_____________ bill NO. _____________

INTRODUCED BY _________________________________________________

By Request of the ****

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT REVISING LAWS RELATED to THE TAX CREDIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AND THE INNOVATIVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM; REMOVING THE ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR QUALIFIED EDUCATION PROVIDERS; REVISING LIMITS ON SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNTS; ALLOWING TAX CREDITS EARNED UNDER THE PROGRAMS TO BE CARRIED FORWARD; REVISING THE TAX CREDIT LIMIT AND THE AGGREGATE LIMIT OF CREDITS UNDER THE PROGRAMS; REVISING THE PREAPPROVAL PROCESS FOR THE TAX CREDIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM; EXTENDING THE TERMINATION DATE FOR THE TAX CREDIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AND THE INNOVATIVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM; AMENDING SECTIONS 15-30-3101, 15-30-3102, 15-30-3103, 15-30-3104, 15-30-3106, 15-30-3110, AND 15-30-3111, MCA; AMENDING SECTION 33, CHAPTER 457, LAWS OF 2015; and PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE, A RETROACTIVE APPLICABILITY DATE, and A TERMINATION DATE."

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

Section 1. Section 15-30-3101, MCA, is amended to read:

"15-30-3101. (Temporary) Purpose. Pursuant to 5-4-104, the legislature finds that the purpose of student scholarship organizations is to provide parental and student choice in education with private contributions through tax replacement programs. The tax credit for taxpayer donations under this part must be administered in compliance with Article V, section 11(5), and Article X, section 6, of the Montana constitution. (Terminates December 31, 2023 2026--sec. 33, Ch. 457, L. 2015.)"

Section 2. Section 15-30-3102, MCA, is amended to read:

"15-30-3102. (Temporary) Definitions. As used in this part, the following definitions apply:

(1) "Department" means the department of revenue provided for in 2-15-1301.

(2) "Eligible student" means a student who is a Montana resident and who is 5 years of age or older on or before September 10 of the year of attendance and has not yet reached 19 years of age.

(3) "Geographic region" has the meaning provided in 20-9-903.

(4) "Large district" has the meaning provided in 20-9-903.

(5) "Partnership" has the meaning provided in 15-30-2101.

(6) "Pass-through entity" has the meaning provided in 15-30-2101.

(7) "Qualified education provider" means an education provider that:

(a) is not a public school;

(b) (i) is accredited, has applied for accreditation, or is provisionally accredited by a state, regional, or national accreditation organization; or

(ii) is a nonaccredited provider or tutor and has informed the child's parents or legal guardian in writing at the time of enrollment that the provider is not accredited and is not seeking accreditation;

(d) administers a nationally recognized standardized assessment test or criterion-referenced test and:

(i) makes the results available to the child's parents or legal guardian; and

(ii) administers the test for all 8th grade and 11th grade students and provides the overall scores on a publicly accessible private website or provides the composite results of the test to the office of public instruction for posting on its website;

(e)(d) satisfies the health and safety requirements prescribed by law for private schools in this state; and

(f)(e) qualifies for an exemption from compulsory enrollment under 20-5-102(2)(e) and 20-5-109.

(8) "Small business corporation" has the meaning provided in 15-30-3301.

(9) "Student scholarship organization" means a charitable organization in this state that:

(a) is exempt from federal income taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3);

(b) allocates not less than 90% of its annual revenue from contributions eligible for the tax credit under 15-30-3111 for scholarships to allow students to enroll with any qualified education provider; and

(c) provides educational scholarships to eligible students without limiting student access to only one education provider.

(10) "Taxpayer" has the meaning provided in 15-30-2101. (Terminates December 31, 2023 2026--sec. 33, Ch. 457, L. 2015.)"

Section 3. Section 15-30-3103, MCA, is amended to read:

"15-30-3103. (Temporary) Requirements for student scholarship organizations. (1) A student scholarship organization:

(a) shall obligate at least 90% of its annual revenue from contributions eligible for the tax credit under 15-30-3111 for scholarships. For the purpose of this calculation:

(i) the cost of the annual fiscal review provided for in 15-30-3105(1)(b) may be paid out of the total contributions before calculation of the 90% minimum obligation amount; and

(ii) all contributions subject to the 90% minimum obligation amount that are received in 1 calendar year must be paid out in scholarships within the 3 calendar years following the contribution.

(b) may not restrict or reserve scholarships for use at a particular education provider or any particular type of education provider and shall allow an eligible student to enroll with any qualified education provider of the parents' or legal guardian's choice;

(d) may not provide a scholarship to an eligible student for an academic year that exceeds 50% of the per-pupil average of total public school expenditures calculated in 20-9-570;

(e) shall ensure that the organization's average scholarship for an academic year does not exceed 30% of the per-pupil average of total public school expenditures calculated in 20-9-570;

(f)(e) shall maintain separate accounts for scholarship funds and operating funds;

(g)(f) may transfer funds to another student scholarship organization;

(h)(g) shall maintain an application process under which scholarship applications are accepted, reviewed, approved, and denied; and

(i)(h) shall comply with payment and reporting requirements in accordance with 15-30-3104 and 15-30-3105.

(2) An organization that fails to satisfy the conditions of this section is subject to termination as provided in 15-30-3113. (Terminates December 31, 2023 2026--sec. 33, Ch. 457, L. 2015.)"

Section 4. Section 15-30-3104, MCA, is amended to read:

"15-30-3104. (Temporary) Tuition payment limitation. (1) A student scholarship organization shall deliver the scholarship funds directly to the qualified education provider selected by the parents or legal guardian of the child to whom the scholarship was awarded. The qualified education provider shall immediately notify the parents or legal guardian that the payment was received.

(2) A parent or legal guardian of an eligible student may not accept one or more scholarship awards from a student scholarship organization for an eligible student if the total amount of the awards exceeds 50% of the per-pupil average of total public school expenditures calculated in 20-9-570. This limitation applies to each eligible student of a parent or legal guardian. (Terminates December 31, 2023 2026--sec. 33, Ch. 457, L. 2015.)"

Section 5. Section 15-30-3106, MCA, is amended to read:

"15-30-3106. (Temporary) Student scholarship organizations -- listing on website. (1) The department shall maintain on its website a hyperlink to a current list of all:

(a)(1) student scholarship organizations that have provided notice pursuant to 15-30-3105(1)(a); and

(b)(2) qualified education providers that accepted scholarship funds from a student scholarship organization.

(2) The list must include:

(a) a statistical compilation of the information received from the student scholarship organizations; and

(b) a hyperlink to the qualified education provider's overall testing scores contained on a publicly accessible private website or to the office of public instruction's website pursuant to 15-30-3102(7)(d)(ii). (Terminates December 31, 2023 2026--sec. 33, Ch. 457, L. 2015.)"

Section 6. Section 15-30-3110, MCA, is amended to read:

"15-30-3110. (Temporary) Credit for providing supplemental funding to public schools -- innovative educational program. (1) Subject to subsection (5) (4), a taxpayer or corporation is allowed a credit against the tax imposed by chapter 30 or 31 for donations made to the educational improvement account provided for in 20-9-905 for the purpose of providing supplemental funding to public schools for innovative educational programs and technology deficiencies. The taxpayer may direct the donation to a geographic region or a large district as provided in 20-9-904(2)(b). The amount of the credit allowed is equal to the amount of the donation, not to exceed $150 $200,000.

(2) (a) If the credit allowed under this section is claimed by a small business corporation, a pass-through entity, or a partnership, the credit must be attributed to shareholders, owners, or partners using the same proportion as used to report the entity's income or loss.

(b) A donation by an estate or trust qualifies for the credit. Any credit not used by the estate or trust may be attributed to each beneficiary of the estate or trust in the same proportion used to report the beneficiary's income from the estate or trust for Montana income tax purposes.

(3) The credit allowed under this section may not exceed the taxpayer's income tax liability but may be carried forward 3 years. The entire amount of the tax credit not used in the year earned must be carried first to the earliest tax year in which the credit may be applied and then to each succeeding tax year.

(4) There is no carryback or carryforward of the credit permitted under this section, and the credit must be applied in the year the donation is made, as determined by the taxpayer's accounting method.

(5)(4) (a) (i) The aggregate amount of tax credits allowed under this section is $3 million per year beginning in tax year 2016 2021.

(ii) Beginning in 2017, by August 1 2022, by December 31 of each year, the department shall determine if $3 million or the 80% of the aggregate limit provided for in subsection (5)(a)(iii) (4)(a)(iii) in donations was preapproved by the department. If this condition is satisfied, the aggregate amount of tax credits allowed must be increased by 10% 20% for the succeeding tax years.

(iii) If the aggregate limit is increased in any tax year, the department shall use the new limit as the base aggregate limit for succeeding tax years until a new aggregated limit is established under the provisions of subsection (5)(a)(ii) (4)(a)(ii).

(b) The department shall approve the amount of donations for taxpayers on a first-come, first-served basis and post a notice on its website advising taxpayers when the aggregate limit is in effect. If a taxpayer makes a donation after total donations claimed exceeds the aggregate limit, the taxpayer's return will be processed without regard to the credit.

(b) The aggregate limit under this subsection (4) applies to the year in which a donation is made regardless of whether the full credit is claimed in that tax year or carried forward.

(6)(5) A credit is not allowed under this section with respect to any amount deducted by the taxpayer for state tax purposes as a charitable contribution to a charitable organization qualified under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3). This section does not prevent a taxpayer from:

(a) claiming a credit under this section instead of a deduction; or

(b) claiming an exclusion, deduction, or credit for a charitable contribution that exceeds the amount for which the credit is allowed under this section.

(7)(6) After consultation with the superintendent of public instruction, the department may develop an internet-based registration system that provides taxpayers with the opportunity to obtain preapproval for a tax credit before making a donation. (Terminates December 31, 2023 2026--sec. 33, Ch. 457, L. 2015.)"

Section 7. Section 15-30-3111, MCA, is amended to read:

"15-30-3111. (Temporary) Qualified education tax credit for contributions to student scholarship organizations. (1) Subject to subsection (5) (4), a taxpayer or corporation is allowed a credit against the tax imposed by chapter 30 or 31 for donations made to a student scholarship organization. The donor may not direct or designate contributions to a parent, legal guardian, or specific qualified education provider. The amount of the credit allowed is equal to the amount of the donation, not to exceed $150 $200,000.

(b) A contribution by an estate or trust qualifies for the credit. Any credit not used by the estate or trust may be attributed to each beneficiary of the estate or trust in the same proportion used to report the beneficiary's income from the estate or trust for Montana income tax purposes.

(5)(4) (a) (i) The aggregate amount of tax credits allowed under this section is $3 million per year beginning in tax year 2016 2021.

(ii) Beginning in 2017, by August 1 2022, by December 31 of each year, the department shall determine if $3 million or the 80% of the aggregate limit provided for in subsection (5)(a)(iii) (4)(a)(iii) in tax credits was preapproved by the department. If this condition is satisfied, the aggregate amount limit of tax credits allowed must be increased by 10% 20% for the succeeding tax years.

(b) The department shall approve the amount of tax credits for taxpayers on a first-come, first-served basis and post a notice on its website advising taxpayers when the aggregate limit is in effect. If a taxpayer makes a donation after total donations claimed exceeds the aggregate limit, the taxpayer's return will be processed without regard to the credit.

(b) The aggregate limit under this subsection (4) applies to the year in which a donation is made regardless of whether the full credit is claimed in that tax year or carried forward.

(a) claiming a credit under this section instead of a deduction; or

(b) claiming an exclusion, deduction, or credit for a charitable contribution that exceeds the amount for which the credit is allowed under this section.

(7)(6) The department may develop an internet-based registration system that provides donors with the opportunity to obtain preapproval for a tax credit before making a contribution. (a) On receiving a donation under this part, a student scholarship organization shall seek preapproval, in a manner prescribed by the department, that the amount of tax credit sought by the taxpayer is available under the aggregate limit under subsection (4).

(b) On preapproval by the department, a student scholarship organization shall issue a receipt, in a form prescribed by the department, to each contributing taxpayer indicating the value of the donation received and preapproval of the tax credit.

(c) A taxpayer shall provide a copy of the receipt when claiming the tax credit. (Terminates December 31, 2023 2026--sec. 33, Ch. 457, L. 2015.)"

Section 8. Section 33, Chapter 457, Laws of 2015, is amended to read:

"Section 33. Termination. [This act] terminates December 31, 2023 2026."

NEW SECTION. Section 9. Effective date. [This act] is effective on passage and approval.

NEW SECTION. Section 10. Retroactive applicability. [This act] applies retroactively, within the meaning of 1-2-109, to tax years beginning after December 31, 2020.

NEW SECTION. Section 11. Termination. [Sections 1 through 7] terminate December 31, 2026.