HOUSE BILL No. 5321

 

November 13, 2003, Introduced by Rep. Ward and referred to the Committee on Commerce.

        

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                 A bill to promote investment in certain businesses; to                            

                                                                                

    promote economic development in this state; to provide for a                

                                                                                

    Michigan early stage venture capital investment corporation; to             

                                                                                

    prescribe the powers and duties of a Michigan early stage venture           

                                                                                

    capital investment corporation; to prescribe the powers and                 

                                                                                

    duties of certain public officers and departments; to establish             

                                                                                

    the Michigan early stage venture capital investment fund and                

                                                                                

    other funds; to provide for tax credits and incentives; to                  

                                                                                

    authorize certain investments; to provide for the expiration of             

                                                                                

    the fund; to provide or allow for appropriations; and to provide            

                                                                                

    penalties and remedies.                                                     

                                                                                

                THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:                      

                                                                                

1       Sec. 1.  This act shall be known and may be cited as the                    

                                                                                

2   "Michigan early stage venture capital investment act of 2003".              

                                                                                

3       Sec. 3.  As used in this act:                                               

                                                                                


                                                                                

1       (a) "Alternative energy technology" means that term as                      

                                                                                

2   defined in section 2(d) of the Michigan next energy authority               

                                                                                

3   act, 2002 PA 593, MCL 207.822.                                              

                                                                                

4       (b) "Board" means the Michigan early stage venture capital                  

                                                                                

5   investment corporation board of directors.                                  

                                                                                

6       (c) "Conflict of interest" means a situation in which the                   

                                                                                

7   private interest of a director, employee, or agent of the board             

                                                                                

8   may influence the judgment of the director, employee, or agent in           

                                                                                

9   the performance of his or her duties or responsibilities under              

                                                                                

10  this act.  A conflict of interest includes, but is not limited              

                                                                                

11  to, the following:                                                          

                                                                                

12                                                                               (i) Any conduct that would lead a reasonable person, knowing                        

                                                                                

13  all of the circumstances, to conclude that the director,                    

                                                                                

14  employee, or agent of the board has an interest related to an               

                                                                                

15  action that the board is taking under this act.                             

                                                                                

16      (ii) Acceptance of compensation other than from the board for                

                                                                                

17  services rendered as part of the official duties as a director,             

                                                                                

18  employee, or agent of the board.                                            

                                                                                

19      (iii) Participation in any business being transacted with or                 

                                                                                

20  before the board in which the director, employee, or agent of the           

                                                                                

21  board or his or her parent, spouse, child, or sibling has a                 

                                                                                

22  financial interest.                                                         

                                                                                

23      (iv) Demonstrated preferential actions related to an action                  

                                                                                

24  taken by the board.                                                         

                                                                                

25      (d) "Equity capital" means capital invested in common or                    

                                                                                

26  preferred stock, royalty rights, limited partnership interests,             

                                                                                

27  limited liability company interests, or any other security or               


                                                                                

1   rights that evidence ownership in a private business.                       

                                                                                

2       (e) "Fund" or "Michigan early stage venture capital                         

                                                                                

3   investment fund" means the fund created in section 19.                      

                                                                                

4       (f) "High-technology activity" means that term as defined in                

                                                                                

5   section 3(g) of the Michigan economic growth authority act, 1995            

                                                                                

6   PA 24, MCL 207.803.                                                         

                                                                                

7       (g) "Investor" means an individual, firm, bank, financial                   

                                                                                

8   institution, limited partnership, co-partnership, partnership,              

                                                                                

9   joint venture, association, corporation, receiver, estate, trust,           

                                                                                

10  or any other entity that invests in the fund.                               

                                                                                

11      (h) "Michigan economic development corporation" means the                   

                                                                                

12  public body corporate created under section 28 of article VII of            

                                                                                

13  the state constitution of 1963 and the urban cooperation act of             

                                                                                

14  1967, 1967 (Ex Sess) PA 7, MCL 124.501 to 124.512, by a                     

                                                                                

15  contractual interlocal agreement effective April 5, 1999 between            

                                                                                

16  local participating economic development corporations formed                

                                                                                

17  under the economic development corporations act, 1974 PA 338, MCL           

                                                                                

18  125.1601 to 125.1636, and the Michigan strategic fund.  If it is            

                                                                                

19  determined that the Michigan economic development corporation is            

                                                                                

20  unable to perform its duties under this act, those duties shall             

                                                                                

21  be exercised by the Michigan strategic fund.                                

                                                                                

22      (i) "Michigan strategic fund" means the Michigan strategic                  

                                                                                

23  fund as described in the Michigan strategic fund act, 1984 PA               

                                                                                

24  270, MCL 125.2001 to 125.2093.                                              

                                                                                

25      (j) "Near-equity capital" means capital invested in                         

                                                                                

26  unsecured, undersecured, or debt securities or subordinated or              

                                                                                

27  convertible loans.                                                          


                                                                                

1       (k) "Negotiated return on qualified investment" means the                   

                                                                                

2   rate of return agreed upon for investments made by investors in             

                                                                                

3   the fund.                                                                   

                                                                                

4                                                                                (l) "Qualified business" means a seed or early stage business                       

                                                                                

5   that is domiciled in this state, that has its corporate                     

                                                                                

6   headquarters in this state, or the majority of whose employees              

                                                                                

7   work a majority of their time at a site located in this state.              

                                                                                

8       (m) "Qualified investment" means the amount of capital                      

                                                                                

9   invested by an investor in the fund.                                        

                                                                                

10      (n) "Seed or early stage business" means a business that has                

                                                                                

11  less than $15,000,000.00 in gross receipts and fewer than 200               

                                                                                

12  employees for the calendar year immediately preceding initial               

                                                                                

13  investment in the business by a venture capital company.                    

                                                                                

14      (o) "Venture capital company" means a corporation,                          

                                                                                

15  partnership, or other legal entity the primary business activity            

                                                                                

16  of which is the investment of equity capital in businesses that             

                                                                                

17  focus on areas, including, but not limited to, alternative energy           

                                                                                

18  technology, high-technology activity, or health care.                       

                                                                                

19      Sec. 5.  (1) A Michigan early stage venture capital                         

                                                                                

20  investment corporation is a nonprofit corporation incorporated              

                                                                                

21  under the nonprofit corporation act, 1982 PA 162, MCL 450.2101 to           

                                                                                

22  450.3192, that meets the registration requirements of this act.             

                                                                                

23      (2) A Michigan early stage venture capital investment                       

                                                                                

24  corporation shall be incorporated as a nonprofit corporation                

                                                                                

25  exempt under section 501(c)(3) or (6) of the internal revenue               

                                                                                

26  code or shall be a governmental agency under section 115 of the             

                                                                                

27  internal revenue code on or before July 1, 2004.                            


                                                                                

1       (3) Except as otherwise provided in this act to the                         

                                                                                

2   contrary, a Michigan early stage venture capital investment                 

                                                                                

3   corporation is subject to the laws of this state that are                   

                                                                                

4   applicable to nonprofit corporations.                                       

                                                                                

5       (4) A Michigan early stage venture capital investment                       

                                                                                

6   corporation is a charitable and benevolent institution, and its             

                                                                                

7   funds and property are exempt from taxation by this state or any            

                                                                                

8   political subdivision of this state.                                        

                                                                                

9       (5) A corporation shall not act as a Michigan early stage                   

                                                                                

10  venture capital investment corporation except as authorized under           

                                                                                

11  this act.                                                                   

                                                                                

12      Sec. 7.  The articles of incorporation of a Michigan early                  

                                                                                

13  stage venture capital investment corporation shall contain all of           

                                                                                

14  the following:                                                              

                                                                                

15      (a) The purposes of the corporation, which shall include,                   

                                                                                

16  but are not limited to, all of the following:                               

                                                                                

17                                                                               (i) To operate and act exclusively for charitable purposes                          

                                                                                

18  with the intent to lessen the financial burdens of the government           

                                                                                

19  of this state.                                                              

                                                                                

20      (ii) To receive and administer funds for the charitable                      

                                                                                

21  purposes under subparagraph (i).                                            

                                                                                

22      (iii) To raise capital and invest that capital in venture                    

                                                                                

23  capital firms with the intent of benefiting Michigan's early                

                                                                                

24  stage, growth companies.                                                    

                                                                                

25      (iv) To promote the economic health of this state by                         

                                                                                

26  assisting in the creation of new jobs, new businesses, and new              

                                                                                

27  industries within this state and through the investment in                  


                                                                                

1   certain businesses.                                                         

                                                                                

2       (v) To enter into an agreement with this state to promote                   

                                                                                

3   the economic health of this state.                                          

                                                                                

4       (b) A provision that the Michigan early stage venture                       

                                                                                

5   capital investment corporation shall be governed by a board of              

                                                                                

6   directors consisting of 5 members appointed by the governor as              

                                                                                

7   follows:                                                                    

                                                                                

8                                                                                (i) The state treasurer or his or her designee.                                     

                                                                                

9       (ii) The chief executive officer of the Michigan economic                    

                                                                                

10  development corporation or his or her designee.                             

                                                                                

11      (iii) One person recommended by the majority leader of the                   

                                                                                

12  senate.                                                                     

                                                                                

13      (iv) One person recommended by the speaker of the house of                   

                                                                                

14  representatives.                                                            

                                                                                

15      (v) One person recommended by a statewide organization                      

                                                                                

16  exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(3) or (6) of the                  

                                                                                

17  internal revenue code, the members of which represent more than             

                                                                                

18  50% of the venture capital companies in this state and that has a           

                                                                                

19  common interest in stimulating an entrepreneurial environment in            

                                                                                

20  this state, encouraging investments in new and emerging companies           

                                                                                

21  in this state, and promoting venture capital investing.                     

                                                                                

22      (c) A provision that, except as otherwise provided in this                  

                                                                                

23  act, the Michigan early stage venture capital investment                    

                                                                                

24  corporation and the board shall comply with the open meetings               

                                                                                

25  act, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to 15.275.                                     

                                                                                

26      (d) A provision that, except as otherwise provided in this                  

                                                                                

27  act, the Michigan early stage venture capital investment                    


                                                                                

1   corporation shall comply with the freedom of information act,               

                                                                                

2   1976 PA 442, MCL 15.231 to 15.246.                                          

                                                                                

3       (e) A provision that provides that, upon dissolution of the                 

                                                                                

4   Michigan early stage venture capital investment corporation, the            

                                                                                

5   property remaining after providing for debts and obligations of             

                                                                                

6   the Michigan early stage venture capital investment corporation             

                                                                                

7   shall be distributed to an organization that qualifies either as            

                                                                                

8   a governmental unit under section 115 of the internal revenue               

                                                                                

9   code or is exempt from tax under section 501(c)(3) of the                   

                                                                                

10  internal revenue code, as designated by the board.  If the board            

                                                                                

11  fails to designate an organization as provided in this                      

                                                                                

12  subdivision, the property remaining shall pass to the state of              

                                                                                

13  Michigan.  For purposes of this subdivision, property remaining             

                                                                                

14  after providing for debts and obligations does not include                  

                                                                                

15  grants, appropriations, or other restricted funds that must be              

                                                                                

16  distributed as required by the source of those funds.                       

                                                                                

17      Sec. 9.  (1) Prior to applying for registration as a                        

                                                                                

18  Michigan early stage venture capital investment corporation under           

                                                                                

19  section 11, a nonprofit corporation shall submit its articles of            

                                                                                

20  incorporation and any amendments to those articles of                       

                                                                                

21  incorporation to the attorney general for review and                        

                                                                                

22  certification.                                                              

                                                                                

23      (2) The attorney general shall review the information                       

                                                                                

24  submitted pursuant to subsection (1) and, if that information               

                                                                                

25  complies with the requirements of this act, and upon payment of a           

                                                                                

26  fee of $100.00, the attorney general shall issue a certificate of           

                                                                                

27  compliance to the Michigan early stage venture capital investment           


                                                                                

1   corporation not later than 60 days after the initial receipt of             

                                                                                

2   the information.                                                            

                                                                                

3       Sec. 11.  (1) To apply for registration as a Michigan early                 

                                                                                

4   stage venture capital investment corporation, a nonprofit                   

                                                                                

5   corporation shall file all of the following with the state                  

                                                                                

6   treasurer:                                                                  

                                                                                

7       (a) A copy of the articles of incorporation of the nonprofit                

                                                                                

8   corporation and any amendments to those articles of                         

                                                                                

9   incorporation.                                                              

                                                                                

10      (b) The certificate of compliance issued under section 9.                   

                                                                                

11  This subdivision does not apply if the attorney general does not            

                                                                                

12  issue the certificate within the time provided in section 9(2).             

                                                                                

13      (c) A general plan of the proposed activities of the                        

                                                                                

14  nonprofit corporation, including, but not limited to, evidence of           

                                                                                

15  the establishment by the nonprofit corporation of a restricted              

                                                                                

16  fund that shall be known as a Michigan early stage venture                  

                                                                                

17  capital investment fund.                                                    

                                                                                

18      (d) A copy of the financial statements of the nonprofit                     

                                                                                

19  corporation for the first immediately preceding fiscal year of              

                                                                                

20  the nonprofit corporation.                                                  

                                                                                

21      (e) A copy of the bylaws of the nonprofit corporation.                      

                                                                                

22      (f) Payment of a fee to the state treasurer of $500.00.                     

                                                                                

23      (2) The state treasurer shall examine the documents filed                   

                                                                                

24  under subsection (1), may conduct any investigation he or she               

                                                                                

25  considers necessary, may request additional oral and written                

                                                                                

26  information from the nonprofit corporation, and may examine under           

                                                                                

27  oath any persons interested in or connected with the nonprofit              


                                                                                

1   corporation seeking to be registered as a Michigan early stage              

                                                                                

2   venture capital investment corporation.                                     

                                                                                

3       (3) The state treasurer shall register a nonprofit                          

                                                                                

4   corporation as a Michigan early stage venture capital investment            

                                                                                

5   corporation if all of the following conditions are met:                     

                                                                                

6       (a) The documents filed under subsection (1) are in proper                  

                                                                                

7   form.                                                                       

                                                                                

8       (b) The articles of incorporation of the nonprofit                          

                                                                                

9   corporation or any amendments to those articles of incorporation            

                                                                                

10  meet the requirements of section 7.                                         

                                                                                

11      (c) The internal revenue service has determined that the                    

                                                                                

12  nonprofit corporation is exempt from taxation under section                 

                                                                                

13  501(c)(3) or (6) of the internal revenue code or is a                       

                                                                                

14  governmental unit under section 115 of the internal revenue                 

                                                                                

15  code.                                                                       

                                                                                

16      (4) If the state treasurer registers the nonprofit                          

                                                                                

17  corporation as a Michigan early stage venture capital investment            

                                                                                

18  corporation under this section, the state treasurer shall return            

                                                                                

19  to the nonprofit corporation 1 copy of its articles of                      

                                                                                

20  incorporation and any amendments to those articles of                       

                                                                                

21  incorporation, with a notation indicating that the nonprofit                

                                                                                

22  corporation is registered as a Michigan early stage venture                 

                                                                                

23  capital investment corporation.                                             

                                                                                

24      Sec. 13.  (1) A Michigan early stage venture capital                        

                                                                                

25  investment corporation shall be governed by a board of directors            

                                                                                

26  consisting of 5 directors.  The directors of the board shall be             

                                                                                

27  appointed by the governor as follows:                                       


                                                                                

1       (a) The state treasurer or his or her designee.                             

                                                                                

2       (b) The chief executive officer of the Michigan economic                    

                                                                                

3   development corporation or his or her designee.                             

                                                                                

4       (c) One person recommended by the majority leader of the                    

                                                                                

5   senate.                                                                     

                                                                                

6       (d) One person recommended by the speaker of the house of                   

                                                                                

7   representatives.                                                            

                                                                                

8       (e) One person recommended by a statewide organization                      

                                                                                

9   exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the internal                

                                                                                

10  revenue code, the members of which represent more than 50% of the           

                                                                                

11  venture capital companies in this state and that has a common               

                                                                                

12  interest in stimulating an entrepreneurial environment in this              

                                                                                

13  state, encouraging investments in new and emerging companies in             

                                                                                

14  this state, and promoting venture capital investing.                        

                                                                                

15      (2) Each director appointed under subsection (1)(c) to (e)                  

                                                                                

16  shall serve for a term of 3 years, except that of those directors           

                                                                                

17  first appointed, the director first appointed under subsection              

                                                                                

18  (1)(c) shall serve for a term of 1 year, the director first                 

                                                                                

19  appointed under subsection (1)(d) shall serve for a term of 2               

                                                                                

20  years, and the director first appointed under subsection (1)(e)             

                                                                                

21  shall serve for a term of 3 years.  A vacancy on the board at the           

                                                                                

22  end of or during a director's term shall be filled in the same              

                                                                                

23  manner as the original appointment for the remainder of the                 

                                                                                

24  unexpired term or for the new term and until a successor is                 

                                                                                

25  appointed.                                                                  

                                                                                

26      (3) A majority of the directors appointed and serving                       

                                                                                

27  constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting            


                                                                                

1   of the board.  A majority vote of the directors present and                 

                                                                                

2   serving is required for official action of the board.                       

                                                                                

3       (4) Each director shall prepare and file with the board a                   

                                                                                

4   disclosure form in which the director discloses any potential               

                                                                                

5   conflict of interest under this act.                                        

                                                                                

6       (5) A director, employee, or agent of the board shall not                   

                                                                                

7   engage in any conduct that constitutes a conflict of interest and           

                                                                                

8   shall immediately advise the board in writing of the details of             

                                                                                

9   any incident or circumstances that may present the existence of a           

                                                                                

10  conflict of interest with respect to the performance of the                 

                                                                                

11  board-related work or duty of the director, employee, or agent of           

                                                                                

12  the board.                                                                  

                                                                                

13      (6) A director who has a conflict of interest related to any                

                                                                                

14  matter before the board shall disclose the conflict of interest             

                                                                                

15  before the board takes any action with respect to the matter,               

                                                                                

16  which disclosure shall become a part of the record of the board's           

                                                                                

17  official proceedings.  The director with the conflict of interest           

                                                                                

18  shall refrain from doing all of the following with respect to the           

                                                                                

19  matter that is the basis of the conflict of interest:                       

                                                                                

20      (a) Voting in the board's proceedings related to the                        

                                                                                

21  matter.                                                                     

                                                                                

22      (b) Participating in the discussion of and deliberation on                  

                                                                                

23  the matter.                                                                 

                                                                                

24      (c) Being present at the meeting when the discussion,                       

                                                                                

25  deliberation, and voting on the matter take place.                          

                                                                                

26      (7) Failure of a director to comply with subsection (6)                     

                                                                                

27  constitutes misconduct in office.  A director may be removed from           


                                                                                

1   the board for misconduct by a vote of a majority of the directors           

                                                                                

2   not subject to the vote under this subsection appointed and                 

                                                                                

3   serving on the board.                                                       

                                                                                

4       (8) With respect to management of the affairs and property                  

                                                                                

5   of the authority, each director shall exercise the duties of a              

                                                                                

6   fiduciary toward the authority and shall discharge his or her               

                                                                                

7   duties with the degree of diligence, care, and skill that an                

                                                                                

8   ordinarily prudent person would exercise under the same or                  

                                                                                

9   similar circumstances in a like position.  In discharging his or            

                                                                                

10  her duties, a director, when acting in good faith, may rely upon            

                                                                                

11  the opinion of counsel.  A director may be removed from the board           

                                                                                

12  for a breach of fiduciary duty by a vote of a majority of the               

                                                                                

13  directors not subject to the vote under this subsection appointed           

                                                                                

14  and serving on the board.                                                   

                                                                                

15      (9) A director of the board or an officer or employee of the                

                                                                                

16  board or Michigan early stage venture capital investment                    

                                                                                

17  corporation is not subject to personal liability when acting in             

                                                                                

18  good faith within the scope of his or her authority or on account           

                                                                                

19  of liability of the Michigan early stage venture capital                    

                                                                                

20  investment corporation, and the board may defend and indemnify a            

                                                                                

21  director of the board or an officer or employee of the board or             

                                                                                

22  Michigan early stage venture capital investment corporation                 

                                                                                

23  against liability arising out of the discharge of his or her                

                                                                                

24  official duties.  The Michigan early stage venture capital                  

                                                                                

25  investment corporation may indemnify and procure insurance                  

                                                                                

26  indemnifying directors of the board and other officers and                  

                                                                                

27  employees of the board or Michigan early stage venture capital              


                                                                                

1   investment corporation from personal loss or accountability for             

                                                                                

2   liability asserted by a person with regard to actions of the                

                                                                                

3   board or the failure to act by the board or Michigan early stage            

                                                                                

4   venture capital investment corporation.  The Michigan early stage           

                                                                                

5   venture capital investment corporation may also purchase and                

                                                                                

6   maintain insurance on behalf of any person against any liability            

                                                                                

7   asserted against the person and incurred by the person in any               

                                                                                

8   capacity or arising out of the status of the person as a director           

                                                                                

9   of the board or an officer or employee of the board or Michigan             

                                                                                

10  early stage venture capital investment corporation, whether or              

                                                                                

11  not the Michigan early stage venture capital investment                     

                                                                                

12  corporation would have the power to indemnify the person against            

                                                                                

13  that liability under this subsection.  The board or the Michigan            

                                                                                

14  early stage venture capital investment corporation may by a                 

                                                                                

15  majority vote of the board obligate itself in advance to defend             

                                                                                

16  and indemnify persons.                                                      

                                                                                

17      Sec. 15.  (1) Except as otherwise provided in this act, in                  

                                                                                

18  the nonprofit corporation act, 1982 PA 162, MCL 450.2101 to                 

                                                                                

19  450.3192, by law, or in its articles of incorporation, a Michigan           

                                                                                

20  early stage venture capital investment corporation may do or                

                                                                                

21  delegate any act consistent with this act and the purposes of the           

                                                                                

22  nonprofit corporation, including, but not limited to, the                   

                                                                                

23  following:                                                                  

                                                                                

24      (a) Enter into contracts and all necessary activities in the                

                                                                                

25  regular course of business of the Michigan early stage venture              

                                                                                

26  capital investment corporation.                                             

                                                                                

27      (b) Charge reasonable fees for the implementation of this act               


                                                                                

1   and the ongoing operation of the Michigan early stage venture               

                                                                                

2   capital investment corporation.                                             

                                                                                

3       (c) Perform acts or enter into financial or other                           

                                                                                

4   transactions necessary to carry out its powers and duties under             

                                                                                

5   this act.                                                                   

                                                                                

6       (d) Invest in common or preferred stock and equity securities               

                                                                                

7   without a repurchase requirement for at least 5 years and the               

                                                                                

8   right to purchase stock or equity securities.                               

                                                                                

9       (e) Employ a fund manager and other persons it considers                    

                                                                                

10  necessary to implement this act.  The Michigan early stage                  

                                                                                

11  venture capital investment corporation shall employ only 1 fund             

                                                                                

12  manager at any 1 time.                                                      

                                                                                

13      (2) The fund manager shall establish an investment plan and                 

                                                                                

14  solicit investors pursuant to section 17.                                   

                                                                                

15      (3) The Michigan early stage venture capital investment                     

                                                                                

16  corporation shall require the fund manager to develop procedures            

                                                                                

17  to evaluate types of business and industry for investment                   

                                                                                

18  purposes and to set priorities as to which businesses are most              

                                                                                

19  likely to meet the desired outcomes of the investment plan                  

                                                                                

20  established under section 17 and which businesses conduct                   

                                                                                

21  activities that are consistent with the purposes of this act and            

                                                                                

22  of the fund.  This evaluation shall include, but not be limited             

                                                                                

23  to, the location of the firm and the direct and indirect impact             

                                                                                

24  of the business on the economic development of this state.                  

                                                                                

25      Sec. 17.  (1) To secure investment in the fund, the Michigan                

                                                                                

26  early stage venture capital investment corporation shall enter              

                                                                                

27  into agreements with investors.                                             


                                                                                

1       (2) Each agreement shall contain all of the following:                      

                                                                                

2       (a) An established and agreed-upon investment amount and                    

                                                                                

3   repayment schedule.                                                         

                                                                                

4       (b) A guaranteed negotiated amount or negotiated return on                  

                                                                                

5   qualified investment by the certified investor over the term of             

                                                                                

6   the agreement.                                                              

                                                                                

7       (c) A maximum amount of credit that the investor may claim                  

                                                                                

8   under section 37e of the single business tax act, 1975 PA 228,              

                                                                                

9   MCL 208.37e, a successor tax to the single business tax act, 1975           

                                                                                

10  PA 228, MCL 208.1 to 208.145, or under section 270 of the income            

                                                                                

11  tax act of 1967, 1967 PA 281, MCL 206.270, and the first year in            

                                                                                

12  which that credit can be claimed.                                           

                                                                                

13      (3) The fund shall repay any amounts due from proceeds from                 

                                                                                

14  the funds raised based on the agreements made under this                    

                                                                                

15  section.                                                                    

                                                                                

16      (4) For tax years that begin after December 31, 2008,                       

                                                                                

17  investors that have certificates may claim a credit under section           

                                                                                

18  37e of the single business tax act, 1975 PA 228, MCL 208.37e, or            

                                                                                

19  section 270 of the income tax act of 1967, 1967 PA 281, MCL                 

                                                                                

20  206.270, as otherwise provided in this act, equal to the                    

                                                                                

21  difference between the amount actually repaid and the amount set            

                                                                                

22  as the repayment due in the agreement entered into by the                   

                                                                                

23  taxpayer and the fund manager.  The Michigan early stage venture            

                                                                                

24  capital investment corporation shall notify the department of               

                                                                                

25  treasury when credit certificates are issued under this section,            

                                                                                

26  and upon notification and approval by the department of treasury            

                                                                                

27  under section 23, the amount of credit allowed pursuant to the              


                                                                                

1   credit certificate becomes a guarantee of repayment and a debt of           

                                                                                

2   the fund to the department of treasury subject to repayment                 

                                                                                

3   pursuant to the agreement between the Michigan early stage                  

                                                                                

4   venture capital investment corporation and the department of                

                                                                                

5   treasury.  A debt under this section shall accrue interest at the           

                                                                                

6   same rate as the interest paid to the investor.                             

                                                                                

7       (5) A guarantee provided for under this section shall not be                

                                                                                

8   considered an obligation of this state and may be restricted to             

                                                                                

9   specific funds or assets of the Michigan early stage venture                

                                                                                

10  capital investment corporation.                                             

                                                                                

11      (6) The Michigan early stage venture capital investment                     

                                                                                

12  corporation may purchase securities and security interests and              

                                                                                

13  may manage, transfer, or dispose of those securities and security           

                                                                                

14  interests.                                                                  

                                                                                

15      (7) The Michigan early stage venture capital investment                     

                                                                                

16  corporation and its directors are not broker-dealers, agents,               

                                                                                

17  investment advisors, or investment advisor representatives when             

                                                                                

18  carrying out their duties and responsibilities under this act.              

                                                                                

19      Sec. 19.  (1) A Michigan early stage venture capital                        

                                                                                

20  investment corporation shall create a Michigan early stage                  

                                                                                

21  venture capital investment fund, which shall be a restricted                

                                                                                

22  fund.                                                                       

                                                                                

23      (2) The fund manager shall establish an investment plan for                 

                                                                                

24  the investment of the money in the fund using the following                 

                                                                                

25  criteria:                                                                   

                                                                                

26      (a) Not more than 15% of the total capital and outstanding                  

                                                                                

27  commitments of the fund shall be invested in any single venture             


                                                                                

1   capital company.                                                            

                                                                                

2       (b) The fund manager shall undertake to invest the fund in                  

                                                                                

3   such a way as to promote that at least $2.00 will be invested in            

                                                                                

4   qualified businesses for every $1.00 of principal guaranteed by             

                                                                                

5   this state as tax credits available under section 37e of the                

                                                                                

6   single business tax act, 1975 PA 228, MCL 208.37e, a successor              

                                                                                

7   tax to the single business tax act, 1975 PA 228, MCL 208.1 to               

                                                                                

8   208.145, or section 270 of the income tax act of 1967, 1967 PA              

                                                                                

9   281, MCL 206.270.                                                           

                                                                                

10      (c) That investments facilitate the transfer of technologies                

                                                                                

11  from the state's various universities and research institutions.            

                                                                                

12      (d) That investments promote the ability to work in                         

                                                                                

13  collaboration with the southeastern Michigan transportation                 

                                                                                

14  authority established under section 4a of the metropolitan                  

                                                                                

15  transportation authorities act of 1967, 1967 PA 204, MCL                    

                                                                                

16  125.404a.                                                                   

                                                                                

17      (e) Any other professional portfolio management criteria that               

                                                                                

18  the fund manager and board consider appropriate.                            

                                                                                

19      (f) Priorities for investment in venture capital may be based               

                                                                                

20  on an evaluation, which shall consider the following criteria:              

                                                                                

21                                                                               (i) The retention of those businesses which would be likely                         

                                                                                

22  to leave this state absent the investment.                                  

                                                                                

23      (ii) The revitalization and diversification of the economic                  

                                                                                

24  base of this state.                                                         

                                                                                

25      (iii) Generating and retaining jobs and investment in this                   

                                                                                

26  state.                                                                      

                                                                                

27      (3) Consistent with the plan established under subsection                   


                                                                                

1   (2), the fund manager shall select venture capital companies from           

                                                                                

2   among those venture capital companies that apply for money from             

                                                                                

3   the fund considering the following criteria:                                

                                                                                

4       (a) The venture capital company's probability of success in                 

                                                                                

5   generating above-average returns through investing in qualified             

                                                                                

6   businesses.                                                                 

                                                                                

7       (b) The venture capital company's probability of success in                 

                                                                                

8   soliciting investments.  The level of investment from the fund              

                                                                                

9   committed to the venture capital companies shall not be more than           

                                                                                

10  25% of the total venture capital company's capital under                    

                                                                                

11  management.                                                                 

                                                                                

12      (c) The venture capital company's probability of success as                 

                                                                                

13  it relates to the investment plan criteria under subsection                 

                                                                                

14  (2)(b).                                                                     

                                                                                

15      (d) The venture capital company has a significant presence in               

                                                                                

16  this state as determined by the Michigan early stage venture                

                                                                                

17  capital investment corporation.                                             

                                                                                

18      (e) The venture capital company will undertake to invest in                 

                                                                                

19  qualified businesses a percentage of invested capital equal to or           

                                                                                

20  greater than the percentage of invested capital that the venture            

                                                                                

21  capital company received from the fund.                                     

                                                                                

22      (f) The venture capital company's consideration of minority                 

                                                                                

23  owned businesses in its investment activities.                              

                                                                                

24      Sec. 21.  The fund manager shall file a report with the                     

                                                                                

25  Michigan early stage venture capital investment corporation that            

                                                                                

26  includes an annual financial audit conducted by an independent              

                                                                                

27  auditor and any other financial information and documentation               


                                                                                

1   required by the Michigan early stage venture capital investment             

                                                                                

2   corporation to ensure the proper administration and investment of           

                                                                                

3   the fund.                                                                   

                                                                                

4       Sec. 23.  (1) The Michigan early stage venture capital                      

                                                                                

5   investment corporation shall determine which investors are                  

                                                                                

6   eligible for tax credits under section 37e of the single business           

                                                                                

7   tax act, 1975 PA 228, MCL 208.37e, and section 270 of the income            

                                                                                

8   tax act of 1967, 1967 PA 281, MCL 206.270, and the amount of the            

                                                                                

9   tax credit under those sections allowed to each investor.                   

                                                                                

10      (2) The Michigan early stage venture capital investment                     

                                                                                

11  corporation shall determine which investors are eligible for tax            

                                                                                

12  credits under this section and submit proposed certificates that            

                                                                                

13  meet the criteria under subsection (3) to the department of                 

                                                                                

14  treasury for approval.  The department of treasury shall approve            

                                                                                

15  proposed certificates within 30 days after receipt of the                   

                                                                                

16  certificates.  If the department of treasury does not approve the           

                                                                                

17  certificates within 30 days, the certificates are considered                

                                                                                

18  approved.                                                                   

                                                                                

19      (3) The Michigan early stage venture capital investment                     

                                                                                

20  corporation shall issue a certificate approved under subsection             

                                                                                

21  (2) to each investor that states all of the following:                      

                                                                                

22      (a) The taxpayer is an investor.                                            

                                                                                

23      (b) The taxpayer's federal employer identification number or                

                                                                                

24  the number assigned to the taxpayer by the department of treasury           

                                                                                

25  for filing purposes under the single business tax act, 1975 PA              

                                                                                

26  228, MCL 208.1 to 208.145.                                                  

                                                                                

27      (c) The amount of the tax credit that the taxpayer may claim                


                                                                                

1   against its tax liability under section 37e of the single                   

                                                                                

2   business tax act, 1975 PA 228, MCL 208.37e, or section 270 of the           

                                                                                

3   income tax act of 1967, 1967 PA 281, MCL 206.270.                           

                                                                                

4       (d) The tax years for which the credit under subdivision (c)                

                                                                                

5   may be claimed and the maximum annual amount that may be claimed            

                                                                                

6   each tax year.                                                              

                                                                                

7       (e) The tax credit is refundable.                                           

                                                                                

8       (4) The fund manager shall invest, budget, and plan scheduled               

                                                                                

9   payments and repayments so that no credits are claimed under                

                                                                                

10  section 37e of the single business tax act, 1975 PA 228, MCL                

                                                                                

11  208.37e, in any tax year before tax years that begin after                  

                                                                                

12  December 31, 2008.                                                          

                                                                                

13      (5) Certificates under this section shall be issued to an                   

                                                                                

14  investor at the time that the Michigan early stage venture                  

                                                                                

15  capital investment corporation determines that, for that                    

                                                                                

16  investor, capital is not sufficient to meet the guaranteed                  

                                                                                

17  negotiated amount or the negotiated return on qualified                     

                                                                                

18  investment of that investor.  The total of all certificates                 

                                                                                

19  issued under this section shall not exceed the maximum amount               

                                                                                

20  allowed under section 37e(2) of the single business tax act, 1975           

                                                                                

21  PA 228, MCL 208.37e.                                                        

                                                                                

22      (6) Certificates under this section shall not be issued until               

                                                                                

23  December 31, 2008 or 5 years after all the requirements under               

                                                                                

24  section 31 have been met, whichever occurs later.                           

                                                                                

25      Sec. 25.  (1) The business that the Michigan early stage                    

                                                                                

26  venture capital investment corporation and the board shall comply           

                                                                                

27  with the open meetings act, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to 15.275, as           


                                                                                

1   applicable.  A record or portion of a record, material, or other            

                                                                                

2   data received, prepared, used, or retained by the Michigan early            

                                                                                

3   stage venture capital investment corporation or the board in                

                                                                                

4   connection with an investment under this act that relates to                

                                                                                

5   financial or proprietary information submitted by a venture                 

                                                                                

6   capital company or investor as it relates to its fund and                   

                                                                                

7   respective portfolio companies that is considered by the venture            

                                                                                

8   capital company or investor and acknowledged by the Michigan                

                                                                                

9   early stage venture capital investment corporation or the board             

                                                                                

10  as confidential shall not be subject to the disclosure                      

                                                                                

11  requirements of the freedom of information act, 1976 PA 442, MCL            

                                                                                

12  15.231 to 15.246.  Unless considered proprietary information, the           

                                                                                

13  board shall not acknowledge routine financial information as                

                                                                                

14  confidential.                                                               

                                                                                

15      (2) The Michigan early stage venture capital investment                     

                                                                                

16  corporation shall not disclose financial or proprietary                     

                                                                                

17  information not subject to disclosure pursuant to subsection (1)            

                                                                                

18  without consent of the venture capital company or investor                  

                                                                                

19  submitting the information.                                                 

                                                                                

20      (3) For purposes of this section, "financial or proprietary                 

                                                                                

21  information" means information that has not been publicly                   

                                                                                

22  disseminated or that is unavailable from other sources, the                 

                                                                                

23  release of which may cause the venture capital company or                   

                                                                                

24  investor significant competitive harm.                                      

                                                                                

25      Sec. 27.  This act shall be construed liberally to                          

                                                                                

26  effectuate the legislative intent and its purposes.  All powers             

                                                                                

27  granted shall be cumulative and not exclusive and shall be                  


                                                                                

1   broadly interpreted to effectuate the intent and purposes and not           

                                                                                

2   as a limitation of powers.                                                  

                                                                                

3       Sec. 29.  The Michigan early stage venture capital                          

                                                                                

4   investment corporation shall publish an annual report not more              

                                                                                

5   than 3 months after the close of the Michigan early stage venture           

                                                                                

6   capital investment corporation's fiscal year that includes all of           

                                                                                

7   the following:                                                              

                                                                                

8       (a) An enumeration of all investment and related activities                 

                                                                                

9   for the fiscal year.                                                        

                                                                                

10      (b) Documentation and analysis of the implementation and                    

                                                                                

11  status of the Michigan early stage venture capital investment               

                                                                                

12  corporation's investment plan and the economic impact of the plan           

                                                                                

13  on this state, including, but not limited to, the following:                

                                                                                

14                                                                               (i) The number of jobs represented by the investments made in                       

                                                                                

15  qualified businesses in this state.                                         

                                                                                

16      (ii) Return on investment generated by investment, the types                 

                                                                                

17  of activities in which investment was made, and the impact of               

                                                                                

18  that investment on the economic base of this state.                         

                                                                                

19      Sec. 31.  Not later than 1 year after the effective date of                 

                                                                                

20  this act, all of the following shall occur:                                 

                                                                                

21      (a) The Michigan early stage venture capital investment                     

                                                                                

22  corporation shall be established and the board appointed.                   

                                                                                

23      (b) A fund manager shall be hired by the Michigan early stage               

                                                                                

24  venture capital investment corporation.                                     

                                                                                

25      (c) A investment plan shall be established.                                 

                                                                                

26      (d) Funds shall have been solicited and available for                       

                                                                                

27  investment consistent with the investment plan.                             


                                                                                

1       Sec. 33.  The fund created in section 19 shall expire on                    

                                                                                

2   January 1, 2054.  Any money in the fund, subject to all                     

                                                                                

3   outstanding debts and obligation of the Michigan early stage                

                                                                                

4   venture capital investment corporation being defeased and                   

                                                                                

5   satisfied, shall be distributed as provided in the Michigan early           

                                                                                

6   stage venture investment corporation's articles of incorporation            

                                                                                

7   or amendments to those articles of incorporation transferred to             

                                                                                

8   the general fund of this state on that date.                                

                                                                                

9       Sec. 35.  This act does not take effect unless all of the                   

                                                                                

10  following bills of the 92nd Legislature are enacted into law:               

                                                                                

11      (a) Senate Bill No. _______ or House Bill No. 5320                          

                                                                                

12  (request no. 04172'03 *).                                                   

                                                                                

13      (b) Senate Bill No. _______ or House Bill No. 5322                          

                                                                                

14  (request no. 05321'03).