hb4368 intr

H. B. 4368

(By Delegates Manuel and Doyle)

[Introduced February 2, 2000; referred to the

Committee on Political Subdivisions then Finance.]

A BILL to amend and reenact sections three and four-a, article thirteen-j, chapter eleven of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, all relating to the West Virginia neighborhood investment program, extending program coverage to certain civic organizations.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That sections three and four-a, article thirteen-j, chapter eleven of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended and reenacted, all to read as follows:
ARTICLE 13J. NEIGHBORHOOD INVESTMENT PROGRAM.
§11-13J-3. Definitions.

(a) General. -- When used in this article, or in the administration of this article, terms defined in subsection (b) of this section shall have the meanings ascribed to them by this section, unless a different meaning is clearly required by either the context in which the term is used, or by specific definition in this article.

(b) Terms defined.

(1) Affiliate. -- The terms "affiliate" or "affiliates" include all concerns which are affiliates of each other when either directly or indirectly:

(A) One concern controls or has the power to control the other; or

(B) A third party or third parties control or have the power to control both. In determining whether concerns are independently owned and operated and whether or not affiliation exists, consideration shall be given to all appropriate factors, including common ownership, common management and contractual relationships.

(2) Capacity building. -- The term "capacity building" means to generally enhance the capacity of the community to achieve improvements and to obtain the community services described in subparagraphs (i) through (v), inclusive, of the definition of that term, as set forth in subdivision (4) of this subsection. Capacity building includes, but is not limited to, improvement of the means, or capacity, to:

(i) Access, obtain and use private, charitable and governmental assistance programs, administrative assistance and private, charitable and governmental resources or funds;

(ii) Fulfill legal, bureaucratic and administrative requirements and qualifications for accessing assistance, resources or funds; and

(iii) Attract and direct political and community attention to needs of the community for the purpose of increasing access to and use of assistance, resources or funds for a given purpose, goal or need.

(3) Commissioner or tax commissioner. -- The terms "commissioner" and "tax commissioner" are used interchangeably herein and mean the tax commissioner of the state of West Virginia, or his or her delegate.

(4) Community services. -- "Community services" means services, provided at no charge whatsoever, of:

(i) Providing any type of health, personal finance, psychological or behavioral, religious, legal, marital, educational or housing counseling and advice to economically disadvantaged citizens or a specifically designated group of economically disadvantaged citizens or in an economically disadvantaged area; or

(ii) Providing emergency assistance or medical care to economically disadvantaged citizens or to a specifically designated group of economically disadvantaged citizens or in an economically disadvantaged area; or

(iii) Establishing, maintaining or operating recreational facilities, or housing facilities for economically disadvantaged citizens or a specifically designated group of economically disadvantaged citizens or in an economically disadvantaged area; or

(iv) Providing economic development assistance to economically disadvantaged citizens or a specifically designated group of economically disadvantaged citizens; without regard to whether they are located in an economically disadvantaged area, or to individuals, groups or neighborhood or community organizations, in an economically disadvantaged area; or

(v) Providing community technical assistance and capacity building to economically disadvantaged citizens or a specifically designated group of economically disadvantaged citizens, or to individuals, groups or neighborhood or community organizations in an economically disadvantaged area.

(5) Compensation. -- The term "compensation" means wages, salaries, commissions and any other form of remuneration paid to employees for personal services.

(6) Corporation. -- The term "corporation" means any corporation, joint-stock company or association and any business conducted by a trustee or trustees wherein interest or ownership is evidenced by a certificate of interest or ownership or similar written instrument.

(7) Crime prevention. -- "Crime prevention" means any activity which aids in the reduction of crime.

(8) Delegate. -- The term "delegate" in the phrase "or his or her delegate", when used in reference to the tax commissioner, means any officer or employee of the tax division of the department of tax and revenue duly authorized by the tax commissioner directly, or indirectly by one or more redelegations of authority, to perform the functions mentioned or described in this article.

(9) Director or director of the West Virginia development office. -- The term "director" or "director of the West Virginia development office" means the director of the West Virginia office.

(10) Economically disadvantaged area. -- The term "economically disadvantaged area" means:

(A) In a municipality -- any area not exceeding fifteen square miles in West Virginia which contains any portion of an incorporated municipality and:

(i) In which area the aggregate poverty rate of persons residing in the area, based upon the most recent decennial census of population, is at least one hundred twenty-five percent of the statewide poverty rate; and

(ii) That is certified as an economically disadvantaged area by the West Virginia development office;

(B) In a rural area -- any area not exceeding twenty-five square miles in West Virginia:

(i) Which area is located in a rural area and which contains no incorporated municipalities or portions thereof;

(ii) In which area the aggregate poverty rate of persons residing in the area, based upon the most recent decennial census of population, is at least one hundred twenty-five percent of the statewide poverty rate; and

(iii) That is certified as an economically disadvantaged area by the West Virginia development office;

(C) An economically disadvantaged area shall qualify as such only pursuant to a certification issued by the West Virginia development office. Such certifications issued by the West Virginia development office shall expire after the passage of five calendar years, unless specifically limited to a shorter time by specific order of the West Virginia development office, and no area shall hold the status of a certified economically disadvantaged area for a period of time greater than ten years, either consecutively or in the aggregate;

(D) The certification of an economically disadvantaged area shall be made on the basis of a determination by the development office that an area meets the poverty criteria established in paragraphs (A) and (B) of this subdivision;

(E) No economically disadvantaged area may be certified within twenty-five miles of any other certified economically disadvantaged area. Not more than six economically disadvantaged areas may hold the status of certified economically disadvantaged areas at any one time in this state;

(F) At least a majority of all economically disadvantaged areas holding designations as economically disadvantaged areas at any one time shall be located in rural areas; and

(G) Such certification shall be filed with the secretary of state and shall specifically set forth the boundaries of the economically disadvantaged area by both description and map, the date of certification of the area as an economically disadvantaged area, the date on which such certification will terminate and a statement of the director's findings as to the aggregate poverty rate of persons living in the certified economically disadvantaged area.

(11) Economically disadvantaged citizen. -- The term "economically disadvantaged citizen" means a natural person, who during the current taxable year has, or during the immediately preceding taxable year had, an annual gross personal income not exceeding one hundred twenty-five percent of the federal designated poverty level for personal incomes, and who is a domiciliary and resident of this state.

(12) Education. -- "Education" means any type of scholastic instruction to, or scholarship by, an individual that enables such individual to prepare for better life opportunities. Education does not include courses in physical training, physical conditioning, physical education, sports training, sports camps and similar training or conditioning courses (except for physical therapy prescribed by a physician or other person licensed to prescribe courses of medical treatment under West Virginia law).

(13) Eligible contribution. --

(A) An eligible contribution consists of cash, publicly traded common or preferred stock representing ownership in a corporation valued at the closing price on the date of transfer, tangible personal property valued at its fair market value, real property valued at its fair market value: Provided, That any common or preferred stock contributed shall be sold by the project transferee within one hundred eighty days of its receipt; or a contribution of in kind professional services valued at seventy-five percent of fair market value;

(B) For purposes of this definition, the value of in kind professional services will not qualify as an eligible contribution unless the services are:

(i) Reasonably priced and valued, and reasonably necessary services customarily and normally provided by the contributor in the normal course of business to customers, clients or patients other than those encompassed by the project plan;

(ii) Not reimbursable, in whole or in part, from sources other than the tax credit provided under this article; and

(iii) Are services which are not available without cost elsewhere in the community;

(C) The term "professional services" means only those services provided directly by a physician licensed to practice in this state, those services provided directly by a dentist licensed to practice in this state, those services provided directly by a lawyer licensed to practice in this state, those services provided directly by a registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, dental hygienist or other health care professional licensed to practice in this state and those services provided directly by a certified public accountant or public accountant licensed to practice in this state;

(D) Minimum contribution. -- No contribution of cash, stock, property or professional services or any combination thereof contributed in any tax year by any taxpayer having a fair market value of less than five hundred dollars qualifies as an eligible contribution;

(E) Maximum contribution. -- No contribution of cash, stock, property or professional services or any combination thereof contributed in any tax year by any taxpayer having a fair market value in excess of two hundred thousand dollars qualifies as an eligible contribution; and

(F) Limitations. -- Not more than twenty-five percent of total eligible contributions to a certified project may be in kind contributions. Not more than twenty-five percent of total eligible contributions made by any taxpayer to any certified project may be in kind contributions.

(14) Eligible taxpayer. --

(A) The term "eligible taxpayer" means any person subject to the taxes imposed by article twenty-one, twenty-three or twenty-four of this chapter which makes an eligible contribution to a qualified charitable organization pursuant to the terms of a certified project plan for the purpose of providing neighborhood assistance, community services or crime prevention, or for the purpose of providing job training or education for individuals not employed by the contributing taxpayer or an affiliate of the contributing taxpayer or a person related to the contributing taxpayer;

(B) "Eligible taxpayer" also includes an affiliated group of taxpayers if such group elects to file a consolidated corporation net income tax return under article twenty-four of this chapter and if one or more affiliates included in such affiliated group would qualify as an eligible taxpayer under paragraph (A) of this subdivision.

(15) Includes and including. -- The terms "includes" and "including", when used in a definition contained in this article, shall not be considered to exclude other things otherwise within the meaning of the term defined.

(16) Job training. -- "Job training" means instruction to an individual that enables the individual to acquire vocational skills so as to become employable or to be able to seek a higher grade of employment.

(17) Natural person or individual. -- The term "natural person" and the term "individual" means a human being. The terms "natural person" and "individual" do not mean, and specifically exclude any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, organization, association, agency, governmental subdivision, syndicate, affiliate or affiliation, group, unit or any entity other than a human being.

(18) Neighborhood assistance. -- "Neighborhood assistance" means either:

(A) Furnishing financial assistance, labor, material and technical advice to aid in the physical or economic improvement of any part or all of an economically disadvantaged area; or

(B) Furnishing technical advice to promote higher employment in an economically disadvantaged area.

(19) Neighborhood organization. -- "Neighborhood organization" means any organization:

(A) Which is performing community services, as defined in this section; and

(B) Which is exempt from income taxation under Section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code.

(20) Partnership and partner. -- The term "partnership" includes a syndicate, group, pool, joint venture or other unincorporated organization through or by means of which any business, financial operation or venture is carried on, and which is not a trust or estate, a corporation or a sole proprietorship. The term "partner" includes a member in such a syndicate, group, pool, joint venture or organization.

(21) Person. -- The term "person" includes any natural person, corporation, limited liability company or partnership.

(22) Project transferee. -- The term "project transferee" means any neighborhood organization, qualified charitable organization, charitable organization or other organization, entity or person that receives an eligible contribution or part of an eligible contribution from an eligible taxpayer for the purpose of directly or indirectly providing neighborhood assistance, community services or crime prevention, or for the purpose of providing job training or education or other services or assistance pursuant to a project plan. The project transferee is typically the first entity or person receiving eligible contributions from eligible taxpayers under a project plan. However, in the case of eligible contributions of in kind services or other eligible contributions or portions thereof made pursuant to a certified project plan directly to indigent, disadvantaged or needy persons, economically disadvantaged citizens or other persons or organizations under the sponsorship or auspices of any neighborhood organization, qualified charitable organization, charitable organization or other organization, entity or person as a certified project participant, such eligible contributions shall be considered to have been made to the entity, organization or person under whose sponsorship or auspices such eligible contributions are made, and that entity, organization or person is considered to be the project transferee with relation to those eligible contributions. The project transferee is the entity, organization or person that is liable under this article for payment of the project certification fee to the West Virginia development office. The term "project transferee" shall mean and include any considered project transferee, considered as such under the provisions of this article.

(23) Qualified charitable organization. -- The term "qualified charitable organization" means a neighborhood organization, as defined in this section, which is the sponsor of a project which has received certification by the director of the West Virginia development office pursuant to the requirements of this article: Provided, That no organization may qualify as a qualified organization for purposes of this article if the organization is not registered with this state as required under the solicitation of charitable funds act.

(24) Related person. -- The term "related person" or "person related to" a stated taxpayer means:

(A) An individual, corporation, partnership, affiliate, association or trust or any combination or group thereof controlled by the taxpayer; or

(B) An individual, corporation, partnership, affiliate, association or trust or any combination or group thereof that is in control of the taxpayer; or

(C) An individual, corporation, partnership, affiliate, association or trust or any combination or group thereof controlled by an individual, corporation, partnership, affiliate, association or trust or any combination or group thereof that is in control of the taxpayer; or

(D) A member of the same controlled group as the taxpayer.

For purposes of this article, "control", with respect to a corporation means ownership, directly or indirectly, of stock possessing fifty percent or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of the stock of the corporation which entitles its owner to vote. "Control", with respect to a trust, means ownership, directly or indirectly, of fifty percent or more of the beneficial interest in the principal or income of the trust. The ownership of stock in a corporation, of a capital or profits interest in a partnership or association or of a beneficial interest in a trust shall be determined in accordance with the rules for constructive ownership of stock provided in Section 267(c), other than paragraph (3) of such section, of the United States Internal Revenue Code, as amended.

(25) State fiscal year. -- "State fiscal year" means a twelve-month period beginning on the first day of July and ending on the thirtieth day of June.

(26) Taxpayer. -- The term "taxpayer" means any person subject to the tax imposed by article twenty-one, twenty-three or twenty-four of this chapter (or any one or combination of the articles of this chapter).

(27) Technical assistance. -- The term "technical assistance" means:

(A) Assistance in understanding, using and fulfilling the legal, bureaucratic and administrative requirements and qualifications which must be negotiated for the purpose of effectively accessing, obtaining and using private, charitable, not-for-profit or governmental assistance, resources or funds, and maximizing the value thereof;

(B) Assistance provided by any person holding a license under West Virginia law to practice any licensed profession or occupation, whereby the person, in the practice of the profession or occupation, assists economically disadvantaged citizens or the persons in an economically disadvantaged area by:

(iv) Providing economic development assistance to economically disadvantaged citizens or a specifically designated group of economically disadvantaged citizens, without regard to whether they are located in an economically disadvantaged area, or to individuals, groups or neighborhood or community organizations, in an economically disadvantaged area; or

(v) Providing community technical assistance and capacity building to economically disadvantaged citizens or a specifically designated group of economically disadvantaged citizens or to individuals, groups or neighborhood or community organizations in an economically disadvantaged area.
§11-13J-4a. Neighborhood investment program advisory board.

(a) There is hereby created a neighborhood investment program advisory board, which shall consist of twelve voting members and the chairperson.

(b) Chairperson. --

(1) The director of the West Virginia development office, or the designee of the director of the West Virginia development office, shall be the ex officio chairperson of the neighborhood investment program advisory board.

(2) The chairperson shall vote on actions of the board only in the event of a tie vote, in which case the chairperson's vote shall be the deciding vote.

(1) Four members shall be officers or members of the boards of directors of unrelated corporations which are not affiliated with one another and which are currently licensed to do business in West Virginia.

(2) Four members shall be executive directors, officers or members of the boards of directors of unrelated not-for-profit organizations which are not affiliated with one another which currently hold charitable organization status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or hold not-for-profit status under Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code and which are currently licensed to do business in West Virginia.

(3) Four members shall be economically disadvantaged citizens of the state that, for the taxable year immediately preceding the year of appointment to the board, had an annual gross personal income that was not more than one hundred twenty-five percent of the federal designated poverty level for personal incomes, and who has been a domiciliary and resident of this state for at least one year at the time of appointment.

A member appointed under this subdivision is not disqualified from completion of his or her term if his or her income in the year of appointment or in any year subsequent to the year of appointment exceeds one hundred twenty-five percent of the federal designated poverty level. A member shall not be eligible for reappointment under this subdivision unless he or she meets the original qualifications for appointment: Provided, That such member may be reappointed pursuant to qualification under subdivision (1) or (2) of this subsection if the member meets the requirements of subdivision (1) or (2), respectively.

(d) Limitations; terms of members; appointments. --

(1) Not more than four members (exclusive of the chairperson) shall be appointed from any one congressional district. Not more than seven of the members (exclusive of the chairperson) may belong to the same political party. Members shall be eligible for reappointment. However, no member may serve for more than three consecutive terms.

(2) Appointment terms. --

(A) Except for initial appointments described under subdivision (3) of this subsection, and except for midterm special appointments made to fill irregular vacancies on the board, members shall be appointed for terms of three years each.

(B) Except for midterm special appointments made to fill irregular vacancies on the board, appointment terms shall begin on the first day of July of the beginning year. All appointment terms, special and regular, shall end on the thirtieth day of June of the ending year.

(3) Selection of members. --

(A) For the initial appointment of members under this subdivision, members shall be selected by the director of the West Virginia development office.

(B) At the end of a member's term, the chairperson shall solicit new member nominations from the board and appoint the most appropriate person to serve, in compliance with the requirements set forth in this section.

(C) Vacancies on the board shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments for the duration of the unexpired term.

(e) Quorum; meetings; funding. --

(1) The presence of a majority of the members of the board constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business. The board shall elect from among its members a vice chairperson and such other officers as are necessary.

(2) The board shall meet not less than four times during the fiscal year, and additional meetings may be held upon a call of the chairperson or of a majority of the members: Provided, That no meeting of the board shall be required if the total amount of tax credits available for the fiscal year have been allotted.

(3) Board members shall be reimbursed by the West Virginia development office for sums necessary to carry out responsibilities of the board and for reasonable travel expenses to attend board meetings.

(f) Annual report. -- The board shall make a report to the governor and the Legislature within thirty days of the close of each fiscal year. The report shall include summaries of all meetings of the board, an analysis of the overall progress of the program, fiscal concerns, the relative impact the program is having on the state and any suggestions and policy recommendations that the board may have. The report shall be public information made available to the general public for examination and copying. The board is authorized to publish the annual report, should the board elect to do so.

(g) Duties of the board. --

(1) Administrative duties. -- The board shall be responsible for advising the West Virginia development office concerning the administrative obligations of the program.

(2) Project evaluation and approval; prohibition on project promotion. --

(A) The board shall select and approve projects, which may then be certified by the director of the West Virginia development office pursuant to section four of this article.

(B) Only projects sponsored by qualified charitable organizations, as defined in section three of this article, may be approved by the board or certified by the director of the West Virginia development office. An applicant that does not hold current status as a charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or a not-for-profit organization under Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code may not receive project approval from the board, or project certification from the director of the West Virginia development office, for any proposed project. Failure of any applicant to provide convincing documentation proving required ~~such~~ status ~~as a charitable organization~~ under ~~Section 501(c)(3) of~~ the Internal Revenue Code shall result in automatic denial of project approval and denial of project certification under this article.

(3) Criteria for evaluation. -- In evaluating projects for approval, the board shall give priority to projects based upon the following criteria. A proposed project shall be favored if:

(A) The project is community based. A project is community based if:

(i) The project is to be managed locally, without national, state, multistate or international affiliations;

(ii) The project will benefit local citizens in the immediate geographic area where the project is to operate; and

(iii) The sponsor of the project is a local entity, rather than a statewide, national or international organization or an affiliate of a statewide, national or international organization.

(B) The proposed project will primarily serve low income persons.

(D) The project plan incorporates collaborative partnerships among nonprofit groups, businesses, government organizations and other community organizations.

(E) The applicant or sponsor of the project has demonstrated a proven capacity to deliver the proposed services.

(F) The applicant or sponsor of the project historically maintains low administrative costs.

(G) The applicant produces a strong showing of need for the services which the proposed project would provide, and produces convincing documentation of that need.

(H) The proposed project is innovative, novel, creative or unique in program approach.

(4) In the event that an applicant is directly or indirectly affiliated with one or more board members, those members may discuss the proposals with the board, but may not have a vote when that project is considered for final approval or disapproval.

(5) Project approval by the board. -- Proposed projects shall be approved or denied approval by a majority vote of the board after competitive comparison with proposed projects of other applicants.

(h) Project certification by the director of the West Virginia development office. --

(1) Upon issuance of approval for a project by the board, the approved project shall be certified by the director of the West Virginia development office: Provided, That no certification may issue for any project, even though the project may have been approved by the board, if the issuance of certification for such project will cause the aggregate amount of tax credits certified to exceed the limitation set forth in this article. No certification may be issued by the director of the West Virginia development office for any project which has not been approved by the board.

(2) The West Virginia development office shall promptly notify applicants of the issuance of certification for their projects, and shall issue tax credit vouchers to certified project applicants in the amount of the tax credit represented by the project.

(3) The West Virginia development office may provide incidental technical support and guidance to projects certified under this article and may monitor the progress of the projects. The West Virginia development office shall make a quarterly report to the board on the progress of certified projects and the program generally.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to permit volunteer fire companies serving in economically disadvantaged areas to participate in the Neighborhood Investment Program.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.