HOUSE BILL No. 5610

January 24, 2006, Introduced by Reps. Kolb, Gleason, Tobocman, Lipsey, Alma Smith, Anderson and Kahn and referred to the Committee on Tax Policy.

 

     A bill to amend 1967 PA 281, entitled

 

"Income tax act of 1967,"

 

(MCL 206.1 to 206.532) by adding section 259.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 259. (1) For tax years that begin after December 31,

 

2005, a taxpayer, other than a resident estate or trust, may claim

 

a credit against the tax imposed by this act for a contribution to

 

a community housing development organization.

 

     (2) The credit allowed by this section shall not exceed

 

$100.00, or $200.00 for a husband and wife filing a joint return.

 

     (3) If the amount of the credit allowed under this section

 

exceeds the tax liability of the taxpayer for the tax year, that

 

portion of the credit that exceeds the tax liability shall not be

 


refunded.

 

     (4) As used in this section, "community housing development

 

organization" means a private nonprofit organization that meets all

 

of the following criteria:

 

     (a) Has among its purposes to provide decent housing that is

 

affordable to low-income and moderate-income persons.

 

     (b) Maintains accountability to low-income and moderate-income

 

community residents by doing all of the following:

 

     (i) Assuring that at least 1/3 of its governing board members

 

are residents of low-income neighborhoods or elective

 

representatives of a group that represents or advocates for

 

residents of low-income neighborhoods.

 

     (ii) Providing a formal process for low-income program

 

beneficiaries to advise the organization regarding design, siting,

 

development, and management of affordable housing.

 

     (c) Is organized under state law.

 

     (d) Is tax exempt under section 501(c)(3) or (4) of the

 

internal revenue code.

 

     (e) No part of its net earnings inure to the benefit of any

 

member, founder, contributor, or individual.

 

     (f) Is not controlled by or under the direction of individuals

 

or entities that seek to derive profit or gain from the

 

organization.

 

     (g) If the community housing development organization includes

 

a public body or is state or locally chartered, the public body or

 

state or local government does not have the right to appoint more

 

than 1/3 of the membership of the governing board of the

 


organization and not more than 1/3 of the board members of the

 

organization shall be public officials.

 

     (h) Uses generally accepted accounting methods as the standard

 

for financial accountability.