HB-4454,As Passed House,May 14, 2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE BILL No. 4454

 

March 25, 2003, Introduced by Reps. Hoogendyk, Milosch, Vander Veen, Brandenburg, Pastor, Nofs, Lipsey, Wenke, Acciavatti and Amos and referred to the Committee on Commerce.

        

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                 A bill to amend 1995 PA 24, entitled                                              

                                                                                

    "Michigan economic growth authority act,"                                   

                                                                                

    by amending sections 3, 4, and 8 (MCL 207.803, 207.804, and                 

                                                                                

    207.808), section 3 as amended by 2000 PA 428 and section 8 as              

                                                                                

    amended by 2000 PA 144.                                                     

                                                                                

                THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:                      

                                                                                

1       Sec. 3.  As used in this act:                                               

                                                                                

2       (a) "Authorized business" means an eligible business with                   

                                                                                

3   which the authority has entered into a written agreement for a              

                                                                                

4   tax credit under section 9.                                                 

                                                                                

5       (b) "Authority" means the Michigan economic growth authority                

                                                                                

6   created under section 4.                                                    

                                                                                

7       (c) "Eligible business" means a business that proposes to                   

                                                                                

8   maintain retained jobs after December 31, 1999 or to create                 

                                                                                

9   qualified new jobs in this state after April 18, 1995 in                    

                                                                                


                                                                                

1   manufacturing, mining, research and development, wholesale and              

                                                                                

2   trade, or office operations or a business that is a qualified               

                                                                                

3   high-technology business.  An eligible business does not include            

                                                                                

4   retail establishments, professional sports stadiums, or that                

                                                                                

5   portion of an eligible business used exclusively for retail                 

                                                                                

6   sales.  Professional sports stadium does not include a sports               

                                                                                

7   stadium in existence on June 6, 2000 that is not used by a                  

                                                                                

8   professional sports team on the date that an application related            

                                                                                

9   to that professional sports stadium is filed under section 8.               

                                                                                

10      (d) "Eligible pharmaceutical company" means a company that                  

                                                                                

11  meets all of the following criteria:                                        

                                                                                

12                                                                               (i) Is engaged primarily in manufacturing, research and                             

                                                                                

13  development, and sale of pharmaceuticals.                                   

                                                                                

14      (ii) Has not less than 8,500 employees located in this state,                

                                                                                

15  all of which are located within a 100-mile radius of each other.            

                                                                                

16      (iii) Of the total number of employees located in this state,                

                                                                                

17  has not less than 5,000 engaged primarily in research and                   

                                                                                

18  development of pharmaceuticals.                                             

                                                                                

19      (iv) Enters into a written agreement with the authority not                  

                                                                                

20  later than 18 months following the effective date of the                    

                                                                                

21  amendatory act that added this subdivision.                                 

                                                                                

22      (e)  (d)  "Facility" means a site or sites within this state                

                                                                                

23  in which an authorized business maintains retained jobs or                  

                                                                                

24  creates qualified new jobs.  A facility does not include a site             

                                                                                

25  that was a vaccine laboratory owned by this state on April 1,               

                                                                                

26  1995.                                                                       

                                                                                

27      (f)  (e)  "Full-time job" means a job performed by an                       


                                                                                

1   individual who is employed by an authorized business for                    

                                                                                

2   consideration for 35 hours or more each week and for which the              

                                                                                

3   authorized business withholds income and social security taxes.             

                                                                                

4       (g)  (f)  "Local governmental unit" means a county, city,                   

                                                                                

5   village, or township in this state.                                         

                                                                                

6       (h)  (g)  "High-technology activity" means 1 or more of the                 

                                                                                

7   following:                                                                  

                                                                                

8                                                                                (i) Advanced computing, which is any technology used in the                         

                                                                                

9   design and development of any of the following:                             

                                                                                

10      (A) Computer hardware and software.                                         

                                                                                

11      (B) Data communications.                                                    

                                                                                

12      (C) Information technologies.                                               

                                                                                

13      (ii) Advanced materials, which are materials with engineered                 

                                                                                

14  properties created through the development of specialized process           

                                                                                

15  and synthesis technology.                                                   

                                                                                

16      (iii) Biotechnology, which is any technology that uses living                

                                                                                

17  organisms, cells, macromolecules, microorganisms, or substances             

                                                                                

18  from living organisms to make or modify a product, improve plants           

                                                                                

19  or animals, or develop microorganisms for useful purposes.                  

                                                                                

20  Biotechnology does not include human cloning as defined in                  

                                                                                

21  section 16274 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368,                       

                                                                                

22  MCL 333.16274, or stem cell research with embryonic tissue.                 

                                                                                

23      (iv) Electronic device technology, which is any technology                   

                                                                                

24  that involves microelectronics, semiconductors, electronic                  

                                                                                

25  equipment, and instrumentation, radio frequency, microwave, and             

                                                                                

26  millimeter electronics, and optical and optic-electrical devices,           

                                                                                

27  or data and digital communications and imaging devices.                     


                                                                                

1       (v) Engineering or laboratory testing related to the                        

                                                                                

2   development of a product.                                                   

                                                                                

3       (vi) Technology that assists in the assessment or prevention                 

                                                                                

4   of threats or damage to human health or the environment,                    

                                                                                

5   including, but not limited to, environmental cleanup technology,            

                                                                                

6   pollution prevention technology, or development of alternative              

                                                                                

7   energy sources.                                                             

                                                                                

8       (vii) Medical device technology, which is any technology that                

                                                                                

9   involves medical equipment or products other than a                         

                                                                                

10  pharmaceutical product that has therapeutic or diagnostic value             

                                                                                

11  and is regulated.                                                           

                                                                                

12      (viii) Product research and development.                                      

                                                                                

13      (ix) Advanced vehicles technology that is any technology that                

                                                                                

14  involves electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, or alternative fuel            

                                                                                

15  vehicles, or components used in the construction of electric                

                                                                                

16  vehicles, hybrid vehicles, or alternative fuel vehicles.  For               

                                                                                

17  purposes of this act:                                                       

                                                                                

18      (A) "Electric vehicle" means a road vehicle that draws                      

                                                                                

19  propulsion energy only from an on-board source of electrical                

                                                                                

20  energy.                                                                     

                                                                                

21      (B) "Hybrid vehicle" means a road vehicle that can draw                     

                                                                                

22  propulsion energy from both a consumable fuel and a rechargeable            

                                                                                

23  energy storage system.                                                      

                                                                                

24      (i)  (h)  "New capital investment" means 1 or more of the                   

                                                                                

25  following:                                                                  

                                                                                

26                                                                               (i) New construction.  As used in this subparagraph:                                

                                                                                

27      (A) "New construction" means property not in existence on the               


                                                                                

1   date the authorized business enters into a written agreement with           

                                                                                

2   the authority and not replacement construction.  New construction           

                                                                                

3   includes the physical addition of equipment or furnishings,                 

                                                                                

4   subject to section 27(2)(a) to (o) of the general property tax              

                                                                                

5   act, 1893 PA 206, MCL 211.27.                                               

                                                                                

6       (B) "Replacement construction" means that term as defined in                

                                                                                

7   section 34d(1)(b)(v) of the general property tax act, 1893                  

                                                                                

8   PA 206, MCL 211.34d.                                                        

                                                                                

9       (ii) The purchase of new personal property.  As used in this                 

                                                                                

10  subparagraph, "new personal property" means personal property               

                                                                                

11  that is not subject to or that is exempt from the collection of             

                                                                                

12  taxes under the general property tax act, 1893 PA 206, MCL 211.1            

                                                                                

13  to 211.157, on the date the authorized business enters into a               

                                                                                

14  written agreement with the authority.                                       

                                                                                

15      (j)  (i)  "Qualified high-technology business" means a                      

                                                                                

16  business that is both of the following:                                     

                                                                                

17                                                                               (i) A business with not less than 25% of the total operating                        

                                                                                

18  expenses of the business used for research and development in the           

                                                                                

19  tax year in which the business files an application under this              

                                                                                

20  act as determined under generally accepted accounting principles            

                                                                                

21  and verified by the authority.                                              

                                                                                

22      (ii) A business whose primary business activity is                           

                                                                                

23  high-technology activity.                                                   

                                                                                

24      (k)  (j)  "Qualified new job" means either of the following:                

                                                                                

25                                                                               (i) A full-time job created by an authorized business at a                          

                                                                                

26  facility that is in excess of the number of full-time jobs the              

                                                                                

27  authorized business maintained in this state prior to the                   


                                                                                

1   expansion or location, as determined by the authority.                      

                                                                                

2       (ii) For jobs created after July 1, 2000, a full-time job at                 

                                                                                

3   a facility created by an eligible business that is in excess of             

                                                                                

4   the number of full-time jobs maintained by that eligible business           

                                                                                

5   in this state 120 days before the eligible business became an               

                                                                                

6   authorized business, as determined by the authority.                        

                                                                                

7                                                                                (l)  (k)  "Retained jobs" means the number of full-time jobs                         

                                                                                

8   at a facility of an authorized business maintained in this state            

                                                                                

9   on a specific date as that date and number of jobs is determined            

                                                                                

10  by the authority.                                                           

                                                                                

11      (m)  (l)  "Written agreement" means a written agreement made                

                                                                                

12  pursuant to section 8.                                                      

                                                                                

13      Sec. 4.  (1) The Michigan economic growth authority is                      

                                                                                

14  created within the Michigan  jobs commission  strategic fund.               

                                                                                

15  The Michigan  jobs commission  strategic fund shall provide staff           

                                                                                

16  for the authority and shall carry out the administrative duties             

                                                                                

17  and functions as directed by the authority.  The budgeting,                 

                                                                                

18  procurement, and related functions as directed by the authority             

                                                                                

19  are under the supervision of the  director  president of the                

                                                                                

20  Michigan  jobs commission  strategic fund.                                  

                                                                                

21      (2) The authority consists of the following 8 members:                      

                                                                                

22      (a) The  director  president of the Michigan  jobs                          

                                                                                

23  commission  strategic fund, or his or her designee, as                      

                                                                                

24  chairperson of the authority.                                               

                                                                                

25      (b) The state treasurer or his or her designee.                             

                                                                                

26      (c) The director of the department of management and budget,                

                                                                                

27  or his or her designee.                                                     


                                                                                

1       (d) The director of the state transportation department, or                 

                                                                                

2   his or her designee.                                                        

                                                                                

3       (e) Four other members appointed by the governor who are not                

                                                                                

4   employed by this state and who have knowledge, skill, and                   

                                                                                

5   experience in the academic, business, local government, labor, or           

                                                                                

6   financial fields.                                                           

                                                                                

7       (3) A member shall be appointed for a term of 4 years, except               

                                                                                

8   that of the members first appointed by the governor, 2 shall be             

                                                                                

9   appointed for a term of 2 years and 2 for a term of 4 years from            

                                                                                

10  the dates of their appointments.  A vacancy shall be filled for             

                                                                                

11  the balance of the unexpired term in the same manner as an                  

                                                                                

12  original appointment.                                                       

                                                                                

13      (4) Except as otherwise provided by law, a member of the                    

                                                                                

14  authority shall not receive compensation for services, but the              

                                                                                

15  authority may reimburse each member for expenses necessarily                

                                                                                

16  incurred in the performance of his or her duties.                           

                                                                                

17      Sec. 8.  (1) After receipt of an application, the authority                 

                                                                                

18  may enter into an agreement with an eligible business for a tax             

                                                                                

19  credit under section 9 if the authority determines that all of              

                                                                                

20  the following are met:                                                      

                                                                                

21      (a) Except as provided in subsection (5), the eligible                      

                                                                                

22  business creates 1 or more of the following within 12 months of             

                                                                                

23  the expansion or location as determined by the authority:                   

                                                                                

24                                                                               (i) A minimum of 75 qualified new jobs at the facility if                           

                                                                                

25  expanding in this state.                                                    

                                                                                

26      (ii) A minimum of 150 qualified new jobs at the facility if                  

                                                                                

27  locating in this state.                                                     


                                                                                

1       (iii) A minimum of 25 qualified new jobs at the facility if                  

                                                                                

2   the facility is located in a neighborhood enterprise zone as                

                                                                                

3   determined under the neighborhood enterprise zone act, 1992                 

                                                                                

4   PA 147, MCL 207.771 to  207.787  207.786, is located in a                   

                                                                                

5   renaissance zone under the Michigan renaissance zone act, 1996              

                                                                                

6   PA 376, MCL 125.2681 to 125.2696, or is located in a federally              

                                                                                

7   designated empowerment zone, rural enterprise community, or                 

                                                                                

8   enterprise community.                                                       

                                                                                

9       (iv) A minimum of 5 qualified new jobs at the facility if the                

                                                                                

10  eligible business is a qualified high-technology business.                  

                                                                                

11      (v) A minimum of 5 qualified new jobs at the facility if the                

                                                                                

12  eligible business is an eligible pharmaceutical company.                    

                                                                                

13      (b) Except as provided in subsection (5), the eligible                      

                                                                                

14  business agrees to maintain 1 or more of the following for each             

                                                                                

15  year that a credit is authorized under this act:                            

                                                                                

16                                                                               (i) A minimum of 75 qualified new jobs at the facility if                           

                                                                                

17  expanding in this state.                                                    

                                                                                

18      (ii) A minimum of 150 qualified new jobs at the facility if                  

                                                                                

19  locating in this state.                                                     

                                                                                

20      (iii) A minimum of 25 qualified new jobs at the facility if                  

                                                                                

21  the facility is located in a neighborhood enterprise zone as                

                                                                                

22  determined under the neighborhood enterprise zone act, 1992                 

                                                                                

23  PA 147, MCL 207.771 to  207.787  207.786, is located in a                   

                                                                                

24  renaissance zone under the Michigan renaissance zone act, 1996              

                                                                                

25  PA 376, MCL 125.2681 to 125.2696, or is located in a federally              

                                                                                

26  designated empowerment zone, rural enterprise community, or                 

                                                                                

27  enterprise community.                                                       


                                                                                

1       (iv) If the eligible business is a qualified high-technology                 

                                                                                

2   business, all of the following apply:                                       

                                                                                

3       (A) A minimum of 5 qualified new jobs at the facility.                      

                                                                                

4       (B) A minimum of 25 qualified new jobs at the facility within               

                                                                                

5   5 years after the date of the expansion or location as determined           

                                                                                

6   by the authority and a minimum of 25 qualified new jobs at the              

                                                                                

7   facility each year thereafter for which a credit is authorized              

                                                                                

8   under this act.                                                             

                                                                                

9       (v) A minimum of 5 qualified new jobs at the facility if the                

                                                                                

10  eligible business is an eligible pharmaceutical company.                    

                                                                                

11      (c) Except as provided in subsection (5), in addition to the                

                                                                                

12  jobs specified in subdivision (b), the eligible business, if                

                                                                                

13  already located within this state, agrees to maintain a number of           

                                                                                

14  full-time jobs equal to or greater than the number of full-time             

                                                                                

15  jobs it maintained in this state prior to the expansion, as                 

                                                                                

16  determined by the authority.                                                

                                                                                

17      (d) Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, the                   

                                                                                

18  average wage paid for all retained jobs and qualified new jobs is           

                                                                                

19  equal to or greater than 150% of the federal minimum wage.                  

                                                                                

20  However, if the eligible business is a qualified high-technology            

                                                                                

21  business, then the average wage paid for all qualified new jobs             

                                                                                

22  is equal to or greater than 400% of the federal minimum wage.               

                                                                                

23      (e) Except for a qualified high-technology business, the                    

                                                                                

24  expansion, retention, or location of the eligible business will             

                                                                                

25  not occur in this state without the tax credits offered under               

                                                                                

26  this act.                                                                   

                                                                                

27      (f) The local governmental unit in which the eligible                       


                                                                                

1   business will expand, be located, or maintain retained jobs, or a           

                                                                                

2   local economic development corporation or similar entity, will              

                                                                                

3   make a staff, financial, or economic commitment to the eligible             

                                                                                

4   business for the expansion, retention, or location.                         

                                                                                

5       (g) The financial statements of the eligible business                       

                                                                                

6   indicated that it is financially sound and that its plans for the           

                                                                                

7   expansion, retention, or location are economically sound.                   

                                                                                

8       (h) The eligible business has not begun construction of the                 

                                                                                

9   facility.                                                                   

                                                                                

10      (i) The expansion, retention, or location of the eligible                   

                                                                                

11  business will benefit the people of this state by increasing                

                                                                                

12  opportunities for employment and by strengthening the economy of            

                                                                                

13  this state.                                                                 

                                                                                

14      (j) The tax credits offered under this act are an incentive                 

                                                                                

15  to expand, retain, or locate the eligible business in Michigan              

                                                                                

16  and address the competitive disadvantages with sites outside this           

                                                                                

17  state.                                                                      

                                                                                

18      (k) A cost/benefit analysis reveals that authorizing the                    

                                                                                

19  eligible business to receive tax credits under this act will                

                                                                                

20  result in an overall positive fiscal impact to the state.                   

                                                                                

21                                                                               (l) If feasible, as determined by the authority, in locating                        

                                                                                

22  the facility, the authorized business reuses or redevelops                  

                                                                                

23  property that was previously used for an industrial or commercial           

                                                                                

24  purpose.                                                                    

                                                                                

25      (m) If the eligible business is a qualified high-technology                 

                                                                                

26  business, the eligible business agrees that not less than 25% of            

                                                                                

27  the total operating expenses of the business will be maintained             


                                                                                

1   for research and development for the first 3 years of the written           

                                                                                

2   agreement.                                                                  

                                                                                

3       (2) If the authority determines that the requirements of                    

                                                                                

4   subsection (1) or (5) have been met, the authority shall                    

                                                                                

5   determine the amount and duration of tax credits to be authorized           

                                                                                

6   under section 9, and shall enter into a written agreement as                

                                                                                

7   provided in this section.  The duration of the tax credits shall            

                                                                                

8   not exceed 20 years.  In determining the amount and duration of             

                                                                                

9   tax credits authorized, the authority shall consider the                    

                                                                                

10  following factors:                                                          

                                                                                

11      (a) The number of qualified new jobs to be created or                       

                                                                                

12  retained jobs to be maintained.                                             

                                                                                

13      (b) The average wage level of the qualified new jobs or                     

                                                                                

14  retained jobs relative to the average wage paid by private                  

                                                                                

15  entities in the county in which the facility is located.                    

                                                                                

16      (c) The total capital investment or new capital investment                  

                                                                                

17  the eligible business will make.                                            

                                                                                

18      (d) The cost differential to the business between expanding,                

                                                                                

19  locating, or retaining new jobs in Michigan and a site outside of           

                                                                                

20  Michigan.                                                                   

                                                                                

21      (e) The potential impact of the expansion, retention, or                    

                                                                                

22  location on the economy of Michigan.                                        

                                                                                

23      (f) The cost of the credit under section 9, the staff,                      

                                                                                

24  financial, or economic assistance provided by the local                     

                                                                                

25  government unit, or local economic development corporation or               

                                                                                

26  similar entity, and the value of assistance otherwise provided by           

                                                                                

27  this state.                                                                 


                                                                                

1       (3) A written agreement between an eligible business and the                

                                                                                

2   authority shall include, but need not be limited to, all of the             

                                                                                

3   following:                                                                  

                                                                                

4       (a) A description of the business expansion, retention, or                  

                                                                                

5   location that is the subject of the agreement.                              

                                                                                

6       (b) Conditions upon which the authorized business designation               

                                                                                

7   is made.                                                                    

                                                                                

8       (c) A statement by the eligible business that a violation of                

                                                                                

9   the written agreement may result in the revocation of the                   

                                                                                

10  designation as an authorized business and the loss or reduction             

                                                                                

11  of future credits under section 9.                                          

                                                                                

12      (d) A statement by the eligible business that a                             

                                                                                

13  misrepresentation in the application may result in the revocation           

                                                                                

14  of the designation as an authorized business and the refund of              

                                                                                

15  credits received under section 9.                                           

                                                                                

16      (e) A method for measuring full-time jobs before and after an               

                                                                                

17  expansion, retention, or location of an authorized business in              

                                                                                

18  this state.                                                                 

                                                                                

19      (f) A written certification from the eligible business                      

                                                                                

20  regarding all of the following:                                             

                                                                                

21                                                                               (i) The eligible business will follow a competitive bid                             

                                                                                

22  process for the construction, rehabilitation, development, or               

                                                                                

23  renovation of the facility, and that this process will be open to           

                                                                                

24  all Michigan residents and firms.  The eligible business may not            

                                                                                

25  discriminate against any contractor on the basis of its                     

                                                                                

26  affiliation or nonaffiliation with any collective bargaining                

                                                                                

27  organization.                                                               


                                                                                

1       (ii) The eligible business will make a good faith effort to                  

                                                                                

2   employ, if qualified, Michigan residents at the facility.                   

                                                                                

3       (iii) The eligible business will make a good faith effort to                 

                                                                                

4   employ or contract with Michigan residents and firms to                     

                                                                                

5   construct, rehabilitate, develop, or renovate the facility.                 

                                                                                

6       (g) If the authority determines that it is necessary to                     

                                                                                

7   provide infrastructure assistance for the location or expansion             

                                                                                

8   of an eligible business within an international tradeport                   

                                                                                

9   development zone under the international tradeport development              

                                                                                

10  authority act, 1994 PA 325, MCL 125.2521 to 125.2546, a statement           

                                                                                

11  that if the authorized business locates or expands within that              

                                                                                

12  international tradeport development zone, that all or a portion             

                                                                                

13  of the tax credit received each year by the authorized business,            

                                                                                

14  as determined by the authority, shall be assigned by the                    

                                                                                

15  authorized business to the international tradeport development              

                                                                                

16  authority for infrastructure improvements within the                        

                                                                                

17  international tradeport development zone under the international            

                                                                                

18  tradeport development authority act, 1994 PA 325, MCL 125.2521 to           

                                                                                

19  125.2546.                                                                   

                                                                                

20      (4) Upon execution of a written agreement as provided in this               

                                                                                

21  section, an eligible business is an authorized business.                    

                                                                                

22      (5) After receipt of an application, the authority may enter                

                                                                                

23  into a written agreement with an eligible business that meets               

                                                                                

24  either of the following criteria:                                           

                                                                                

25      (a) Is located in this state on the date of the application,                

                                                                                

26  makes new capital investment of $250,000,000.00 in this state,              

                                                                                

27  and maintains 500 retained jobs, as determined by the authority.            


                                                                                

1       (b) Relocates production of a product to this state after the               

                                                                                

2   date of the application, makes capital investment of                        

                                                                                

3   $500,000,000.00 in this state, and maintains 500 retained jobs,             

                                                                                

4   as determined by the authority.                                             

                                                                                

5       (6) The authority shall not execute more than 25 new written                

                                                                                

6   agreements each year for eligible businesses that are not                   

                                                                                

7   qualified high-technology businesses.  If the authority executes            

                                                                                

8   less than 25 new written agreements in a year, the authority may            

                                                                                

9   carry forward for 1 year only the difference between 25 and the             

                                                                                

10  number of new agreements executed in the immediately preceding              

                                                                                

11  year.                                                                       

                                                                                

12      (7) The authority shall not execute more than 50 new written                

                                                                                

13  agreements each year for eligible businesses that are qualified             

                                                                                

14  high-technology businesses.