[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 3046

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED OCTOBER 19, 2020

 


 

Sponsored by:

Senator  M. TERESA RUIZ

District 29 (Essex)

Senator  NELLIE POU

District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)

Assemblywoman  ELIANA PINTOR MARIN

District 29 (Essex)

Assemblyman  BENJIE E. WIMBERLY

District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)

Assemblywoman  SHAVONDA E. SUMTER

District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman Timberlake

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Extends certain document submission deadlines for Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit program and Economic Redevelopment and Growth Grant Program.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As amended on November 16, 2020 by the Senate pursuant to the Governor's recommendations.

  


An Act extending certain document submission deadlines for business tax credit programs, and amending P.L.2007, c.346 and P.L.2009, c.90.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    Section 3 of P.L.2007, c.346 (C.34:1B-209) is amended to read as follows:

     3.    a.  (1)  A business, upon application to and approval from the authority, shall be allowed a credit of 100 percent of its capital investment, made after the effective date of P.L.2007, c.346 (C.34:1B-207 et seq.) but prior to its submission of documentation pursuant to subsection c. of this section, in a qualified business facility within an eligible municipality, pursuant to the restrictions and requirements of this section.  To be eligible for any tax credits authorized under this section, a business shall demonstrate to the authority, at the time of application, that the State's financial support of the proposed capital investment in a qualified business facility will yield a net positive benefit to both the State and the eligible municipality.  The value of all credits approved by the authority pursuant to P.L.2007, c.346 (C.34:1B-207 et seq.) shall not exceed $1,750,000,000, except as may be increased by the authority as set forth in paragraph (5) of subsection a. of section 35 of P.L.2009, c.90 (C.34:1B-209.3) and section 6 of P.L.2010, c.57 (C.34:1B-209.4).

     (2)   A business, other than a tenant eligible pursuant to paragraph (3) of this subsection, shall make or acquire capital investments totaling not less than $50,000,000 in a qualified business facility, at which the business shall employ not fewer than 250 full-time employees to be eligible for a credit under this section.  A business that acquires a qualified business facility shall also be deemed to have acquired the capital investment made or acquired by the seller.

     (3)   A business that is a tenant in a qualified business facility, the owner of which has made or acquired capital investments in the facility totaling not less than $50,000,000, shall occupy a leased area of the qualified business facility that represents at least $17,500,000 of the capital investment in the facility at which the tenant business and up to two other tenants in the qualified business facility shall employ not fewer than 250 full-time employees in the aggregate to be eligible for a credit under this section.  The amount of capital investment in a facility that a leased area represents shall be equal to that percentage of the owner's total capital investment in

the facility that the percentage of net leasable area leased by the tenant is of the total net leasable area of the qualified business facility.  Capital investments made by a tenant shall be deemed to be included in the calculation of the capital investment made or acquired by the owner, but only to the extent necessary to meet the owner's minimum capital investment of $50,000,000.  Capital investments made by a tenant and not allocated to meet the owner's minimum capital investment threshold of $50,000,000 shall be added to the amount of capital investment represented by the tenant's leased area in the qualified business facility.

     (4)   A business shall not be allowed tax credits under this section if the business participates in a business employment incentive agreement, pursuant to P.L.1996, c.26 (C.34:1B-124 et seq.), relating to the same capital and employees that qualify the business for this credit, or if the business receives assistance pursuant to P.L.1996, c.25 (C.34:1B-112 et seq.).  A business that is allowed a tax credit under this section shall not be eligible for incentives authorized pursuant to P.L.2002, c.43 (C.52:27BBB-1 et al.).  A business shall not qualify for a tax credit under this section, based upon its capital investment and the employment of full-time employees, if that capital investment or employment was the basis for which a grant was provided to the business pursuant to the "InvestNJ Business Grant Program Act," P.L.2008, c.112 (C.34:1B-237 et seq.).

     (5)   Full-time employment for an accounting or a privilege period shall be determined as the average of the monthly full-time employment for the period.

     (6)   The capital investment of the owner of a qualified business facility is that percentage of the capital investment made or acquired by the owner of the building that the percentage of net leasable area of the qualified business facility not leased to tenants is of the total net leasable area of the qualified business facility.

     (7)   A business shall be allowed a tax credit of 100 percent of its capital investment, made after the effective date of P.L.2011, c.89 but prior to its submission of documentation pursuant to subsection c. of this section, in a qualified business facility that is part of a mixed use project, provided that (a) the qualified business facility represents at least $17,500,000 of the total capital investment in the mixed use project, (b) the business employs not fewer than 250 full-time employees in the qualified business facility, and (c) the total capital investment in the mixed use project of which the qualified business facility is a part is not less than $50,000,000.  The allowance of credits under this paragraph shall be subject to the restrictions and requirements, to the extent that those are not inconsistent with the provisions of this paragraph, set forth in paragraphs (1) through (6) of this subsection, including, but not limited to, the requirement that the business shall demonstrate to the authority, at the time of application, that the State's financial support of the proposed capital investment in a qualified business facility will yield a net positive benefit to both the State and the eligible municipality.

     (8)   In determining whether a proposed capital investment will yield a net positive benefit, the authority shall not consider the transfer of an existing job from one location in the State to another location in the State as the creation of a new job, unless (a) the business proposes to transfer existing jobs to a municipality in the State as part of a consolidation of business operations from two or more other locations that are not in the same municipality whether in-State or out-of-State, or (b) the business's chief executive officer, or equivalent officer, submits a certification to the authority indicating that the existing jobs are at risk of leaving the State and that the business's chief executive officer, or equivalent officer, has reviewed the information submitted to the authority and that the representations contained therein are accurate, and the business intends to employ not fewer than 500 full-time employees in the qualified business facility.  In the event that this certification by the business's chief executive officer, or equivalent officer, is found to be willfully false, the authority may revoke any award of tax credits in their entirety, which revocation shall be in addition to any other criminal or civil penalties that the business and the officer may be subject to.  When considering an application involving intra-State job transfers, the authority shall require the company to submit the following information as part of its application: a full economic analysis of all locations under consideration by the company; all lease agreements, ownership documents, or substantially similar documentation for the business's current in-State locations; and all lease agreements, ownership documents, or substantially similar documentation for the potential out-of-State location alternatives, to the extent they exist.  Based on this information, and any other information deemed relevant by the authority, the authority shall independently verify and confirm, by way of making a factual finding by separate vote of the authority's board, the business's assertion that the jobs are actually at risk of leaving the State, before a business may be awarded any tax credits under this section.

     b.    (1)  If applications under this section have been received by the authority prior to the effective date of the "New Jersey Economic Opportunity Act of 2013," P.L.2013, c.161 (C.52:27D-489p et al.), then, to the extent that there remains sufficient financial authorization for the award of a tax credit, the authority is authorized to consider those applications and to make awards of tax credits to eligible applicants, provided that the authority shall take final action on those applications no later than December 31, 2013.

     (2)   A business shall apply for the credit under this section prior to the effective date of the "New Jersey Economic Opportunity Act of 2013," P.L.2013, c.161 (C.52:27D-489p et al.), and shall submit its documentation for approval of its credit amount no later than [April 26, 2021] December 31, 2023.

     (3)   If a business has submitted an application under this section and that application has not been approved for any reason, the lack of approval shall not serve to prejudice in any way the consideration of a new application as may be submitted for the qualified business facility for the provision of incentives offered pursuant to the "New Jersey Economic Opportunity Act of 2013," P.L.2013, c.161 (C.52:27D-489p et al.).

     (4)   Tax credits awarded pursuant to P.L.2007, c.346 (C.34:1B-207 et seq.) for applications submitted to and approved by the authority prior to the effective date of the "New Jersey Economic Opportunity Act of 2013," P.L.2013, c.161 (C.52:27D-489p et al.), shall be administered by the authority in the manner established prior to that date.

     (5)   With respect to an application received by the authority prior to the effective date of the "New Jersey Economic Opportunity Act of 2013," P.L.2013, c.161 (C.52:27D-489p et al.) for a qualified business facility that is located on or adjacent to the campus of an acute care medical facility, (a) the minimum number of full-time employees required for eligibility under the program may be employed by any number of tenants or other occupants of the facility, in the aggregate, and the initial satisfaction of the requirement following completion of the project shall be deemed to satisfy the employment requirements of the program in all respects, and (b) if the capital investment in the facility exceeds $100,000,000, the determination of the net positive benefit yield shall be based on the benefits generated during a period of up to 30 years following the completion of the project, as determined by the authority.

     c.     (1)  The amount of credit allowed shall, except as otherwise provided, be equal to the capital investment made by the business, or the capital investment represented by the business's leased area, or area owned by the business as a condominium, and shall be taken over a 10-year period, at the rate of one-tenth of the total amount of the business's credit for each tax accounting or privilege period of the business, beginning with the tax period in which the business is first certified by the authority as having met the investment capital and employment qualifications, subject to any reduction or disqualification as provided by subsection d. of this section as determined by annual review by the authority.  In conducting its annual review, the authority may require a business to submit any information determined by the authority to be necessary and relevant to its review.

     The credit amount for any tax period ending after [July 28, 2021] December 31, 2023 during which the documentation of a business's credit amount remains uncertified shall be forfeited, although credit amounts for the remainder of the years of the 10-year credit period shall remain available to it.

     The credit amount that may be taken for a tax period of the business that exceeds the final liabilities of the business for the tax period may be carried forward for use by the business in the next 20 successive tax periods, and shall expire thereafter, provided that the value of all credits approved by the authority against tax liabilities pursuant to P.L.2007, c.346 (C.34:1B-207 et seq.) in any fiscal year shall not exceed $260,000,000.

     The amount of credit allowed for a tax period to a business that is a tenant in a qualified business facility shall not exceed the business's total lease payments for occupancy of the qualified business facility for the tax period.

     (2)   A business that is a partnership shall not be allowed a credit under this section directly, but the amount of credit of an owner of a business shall be determined by allocating to each owner of the partnership that proportion of the credit of the business that is equal to the owner of the partnership's share, whether or not distributed, of the total distributive income or gain of the partnership for its tax period ending within or at the end of the owner's tax period, or that proportion that is allocated by an agreement, if any, among the owners of the partnership that has been provided to the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury by the time and accompanied by the additional information as the director may require.

     (3)   The amount of credit allowed may be applied against the tax liability otherwise due pursuant to section 5 of P.L.1945, c.162 (C.54:10A-5), pursuant to sections 2 and 3 of P.L.1945, c.132 (C.54:18A-2 and C.54:18A-3), pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1950, c.231 (C.17:32-15), or pursuant to N.J.S.17B:23-5.

     d.    (1)  If, in any tax period, fewer than 200 full-time employees of the business at the qualified business facility are employed in new full-time positions, the amount of the credit otherwise determined pursuant to final calculation of the award of tax credits pursuant to subsection c. of this section shall be reduced by 20 percent for that tax period and each subsequent tax period until the first period for which documentation demonstrating the restoration of the 200 full-time employees employed in new full-time positions at the qualified business facility has been reviewed and approved by the authority, for which tax period and each subsequent tax period the full amount of the credit shall be allowed; provided, however, that for businesses applying before January 1, 2010, there shall be no reduction if a business relocates to an urban transit hub from another location or other locations in the same municipality.  For the purposes of this paragraph, a "new full-time position" means a position created by the business at the qualified business facility that did not previously exist in this State.

     (2)   If, in any tax period, the business reduces the total number of full-time employees in its Statewide workforce by more than 20 percent from the number of full-time employees in its Statewide workforce in the last tax accounting or privilege period prior to the credit amount approval under subsection a. of this section, then the business shall forfeit its credit amount for that tax period and each subsequent tax period, until the first tax period for which documentation demonstrating the restoration of the business's Statewide workforce to the threshold levels required by this paragraph has been reviewed and approved by the authority, for which tax period and each subsequent tax period the full amount of the credit shall be allowed.

     (3)   If, in any tax period, (a) the number of full-time employees employed by the business at the qualified business facility located in an urban transit hub within an eligible municipality drops below 250, or (b) the number of full-time employees, who are not the subject of intra-State job transfers, pursuant to paragraph (8) of subsection a. of this section, employed by the business at any other business facility in the State, whether or not located in an urban transit hub within an eligible municipality, drops by more than 20 percent from the number of full-time employees in its workforce in the last tax accounting or privilege period prior to the credit amount approval under this section, then the business shall forfeit its credit amount for that tax period and each subsequent tax period, until the first tax period for which documentation demonstrating the restoration of the number of full-time employees employed by the business at the qualified business facility to 250 or an increase above the 20 percent reduction has been reviewed and approved by the authority, for which tax period and each subsequent tax period the full amount of the credit shall be allowed.

     (4)   (i)  If the qualified business facility is sold in whole or in part during the 10-year eligibility period, the new owner shall not acquire the capital investment of the seller and the seller shall forfeit all credits for the tax period in which the sale occurs and all subsequent tax periods; provided, however, that any credits of tenants shall remain unaffected.

     (ii)   If a tenant subleases its tenancy in whole or in part during the 10-year eligibility period, the new tenant shall not acquire the credit of the sublessor, and the sublessor tenant shall forfeit all credits for the tax period of its sublease and all subsequent tax periods.

     e.     (1) The Executive Director of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, in consultation with the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury, shall adopt rules in accordance with the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) as are necessary to implement P.L.2007, c.346 (C.34:1B-207 et seq.), including, but not limited to: examples of and the determination of capital investment; the enumeration of eligible municipalities; specific delineation of urban transit hubs; the determination of the limits, if any, on the expense or type of furnishings that may constitute capital improvements; the promulgation of procedures and forms necessary to apply for a credit, including the enumeration of the certification procedures and allocation of tax credits for different phases of a qualified business facility or mixed use project; and provisions for credit applicants to be charged an initial application fee, and ongoing service fees, to cover the administrative costs related to the credit.

     (2)   Through regulation, the authority shall establish standards based on the green building manual prepared by the Commissioner of Community Affairs, pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2007, c.132 (C.52:27D-130.6), regarding the use of renewable energy, energy-efficient technology, and non-renewable resources in order to reduce environmental degradation and encourage long-term cost reduction.

(cf: P.L.2017, c.314, s.1)

 

     2.    Section 35 of P.L.2009, c.90 (C.34:1B-209.3) is amended to read as follows:

     35.    a.  (1)  A developer, upon application to and approval from the authority, shall be allowed a credit of up to 35 percent of its capital investment, or up to 40 percent for a project located in a Garden State Growth Zone, made after the effective date of P.L.2009, c.90 (C.52:27D-489a et al.) but prior to its submission of documentation pursuant to subsection c. of this section, in a qualified residential project, pursuant to the restrictions and requirements of this section.  To be eligible for any tax credits authorized under this section, a developer shall demonstrate to the authority, through a project pro forma analysis at the time of application, that the qualified residential project is likely to be realized with the provision of tax credits at the level requested, but is not likely to be accomplished by private enterprise without the tax credits.  The value of all credits approved by the authority pursuant to this section for qualified residential projects may be up to $150,000,000, except as may be increased by the authority as set forth below and as set forth in paragraph (5) of this subsection; provided; however, that the combined value of all credits approved by the authority pursuant to section 3 of P.L.2007, c.346 [(C.34:1B-207)] (C.34:1B-209) and this section shall not exceed $1,750,000,000, except as may be increased by the authority as set forth in paragraph (5) of this subsection.  The authority shall monitor application and allocation activity under P.L.2007, c.346 (C.34:1B-207 et seq.), and if sufficient credits are available after taking into account allocation under P.L.2007, c.346 (C.34:1B-207 et seq.) to those qualified business facilities for which applications have been filed or for which applications are reasonably anticipated, and if the executive director judges certain qualified residential projects to be meritorious, the aforementioned $150,000,000 cap may, in the discretion of the executive director, from time to time, be exceeded for allocation to qualified residential projects in amounts as the executive director deems reasonable, justified, and appropriate.  In allocating all credits to qualified residential projects under this section, the executive director shall take into account, together with other factors deemed relevant by the executive director: input from the municipality in which the project is to be located; whether the project contributes to the recovery of areas affected by Hurricane Sandy; whether the project furthers specific State or municipal planning and development objectives, or both; and whether the project furthers a public purpose, such as catalyzing urban development or maximizing the value of vacant, dilapidated, outmoded, government-owned, or underutilized property, or both.

     (2)   A developer shall make or acquire capital investments totaling not less than $50,000,000 in a qualified residential project to be eligible for a credit under this section.  A developer that acquires a qualified residential project shall also be deemed to have acquired the capital investment made or acquired by the seller.

     (3)   The capital investment requirement may be met by the developer or by one or more of its affiliates.

     (4)   A developer of a mixed use project shall be allowed a credit pursuant to subparagraph (a) or (b) of this paragraph, but not both.

     (a)   A developer shall be allowed a credit in accordance with this section for a qualified residential project that includes a mixed use project.

     (b)   A developer shall be allowed a credit of up to 35 percent of its capital investment, or up to 40 percent for a project located in a Garden State Growth Zone, made after the effective date of P.L.2011, c.89, but prior to its submission of documentation pursuant to subsection c. of this section, in a qualified residential project that is part of a mixed use project, provided that:

     (i)    the capital investment in the qualified residential project represents at least $17,500,000 of the total capital investment in the mixed use project; and

     (ii)   the total capital investment in the mixed use project of which the qualified residential project is a part is not less than $50,000,000.

     The allowance of credits under this paragraph shall be subject to the restrictions and requirements, to the extent that those are not inconsistent with the provisions of this paragraph, set forth in paragraphs (1) through (3) of this subsection, including, but not limited to, the requirement prescribed in paragraph (1) of this subsection that the developer shall demonstrate to the authority, through a project pro forma analysis at the time of application, that the qualified residential project is likely to be realized with the provision of tax credits at the level requested but is not likely to be accomplished by private enterprise without the tax credits.

     As used in this subparagraph:

     "Mixed use project" means a project comprising both a qualified residential project and a qualified business facility.

     (5)   The authority may approve and allocate credits for qualified residential projects in a value sufficient to meet the requirements of all applications that were received by the authority between October 24, 2012 and December 21, 2012, without regard to the terms of any competitive solicitation, except for the $33,000,000 per project cap, and without need for reapplication by any applicant.  The authority shall take final action on those applications prior to the 120th day after the date of enactment of the "New Jersey Economic Opportunity Act of 2013," P.L.2013, c.161 (C.52:27D-489p et al.).

      b.   (1)  A developer shall apply for the credit under this section on or prior to December 21, 2012 but may thereafter supplement an application as may be requested by the authority.  A developer shall submit its documentation for approval of its credit amount no later than [April 26, 2021] December 31, 2023.

     (2)   If a developer has submitted an application under this section and the application has not been approved for any reason, the lack of approval shall not serve to prejudice in any way the consideration of a new application as may be submitted for the project for the provision of incentives offered pursuant to the "New Jersey Economic Opportunity Act of 2013," P.L.2013, c.161 (C.52:27D-489p et al.).

      c.    The credit shall be administered in accordance with the provisions of subsections c. and e. of section 3 of P.L.2007, c.346 (C.34:1B-209), as amended by section 32 of P.L.2009, c.90, and section 33 of P.L.2009, c.90 (C.34:1B-209.1), except that:

     (1)   all references therein to "business" and "qualified business facility" shall be deemed to refer respectively to "developer" and "qualified residential project," as those terms are defined in section 34 of P.L.2009, c.90 (C.34:1B-209.2); and

     (2)   all references therein to credits claimed by tenants and to reductions or disqualifications in credits as determined by annual review of the authority shall be disregarded.

     For purposes of a "mixed use project" as that term is used and defined pursuant to subparagraph (b) of paragraph (4) of subsection a. of this section, "qualified business facility" means that term as defined pursuant to section 2 of P.L.2007, c.346 (C.34:1B-208).

(cf: P.L.2017, c.314, s.2)

 

     13.   Section 5 of P.L.2009, c.90 (C.52:27D-489e) is amended to read as follows:

     5.  a.  The New Jersey Economic Development Authority, in consultation with the State Treasurer, shall establish an Economic Redevelopment and Growth Grant program for the purpose of encouraging redevelopment projects in qualifying economic redevelopment and growth grant incentive areas that do not qualify as such areas solely by virtue of being a transit village, through the provision of incentive grants to reimburse developers for certain project financing gap costs.

     b.  (1) A developer shall submit an application for a State incentive grant prior to July 1, 2019; provided, however, a developer of a qualified residential project or a mixed use parking project seeking an award of credits toward the funding of its incentive grant for a project restricted under part (viii) of subparagraph (b) of paragraph (3) of subsection b. of section 6 of P.L.2009, c.90 (C.52:27D-489f) shall submit an incentive grant application prior to December 31, 2021.  A developer that submits an application for a State incentive grant shall indicate on the application whether it is also applying for a local incentive grant.

     (2)   When an applicant indicates it is also applying for a local incentive grant, the authority shall forward a copy of the application to the municipality wherein the redevelopment project is to be located for approval by municipal ordinance.

     c.     An application for a State incentive grant shall be reviewed and approved by the authority.  The authority shall not approve an application for a State incentive grant unless the application was submitted prior to July 1, 2019; provided, however, the authority shall not approve an application for a State incentive grant by a developer of a qualified residential project or a mixed use parking project seeking an award of credits toward the funding of its incentive grant for a project restricted under part (viii) of subparagraph (b) of paragraph (3) of subsection b. of section 6 of P.L.2009, c.90 (C.52:27D-489f) unless the application was submitted prior to December 31, 2021

     d.    A developer shall not be required to purchase pinelands development credits under the "Pinelands Protection Act," P.L.1979, c.111 (C.13:18A-1 et seq.), the pinelands comprehensive management plan, or any other rule or regulation adopted pursuant to that act in connection with any approval or relief obtained related to a redevelopment project located in an aviation district on or after the effective date of P.L.2018, c.120, except if seeking to develop in permanently protected open space pursuant to the Pinelands Protection Act.  The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to a developer of a qualified residential project.1

(cf: 2018, c.120, s.6)

 

      1[3.] 4.1    Section 6 of P.L.2009, c.90 (C.52:27D-489f) is amended to read as follows:

      6.   a.  Up to the limits established in subsection b. of this section and in accordance with a redevelopment incentive grant agreement, beginning upon the receipt of occupancy permits for any portion of the redevelopment project, or upon any other event evidencing project completion as set forth in the incentive grant agreement, the State Treasurer shall pay to the developer incremental State revenues directly realized from businesses operating at the site of the redevelopment project from the following taxes: the Corporation Business Tax Act (1945), P.L.1945, c.162 (C.54:10A-1 et seq.), the tax imposed on marine insurance companies pursuant to R.S.54:16-1 et seq., the tax imposed on insurers generally, pursuant to P.L.1945, c.132 (C.54:18A-1 et seq.), the public utility franchise tax, public utilities gross receipts tax and public utility excise tax imposed on sewerage and water corporations pursuant to P.L.1940, c.5 (C.54:30A-49 et seq.), those tariffs and charges imposed by electric, natural gas, telecommunications, water and sewage utilities, and cable television companies under the jurisdiction of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, or comparable entity, except for those tariffs, fees, or taxes related to societal benefits charges assessed pursuant to section 12 of P.L.1999, c.23 (C.48:3-60), any charges paid for compliance with the "Global Warming Response Act," P.L.2007, c.112 (C.26:2C-37 et seq.), transitional energy facility assessment unit taxes paid pursuant to section 67 of P.L.1997, c.162 (C.48:2-21.34), and the sales and use taxes on public utility and cable television services and commodities, the tax derived from net profits from business, a distributive share of partnership income, or a pro rata share of S corporation income under the "New Jersey Gross Income Tax Act," N.J.S.54A:1-1 et seq., the tax derived from a business at the site of a redevelopment project that is required to collect the tax pursuant to the "Sales and Use Tax Act," P.L.1966, c.30 (C.54:32B-1 et seq.), the tax imposed pursuant to P.L.1966, c.30 (C.54:32B-1 et seq.) from the purchase of furniture, fixtures and equipment, or materials for the remediation, the construction of new structures at the site of a redevelopment project, the hotel and motel occupancy fee imposed pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2003, c.114 (C.54:32D-1), or the portion of the fee imposed pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1968, c.49 (C.46:15-7) derived from the sale of real property at the site of the redevelopment project and paid to the State Treasurer for use by the State, that is not credited to the "Shore Protection Fund" or the "Neighborhood Preservation Nonlapsing Revolving Fund" ("New Jersey Affordable Housing Trust Fund") pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1968, c.49 (C.46:15-8).  Any developer shall be allowed to assign their ability to apply for the tax credit under this subsection to a non-profit organization with a mission dedicated to attracting investment and completing development and redevelopment projects in a Garden State Growth Zone.  The non-profit organization may make an application on behalf of a developer which meets the requirements for the tax credit, or a group of non-qualifying developers, such that these will be considered a unified project for the purposes of the incentives provided under this section.

      b.   (1)  Up to an average of 75 percent of the projected annual incremental revenues or 85 percent of the projected annual incremental revenues in a Garden State Growth Zone may be pledged towards the State portion of an incentive grant.

      (2)  In the case of a qualified residential project or a project involving university infrastructure, if the authority determines that the estimated amount of incremental revenues pledged towards the State portion of an incentive grant is inadequate to fully fund the amount of the State portion of the incentive grant, then in lieu of an incentive grant based on the incremental revenues, the developer shall be awarded tax credits equal to the full amount of the incentive grant.

      (3)  In the case of a mixed use parking project, if the authority determines that the estimated amount of incremental revenues pledged towards the State portion of an incentive grant is inadequate to fully fund the amount of the State portion of the incentive grant, then, in lieu of an incentive grant based on the incremental revenues, the developer shall be awarded tax credits equal to the full amount of the incentive grant.

      The value of all credits approved by the authority pursuant to paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection shall not exceed 1[$823,000,000] $843,000,0001, of which:

      (a)  $250,000,000 shall be restricted to qualified residential projects within Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean, and Salem counties, of which $175,000,000 of the credits shall be restricted to the following categories of projects: (i) qualified residential projects located in a Garden State Growth Zone located within the aforementioned counties; and (ii) mixed use parking projects located in a Garden State Growth Zone or urban transit hub located within the aforementioned counties; (iii) and $75,000,000 of the credits shall be restricted to qualified residential projects in municipalities with a 2007 Municipal Revitalization Index of 400 or higher as of the date of enactment of the "New Jersey Economic Opportunity Act of 2013," P.L.2013, c.161 (C.52:27D-489p et al.) and located within the aforementioned counties;

      (b)  $395,000,000 shall be restricted to the following categories of projects: (i) qualified residential projects located in urban transit hubs that are commuter rail in nature that otherwise do not qualify under subparagraph (a) of this paragraph; (ii) qualified residential projects located in Garden State Growth Zones that do not qualify under subparagraph (a) of this paragraph; (iii) mixed use parking projects located in urban transit hubs or Garden State Growth Zones that do not qualify under subparagraph (a) of this paragraph, provided however, an urban transit hub shall be allocated no more than $25,000,000 for mixed use parking projects; (iv) qualified residential projects which are disaster recovery projects that otherwise do not qualify under subparagraph (a) of this paragraph; (v) qualified residential projects in SDA municipalities located in Hudson County that were awarded State Aid in State Fiscal Year 2013 through the Transitional Aid to Localities program and otherwise do not qualify under subparagraph (a) of this paragraph; (vi) $25,000,000 of credits shall be restricted to mixed use parking projects in Garden State Growth Zones which have a population in excess of 125,000 and do not qualify under subparagraph (a) of this paragraph; (vii) $40,000,000 of credits shall be restricted to qualified residential projects that include a theater venue for the performing arts and do not qualify under subparagraph (a) of this paragraph, which projects are located in a municipality with a population of less than 100,000 according to the latest federal decennial census, and within which municipality is located an urban transit hub and a campus of a public research university, as defined in section 1 of P.L.2009, c.308 (C.18A:3B-46); and (viii) 1[$105,000,000] $125,000,0001 of credits shall be restricted to qualified residential projects and mixed use parking projects in Garden State Growth Zones having a population in excess of 125,000 and do not qualify under subparagraph (a) of this paragraph;

      (c)  $87,000,000 shall be restricted to the following categories of projects: (i) qualified residential projects located in distressed municipalities, deep poverty pockets, highlands development credit receiving areas or redevelopment areas, otherwise not qualifying pursuant to subparagraph (a) or (b) of this paragraph; and (ii) mixed use parking projects that do not qualify under subparagraph (a) or (b) of this paragraph, and which are used by an independent institution of higher education, a school of medicine, a nonprofit hospital system, or any combination thereof; provided, however, that $20,000,000 of the $87,000,000 shall be allocated to mixed use parking projects that do not qualify under subparagraph (a) or (b) of this paragraph;

      (d) (i) $16,000,000 shall be restricted to qualified residential projects that are located within a qualifying economic redevelopment and growth grant incentive area otherwise not qualifying under subparagraph (a), (b), or (c) of this paragraph; and

      (ii) an additional $50,000,000 shall be restricted to qualified residential projects which, as of the effective date of P.L.2016, c.51, are located in a city of the first class with a population in excess of 270,000, are subject to a Renewal Contract for a Section 8 Mark-Up-To-Market Project from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, and for which an application for the award of tax credits under this subsection was submitted prior to January 1, 2016; and

      (e)  $25,000,000 shall be restricted to projects involving university infrastructure.

      (f)  For subparagraphs (a) through (d) of this paragraph, not more than $40,000,000 of credits shall be awarded to any qualified residential project in a deep poverty pocket or distressed municipality and not more than $20,000,000 of credits shall be awarded to any other qualified residential project.  The developer of a qualified residential project seeking an award of credits towards the funding of its incentive grant shall submit an incentive grant application prior to July 1, 2016 and if approved after September 18, 2013, the effective date of P.L.2013, c.161 (C.52:27D-489p et al.) shall submit a temporary certificate of occupancy for the project no later than [July 28, 2021] December 31, 2023.  The developer of a mixed use parking project seeking an award of credits towards the funding of its incentive grant pursuant to subparagraph (c) of this paragraph and if approved after the effective date of P.L.2015, c.217, shall submit a temporary certificate of occupancy for the project no later than [July 28, 2021] December 31, 2023.  The developer of a qualified residential project or a mixed use parking project seeking an award of credits toward the funding of its incentive grant for a project restricted under categories (vi) and (viii) of subparagraph (b) of this paragraph shall submit an incentive grant application prior to July 1, 2019 1or, in the case of a project restricted under part (viii) of subparagraph (b) of this paragraph, December 31, 20211, and if approved after the effective date of P.L.2017, c.59, shall submit a temporary certificate of occupancy for the project no later than [July 28, 2022] December 31, 2023 provided that the municipality in which the project is located shall have submitted to the chief executive officer of the authority a letter of support identifying up to six projects prior to July 1, 2018.  The letter of support is to contain a project scope for each of the projects and may be supplemented 1or amended1 from time to time until July 1, 2019 1or, in the case of a project restricted under part (viii) of subparagraph (b) of this paragraph, December 31, 20211.  Applications for tax credits pursuant to this subsection relating to an ancillary infrastructure project or infrastructure improvement in the public right-of-way, or both, shall be accompanied with a letter of support relating to the project or improvement by the governing body or agency in which the project is located.  Credits awarded to a developer pursuant to this subsection shall be subject to the same financial and related analysis by the authority, the same term of the grant, and the same mechanism for administering the credits, and shall be utilized or transferred by the developer as if the credits had been awarded to the developer pursuant to section 35 of P.L.2009, c.90 (C.34:1B-209.3) for qualified residential projects thereunder.  No portion of the revenues pledged pursuant to the "New Jersey Economic Opportunity Act of 2013," P.L.2013, c.161 (C.52:27D-489p et al.) shall be subject to withholding or retainage for adjustment, in the event the developer or taxpayer waives its rights to claim a refund thereof.

      (4)  A developer may apply to the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury and the chief executive officer of the authority for a tax credit transfer certificate, if the developer is awarded a tax credit pursuant to paragraph (2) or paragraph (3) of this subsection, covering one or more years, in lieu of the developer being allowed any amount of the credit against the tax liability of the developer.  The tax credit transfer certificate, upon receipt thereof by the developer from the director and the chief executive officer of the authority, may be sold or assigned, in full or in part, to any other person who may have a tax liability pursuant to section 5 of P.L.1945, c.162 (C.54:10A-5), sections 2 and 3 of P.L.1945, c.132 (C.54:18A-2 and C.54:18A-3), section 1 of P.L.1950, c.231 (C.17:32-15), or N.J.S.17B:23-5.  The certificate provided to the developer shall include a statement waiving the developer's right to claim that amount of the credit against the taxes that the developer has elected to sell or assign.  The sale or assignment of any amount of a tax credit transfer certificate allowed under this paragraph shall not be exchanged for consideration received by the developer of less than 75 percent of the transferred credit amount before considering any further discounting to present value that may be permitted.  Any amount of a tax credit transfer certificate used by a purchaser or assignee against a tax liability shall be subject to the same limitations and conditions that apply to the use of the credit by the developer who originally applied for and was allowed the credit.

      c.   All administrative costs associated with the incentive grant shall be assessed to the applicant and be retained by the State Treasurer from the annual incentive grant payments.

      d.   The incremental revenue for the revenues listed in subsection a. of this section shall be calculated as the difference between the amount collected in any fiscal year from any eligible revenue source included in the State redevelopment incentive grant agreement, less the revenue increment base for that eligible revenue.

      e.   The municipality is authorized to collect any information necessary to facilitate grants under this program and remit that information in order to assist in the calculation of incremental revenue.

(cf: P.L.2018, c.44, s.2)

 

     1[4.] 5.1     This act shall take effect immediately.