House Bill 1646

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 57-73-25, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE AND REDEFINE THE TAX CREDIT FOR EMPLOYERS PROVIDING CERTAIN SKILLS TRAINING; TO REMOVE THE JULY 1, 2004, REPEAL DATE ON THIS TAX CREDIT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 57-73-25, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

57-73-25. (1) A fifty percent (50%) income tax credit shall be granted to any employer (as defined in subsection (4) of this section) sponsoring * * * skills training. The fifty percent (50%) credit shall be granted to employers that participate in employer-sponsored training programs through any community/junior college in the district within which the employer is located or training approved by such community/junior college. * * * The credit is applied to qualified training * * * expenses, which are expenses related to instructors, instructional materials and equipment, and the construction and maintenance of facilities by such employer designated for training purposes which is attributable to training * * * provided through such community/junior college or training approved by such community/junior college. The credits allowed under this section shall only be used by the actual employer qualifying for the credits. The credit shall not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the income tax liability in a tax year and may be carried forward for the five (5) successive years if the amount allowable as credit exceeds the income tax liability in a tax year; however, thereafter, if the amount allowable as a credit exceeds the tax liability, the amount of excess shall not be refundable or carried forward to any other taxable year. The credit authorized under this section shall not exceed Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00) * * * per employee during any one year. Nothing in this section shall be interpreted in any manner as to prevent the continuing operation of state-supported university programs.

(2) Employer-sponsored training shall include an evaluation by the local community or junior college that serves the employer to ensure that the training provided is job related and conforms to the definition of "* * * skills training" * * * as hereinafter defined.

(3) Employers shall be certified as eligible for the tax credit by the local community or junior college that serves the employer and the State Tax Commission.

(4) For the purposes of this section:

(a) "* * * Skills training" means any employer-sponsored training by an appropriate community/junior college or training approved by such community/junior college that enhances skills that improve job performance. If the employer provides preemployment training, the portion of the preemployment training that involves skills training shall be eligible for the credit.

* * *

(b) "Employer-sponsored training" means training provided by the appropriate community/junior college in the district within which the employer is located or training approved by such community/junior college.

(c) "Employer" means those permanent business enterprises as defined and set out in Section 57-73-21(2), (3), (4) and (5).

(5) The tax credits provided for in this section shall be in addition to all other tax credits heretofore granted by the laws of the state.

(6) A community/junior college may commit to provide employer-sponsored * * * skills training * * * programs for an employer for a multiple number of years, not to exceed five (5) years.

(7) The State Board for Community and Junior Colleges shall make a report to the Legislature by January 30 of each year summarizing the number of participants, the junior or community college through which the training was offered and the type training offered.

* * *

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after June 30, 2004.