if the corporation authority does all of the following:

SB21,1509,23 (b) Revises the certification required under s. 238.365 235.365 (5) and provides a copy of the revised form to the department of revenue and the person whose limit is increased under this subsection.

SB21,1510,3 (3) (a) (intro.) The corporation authority may reduce a limit established under sub. (1) or (2) if the corporation authority determines that any of the following applies:

SB21,1510,5 1. The limit is not consistent with the criteria listed under s. 238.365 235.365 (3) (a) to (e).

SB21,1510,8 (b) The corporation authority shall notify the department of revenue and the person whose limit on tax benefits is reduced under par. (a) and provide a written explanation to the person of the reasons for reducing the limit.

SB21,4022 Section 4022. 238.37 of the statutes is renumbered 235.37, and 235.37 (1) (intro.) and (b) and (2), as renumbered, are amended to read:

SB21,1510,12 235.37 (1) (intro.) The corporation authority shall revoke the certification of a person certified under s. 238.365 235.365 (3) if the person does any of the following:

SB21,1510,13 (b) Becomes subject to revocation under s. 238.38 235.38 (1).

SB21,1510,15 (2) The corporation authority shall notify the department of revenue within 30 days of revoking a certification under sub. (1).

SB21,4023 Section 4023. 238.38 of the statutes is renumbered 235.38, and 235.38 (1) (intro.), (1m), (2) (intro.) and (a) and (3) (a) and (b), as renumbered, are amended to read:

SB21,1510,23 235.38 (1) (intro.) Except as provided in subs. (2) and (3), no person may be certified under s. 238.365 235.365 (3), or a person's certification may be revoked under s. 238.37 235.37, if the proposed new business, expansion of an existing business, or other proposed economic activity in a development zone would do or does any of the following:

SB21,1510,25 (1m) No person may be certified under s. 238.365 235.365 (3) on or after March 6, 2009.

SB21,1511,3 (2) (intro.) Subsection (1) does not apply if, after a hearing, the corporation authority, or the local governing body under sub. (3) (a), determines that any of the following applies:

SB21,1511,6 (a) The total number of full-time jobs provided by the person in this state would be reduced if the person were not certified under s. 238.365 235.365 (3) or if the person's certification were revoked.

SB21,1511,13 (3) (a) Except as provided in pars. (b) and (c), if the economic activity for which a person is seeking certification under s. 238.365 235.365 (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. 238.32 235.32 shall determine whether sub. (2) (a) or (b) applies.

SB21,1511,19 (b) Only the corporation authority may determine whether sub. (2) (a) or (b) applies to a business relocation described in par. (a) if the business relocation would likely result in the loss of full-time jobs at or transfer of employees from a business location that is in this state but outside the limits of any city, village, town, or federally recognized American Indian reservation in which the development zone is located.

SB21,4024 Section 4024. 238.385 of the statutes is renumbered 235.385, and 235.385 (1) (intro.) and (bm) and (2) (intro.), (b) and (c), as renumbered, are amended to read:

SB21,1512,2 235.385 (1) (intro.) For the development zone program under ss. 238.30 235.30 and 238.31 to 238.38 235.31 to 235.38, the development opportunity zone program under s. 238.395 235.395, and the enterprise development zone program under s. 238.397 235.397, the corporation authority shall adopt rules policies and procedures that further define a person's eligibility for tax benefits. The rules policies and procedures shall do at least all of the following:

SB21,1512,6 (bm) Allow a person to claim up to $8,000 in tax benefits during the time that an area is designated as an enterprise development zone for retaining a full-time job if the corporation authority determines that the person made a significant capital investment to retain the full-time job.

SB21,1512,8 (2) (intro.) The corporation authority may by rule specify circumstances under which the corporation authority may grant exceptions to any of the following:

SB21,1512,10 (b) The requirement under ss. 238.30 235.30 (2m) and 238.397 235.397 (1) (am) that an individual's pay must equal at least 150% of the federal minimum wage.

SB21,1512,14 (c) The requirement under ss. 238.30 235.30 (2m) and 238.397 235.397 (1) (am) that an individual's position must be regular, nonseasonal, and full-time and that the individual must be required to work at least 2,080 hours per year, including paid leave and holidays.

SB21,4025 Section 4025. 238.395 of the statutes is renumbered 235.395, and 235.395 (1) (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h) and (i), (2) (c), (d) 1. and 2. and (e) 1., 2. and 3., (3) (a) 1., 2., 3. and 4., (b) 9., (c) and (d), (4) (a) (intro.) and (b) and (5) (a) (intro.), 2. and 3., (b), (c), (d), (e) (intro.) and 3. and (f), as renumbered, are amended to read:

SB21,1512,20 235.395 (1) (a) An area in the city of Beloit, the legal description of which is provided to the corporation authority by the local governing body of the city of Beloit.

SB21,1512,22 (b) An area in the city of West Allis, the legal description of which is provided to the corporation authority by the local governing body of the city of West Allis.

SB21,1512,24 (c) An area in the city of Eau Claire, the legal description of which is provided to the corporation authority by the local governing body of the city of Eau Claire.

SB21,1513,2 (d) An area in the city of Kenosha, the legal description of which is provided to the corporation authority by the local governing body of the city of Kenosha.

SB21,1513,4 (e) An area in the city of Milwaukee, the legal description of which is provided to the corporation authority by the local governing body of the city of Milwaukee.

SB21,1513,7 (f) For the Gateway Project, an area in the city of Beloit, the legal description of which is provided to the corporation authority by the local governing body of the city of Beloit.

SB21,1513,9 (g) An area in the city of Janesville, the legal description of which is provided to the corporation authority by the local governing body of the city of Janesville.

SB21,1513,11 (h) An area in the city of Kenosha, the legal description of which is provided to the corporation authority by the local governing body of the city of Kenosha.

SB21,1513,13 (i) An area in the city of Beloit, the legal description of which is provided to the corporation authority by the local governing body of the city of Beloit.

SB21,1513,16 (2) (c) Annually, the corporation authority shall estimate the amount of forgone state revenue because of tax benefits claimed by persons in each development opportunity zone.

SB21,1513,20 (d) 1. Notwithstanding pars. (a) and (e), the designation of an area as a development opportunity zone shall expire 90 days after the day on which the corporation authority determines that the forgone tax revenues under par. (c) will equal or exceed the limit for the development opportunity zone.

SB21,1513,23 2. The corporation authority shall immediately notify the local governing body of the city in which the development opportunity zone is located of a change in the expiration date of the development opportunity zone under this paragraph.

SB21,1514,5 (e) 1. The corporation authority may extend the designation of an area under sub. (1) (g) as a development opportunity zone for an additional 60 months if the corporation authority determines that an extension under this subdivision would support economic development within the city. If the corporation authority extends the designation of the area as a development opportunity zone, the limit for tax benefits for the development opportunity zone under sub. (1) (g) is increased by $5,000,000.

SB21,1514,12 2. The corporation authority may extend the designation of an area under sub. (1) (h) as a development opportunity zone for an additional 60 months if the corporation authority determines that an extension under this subdivision would support economic development within the city. If the corporation authority extends the designation of the area as a development opportunity zone, the limit for tax benefits for the development opportunity zone under sub. (1) (h) is increased by $5,000,000.