4. a. (1) A business entity, upon successful application to the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, and commitment to the authority to pay each worker employed to perform construction work and building services work at the qualified property or transformative project a wage not less than the prevailing wage rate for the worker’s craft or trade, as determined by the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development pursuant to P.L.1963, c.150 (C. 34:11-56.25 et seq.), shall be allowed a credit against the tax otherwise due 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, for a portion of the cost of rehabilitation paid by the business entity for the rehabilitation of a qualified property or transformative project, if the cost of rehabilitation during a business entity’s selected rehabilitation period is not less than the greater of (a) the adjusted basis of the structure of the qualified property or transformative project used for federal income tax purposes as of the beginning of the business entity’s selected rehabilitation period, or (b) $5,000. The amount of the credit claimed in any accounting or privilege period shall not reduce the amount of the tax liability to less than the statutory minimum provided in subsection (e) of section 5 of P.L.1945, c.162 (C. 54:10A-5).

(2) The amount of credit allowed to a business entity pursuant to this section shall be as follows:

(a) for the rehabilitation of a qualified property located in a qualified incentive tract or government-restricted municipality, 45 percent of the cost of rehabilitation paid by the business entity for the rehabilitation of the qualified property or $8 million, whichever is less;

(b) for the rehabilitation of a transformative project, 45 percent of the cost of rehabilitation paid by the business entity for the rehabilitation of the transformative project or $50 million, whichever is less; and

(c) for the rehabilitation of any other qualified property not subject to provisions of subparagraph (a) or (b) of this paragraph, 40 percent of the cost of rehabilitation paid by the business entity for the rehabilitation of the qualified property or $4 million, whichever is less.

(3) The prevailing wage requirement for construction work shall apply at a qualified property or transformative project during the selected rehabilitation period, and the prevailing wage requirement for building services work shall apply at a qualified property or transformative project for 10 years following completion of the rehabilitation work at the qualified property or transformative project. In the event a qualified property or transformative project, or the aggregate of all qualified properties and transformative projects approved for awards under the program, constitute a lease of more than 35 percent of a facility, the prevailing wage requirements shall apply to the entire facility.

(4) Prior to approval of an application by the authority, the authority shall confirm with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the Department of Environmental Protection, and the Department of the Treasury whether the business entity is in substantial good standing with the respective department or has entered into an agreement with the respective department that includes a practical corrective action plan for the business entity. The business entity shall certify that any contractors or subcontractors that perform work at the qualified property or transformative project: (a) are registered as required by “The Public Works Contractor Registration Act,” P.L.1999, c.238 (C. 34:11-56.48 et seq.); (b) have not been debarred by Department of Labor and Workforce Development from engaging in or bidding on Public Works Contracts in New Jersey; and (c) possess a tax clearance certificate issued by the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury. The authority may also contract with an independent third party to perform a background check on the business entity. Following approval of an application by the authority, but prior to the start of any construction or rehabilitation at the qualified property or transformative project, the authority shall enter into a rehabilitation agreement with the business entity. The authority shall negotiate the terms and conditions of the rehabilitation agreement on behalf of the State.

(5) A rehabilitation project shall be eligible for a tax credit only if the business entity demonstrates to the authority at the time of application that:

(a) without the tax credit, the rehabilitation project is not economically feasible; and

(b) a project financing gap exists.

b. A business entity may claim a credit under this section during the accounting or privilege period: (1) in which it makes the final payment for the cost of the rehabilitation if the business entity has chosen a selected rehabilitation period of 24 months; or (2) in which a distinct project phase of the rehabilitation is completed if the business entity has chosen a selected rehabilitation period of 60 months. The credit may be claimed against any State tax, listed in paragraph (1) of subsection a. of this section, liability otherwise due after any other credits permitted pursuant to law have been applied. The amount of credit claimed in an accounting or privilege period that cannot be applied for that accounting or privilege period due to limitations in this section may be transferred pursuant to section 5 of P.L.2020, c.156 (C. 34:1B-273) or carried over, if necessary, to the nine accounting or privilege periods following the accounting or privilege period for which the credit was allowed.

c. A business entity shall submit to the authority satisfactory evidence of the actual cost of rehabilitation, as certified by a certified public accountant, evidence of completion of the rehabilitation or phase, and a certification that all information provided by the business entity to the authority is true, including information contained in the application, the rehabilitation agreement, any amendment to the rehabilitation agreement, and any other information submitted by the business entity to the authority pursuant to sections 2 through 8 of P.L.2020, c.156 (C. 34:1B-270 through C. 34:1B-276). The business entity, or an authorized agent of the business entity, shall certify under the penalty of perjury that the information provided pursuant to this subsection is true.

L.2020, c.156, s.4; amended 2021, c.160, s.2.