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            A.(1) The State Board of Commerce and Industry, hereinafter referred to as the “commerce board”, with the approval of the governor, may enter into contracts for periods not exceeding five years with heritage-based cottage industry located or to be located in the development zone under which such concerns are granted exemptions and credits from the taxes imposed by this state, as provided in Subsection C of this Section, subject to such terms, conditions, and limitations as the commerce board deems to be in the best interests of the state.

            (2) No contract shall be granted for any exemptions or credits provided for in this Section which are not directly related to the concern located within the development zone; and no tax exemption or credit shall be granted for any tax or portion of a tax applicable to operations or activities of a concern located outside of the development zone.

            B.(1) Repealed by Acts 2014, No. 832, §2.

            (2) The department shall review the application to determine whether the requirements for a contract have been satisfied and shall determine whether exemptions or credits should be provided in a contract. The Department of Revenue shall aid the department in determining whether the tax information furnished by the applicant is true and correct. The Louisiana Workforce Commission shall aid the department in verifying employment data.

            (3) The commerce board shall review any recommendations for exemptions or credits made by the department. It shall conduct public hearings on any application for exemption or credit upon such terms and under such procedures as it shall adopt and promulgate by rule. The commerce board, in consultation with the Department of Revenue, shall forward its recommendations, together with all supporting documents and the recommendations of the department, to the governor.

            (4) The department and the commerce board may adopt and promulgate such rules and regulations consistent with the provisions of this Section as are necessary to carry out the provisions of this Section.

            C.(1) Whenever the governor finds that a concern satisfies the requirements of this Part and the criteria established by rule, he shall advise the commerce board that it may enter into a contract with such cottage industry for a tax credit of up to one thousand two hundred dollars that may be used against the tax liability for state income and corporation franchise taxes related to the operations of the cottage industry within the development zone.

            (2) In addition to those tax credits provided for in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, the board may also enter into contracts with eligible cottage industries for a one thousand two hundred dollar tax credit per new employee hired during the taxable year for which the credit is claimed. In order to qualify for this credit, the applicant must have net new hires of one full-time employee or two part-time employees. A full-time employee is a person employed for at least thirty-two hours per week. A part-time employee is a person employed for at least twenty hours per week but less than thirty-two hours a week. In order to qualify as a new hire for purposes of this credit, the employee must have been a resident of the heritage area development zone for at least thirty days prior to employment. The credit may be applied to any state income tax liability or any state corporate franchise tax liability, but not liabilities for penalty or interest due or outstanding at the time the credit is generated. This credit shall be applicable only to a position that did not previously exist in the business and that is filled by a resident of the development zone who is performing duties in connection with the operation of the business as a regular, full-time employee.

            (3) Taxpayers who are awarded credits pursuant to the provisions of this Part in excess of their income and corporation franchise tax liability may carry forward their unused credits for no more than ten years from the date the credit was originally awarded.

            (4) Application of credits awarded pursuant to the provisions of this Part.

            (a) All entities taxed as corporations for Louisiana income or corporation franchise tax purposes shall claim any credit allowed under this Section on their corporation income and corporation franchise tax return.

            (b) Individuals shall claim any credit allowed under this Section on their individual income tax return.

            (c) Estates or trusts shall claim any credit allowed under this Section on their fiduciary income tax returns.

            (d) Entities not taxed as corporations shall claim any credit allowed under this Section on the returns of the partners or members as follows:

            (i) Corporate partners or members shall claim their share of the credit on their corporation income or corporation franchise tax returns.

            (ii) Individual partners or members shall claim their share of the credit on their individual income tax returns.

            (iii) Partners or members that are estates or trusts shall claim their share of the credit on their fiduciary income tax returns.

            D. Beginning January 1, 2020, no contracts shall be entered into for credits pursuant to the provisions of this Section.

            Acts 2002, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 112, §1, eff. January 1, 2003; Acts 2007, No. 299, §1; Acts 2008, No. 743, §7, eff. July 1, 2008; Acts 2014, No. 832, §2; Acts 2015, No. 125, §1, eff. July 1, 2015, and §4, eff. July 1, 2018; Acts 2017, No. 400, §4, eff. June 26, 2017; Acts 2017, No. 403, §1, eff. June 26, 2017.