SB468,138,11 (e) (intro.) The methodology for designating an area as economically distressed under s. 238.304 555.304 (1). The methodology under this paragraph shall require the corporation department to consider the most current data available for the area and for the state on the following indicators:

SB468,138,14 (f) A schedule of additional tax benefits for which a person who is certified under s. 238.301 555.301 (2) and who conducts an eligible activity described under s. 238.304 555.304 may be eligible.

SB468,138,17 (g) Reporting requirements, minimum benchmarks, and outcomes expected of a person certified under s. 238.301 555.301 (2) before that person may receive tax benefits under s. 238.303 555.303.

SB468,138,19 (h) Policies, criteria, and methodology for allocating a portion of the tax benefits available under s. 238.303 555.303 to rural areas.

SB468,138,21 (i) Policies, criteria, and methodology for allocating a portion of the tax benefits available under s. 238.303 555.303 to small businesses.

SB468,138,22 (k) Procedures for implementing ss. 238.301 555.301 to 238.306 555.306.

SB468,139,3 (3) Reporting. Annually, 6 months after the report has been submitted under s. 238.07 555.07 (2), 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. 238.301 555.301 to 238.306 555.306. The report under this subsection shall update the applicable information provided in the report under s. 238.07 555.07 (2).

SB468,391 Section 391. 238.308 of the statutes, as created by 2015 Wisconsin Act 55, is renumbered 555.308, and 555.308 (2) (a) (intro.) and 2., (3), (4) (a) (intro.), 2. and 5. and (b) and (5) (a), (b) and (c), as renumbered, are amended to read:

SB468,139,8 555.308 (2) (a) (intro.) The corporation department may certify a person to receive tax benefits under this section if all of the following apply:

SB468,139,10 2. The person applies under this section and enters into a contract with the corporation department.

SB468,139,16 (3) Eligibility for tax benefits. A person is eligible to receive tax benefits if, in each year for which the person claims tax benefits under this section, the person increases net employment in this state in the person's business above the net employment in this state in the person's business during the year before the person was certified under sub. (2), as determined by the corporation department under its policies and procedures rules.

SB468,139,18 (4) (a) (intro.) The corporation department may award all of the following tax benefits to a person certified under sub. (2):

SB468,139,22 2. In addition to any tax benefits awarded for an eligible employee under subd. 1., an amount equal to up to 5 percent of the amount of wages that the person paid to the eligible employee in the taxable year, if the eligible employee is employed in an economically distressed area, as determined by the corporation department.

SB468,140,3 5. An amount, as determined by the corporation department, equal to a percentage of the amount of wages that the person paid to an eligible employee in the taxable year, if the position in which the eligible employee was employed was created or retained in connection with the person's location or retention of the person's corporate headquarters in Wisconsin and the job duties associated with the eligible employee's position involve the performance of corporate headquarters functions.

SB468,140,7 (b) Subject to a reallocation by the corporation department under s. 238.15 555.15 (3) (d), the corporation department may allocate up to $17,000,000 in tax benefits under this section in 2016 and up to $22,000,000 per year thereafter. Any unused allocation may be carried forward.

SB468,140,10 (5) (a) The corporation department may require a person to repay any tax benefits the person claims for a year in which the person failed to employ an eligible employee required by an agreement under sub. (2) (b).

SB468,140,13 (b) The corporation department shall annually verify the information submitted to it by the person claiming tax benefits under ss. 71.07 (3y), 71.28 (3y), and 71.47 (3y).

SB468,140,15 (c) The corporation department shall adopt policies and procedures promulgate rules for the implementation and operation of this section.

SB468,392 Section 392. 238.31 of the statutes is renumbered 555.31, and 555.31 (1) (intro.), (ac), (am), (b), (d) and (e) (intro.), 3. and 4. a. and d., (1m) (intro.) and (h), (2) and (3) (intro.), as renumbered, are amended to read:

SB468,140,20 555.31 (1) (intro.) The corporation department may designate an area as a development zone if all of the following apply:

SB468,140,22 (ac) The corporation department has invited a local governing body to nominate the area under s. 238.315 555.315.

SB468,140,24 (am) A local governing body nominates the area as described in s. 238.32 555.32.

SB468,141,2 (b) The corporation department has evaluated the local governing body's application as described in s. 238.325 555.325.

SB468,141,3 (d) The area meets the applicable requirements under s. 238.335 555.335.

SB468,141,4 (e) (intro.) The corporation department determines all of the following:

SB468,141,7 3. That economic development in the area is not likely to occur or continue without the corporation's department's designation of the area as a development zone.

SB468,141,10 4. a. The unemployment rate in the area is higher than the state average for the 18 months immediately preceding the date on which the application under s. 238.32 555.32 (2) or (3) was submitted to the corporation department.

SB468,141,14 d. In the 36 months immediately preceding the date on which the application under s. 238.32 555.32 (2) or (3) was submitted to the corporation department, a number of workers in the area were permanently laid off by their employer or became unemployed as a result of a business action subject to s. 109.07 (1m).

SB468,141,16 (1m) (intro.) In making a determination under sub. (1) (e), the corporation department shall consider all of the following: