§ 25-a. Power to administer the New York youth jobs program tax credit.

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(a) The commissioner is authorized to establish and administer the program established under this section to provide tax incentives to employers for employing at risk youth in part-time and full-time positions. There will be ten distinct pools of tax incentives. Program one will cover tax incentives allocated for two thousand twelve and two thousand thirteen. Program two will cover tax incentives allocated in two thousand fourteen. Program three will cover tax incentives allocated in two thousand fifteen. Program four will cover tax incentives allocated in two thousand sixteen. Program five will cover tax incentives allocated in two thousand seventeen. Program six will cover tax incentives allocated in two thousand eighteen. Program seven will cover tax incentives allocated in two thousand nineteen. Program eight will cover tax incentives allocated in two thousand twenty. Program nine will cover tax incentives allocated in two thousand twenty-one. Program ten will cover tax incentives allocated in two thousand twenty-two. Program eleven will cover tax incentives allocated in two thousand twenty-three. Program twelve will cover tax incentives allocated in two thousand twenty-four. Program thirteen will cover tax incentives allocated in two thousand twenty-five. Program fourteen will cover tax incentives allocated in two thousand twenty-six. Program fifteen will cover tax incentives allocated in two thousand twenty-seven. The commissioner is authorized to allocate up to twenty-five million dollars of tax credits under program one, ten million dollars of tax credits under program two, twenty million dollars of tax credits under program three, fifty million dollars of tax credits under each of programs four and five, and forty million dollars of tax credits under programs six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen and fifteen.

(b) Definitions. (1) The term "qualified employer" means an employer that has been certified by the commissioner to participate in the program established under this section and that employs one or more qualified employees.

(2) The term "qualified employee" means an individual:

(i) who is between the age of sixteen and twenty-four;

(ii) who resides in a city with a population of fifty-five thousand or more or a town with a population of four hundred eighty thousand or more;

(iii) who is low-income or at-risk, as those terms are defined by the commissioner;

(iv) who is unemployed prior to being hired by the qualified employer; and

(v) who will be working for the qualified employer in a full-time or part-time position that pays wages that are equivalent to the wages paid for similar jobs, with appropriate adjustments for experience and training, and for which no other employee has been terminated, or where the employer has not otherwise reduced its workforce by involuntary terminations with the intention of filling the vacancy by creating a new hire.

(3) For programs four and five, the tax credit under each program shall be allocated as follows: (i) thirty million dollars of tax credit for qualified employees; and (ii) twenty million dollars of tax credit for individuals who meet all of the requirements for a qualified employee except for the residency requirement of subparagraph (ii) of paragraph two of this subdivision, which individuals shall be deemed to meet the residency requirements of subparagraph (ii) of paragraph two of this subdivision if they reside in New York state.

(4) For programs six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, and fifteen the tax credit under each program shall be allocated as follows: (i) twenty million dollars of tax credit for qualified employees; and (ii) twenty million dollars of tax credit for individuals who meet all of the requirements for a qualified employee except for the residency requirement of subparagraph (ii) of paragraph two of this subdivision, which individuals shall be deemed to meet the residency requirements of subparagraph (ii) of paragraph two of this subdivision if they reside in New York state.

(c) A qualified employer shall be entitled to a tax credit equal to (1) seven hundred fifty dollars per month for up to six months for each qualified employee the employer employs in a full-time job or three hundred seventy-five dollars per month for up to six months for each qualified employee the employer employs in a part-time job of at least twenty hours per week or ten hours per week when the qualified employee is enrolled in high school full-time, (2) fifteen hundred dollars for each qualified employee who is employed for at least an additional six consecutive months by the qualified employer in a full-time job or seven hundred fifty dollars for each qualified employee who is employed for at least an additional six consecutive months by the qualified employer in a part-time job of at least twenty hours per week or ten hours per week when the qualified employee is enrolled in high school full-time, and (3) an additional fifteen hundred dollars for each qualified employee who is employed for at least an additional year after the completion of the time periods and satisfaction of the conditions set forth in paragraphs one and two of this subdivision by the qualified employer in a full-time job or seven hundred fifty dollars for each qualified employee who is employed for at least an additional year after the completion of the time periods and satisfaction of the conditions set forth in paragraphs one and two of this subdivision by the qualified employer in a part-time job of at least twenty hours per week or ten hours per week when the qualified employee is enrolled in high school full time. The tax credits shall be claimed by the qualified employer as specified in subdivision thirty-six of section two hundred ten-B and subsection (tt) of § 606 of the tax law.

(d) To participate in the program established under this section, an employer must submit an application (in a form prescribed by the commissioner) to the commissioner after January first, two thousand twelve but no later than November thirtieth, two thousand twelve for program one, after January first, two thousand fourteen but no later than November thirtieth, two thousand fourteen for program two, after January first, two thousand fifteen but no later than November thirtieth, two thousand fifteen for program three, after January first, two thousand sixteen but no later than November thirtieth, two thousand sixteen for program four, after January first, two thousand seventeen but no later than November thirtieth, two thousand seventeen for program five, after January first, two thousand eighteen but no later than November thirtieth, two thousand eighteen for program six, after January first, two thousand nineteen but no later than November thirtieth, two thousand nineteen for program seven, after January first, two thousand twenty but no later than November thirtieth, two thousand twenty for program eight, after January first, two thousand twenty-one but no later than November thirtieth, two thousand twenty-one for program nine, after January first, two thousand twenty-two but no later than November thirtieth, two thousand twenty-two for program ten, after January first, two thousand twenty-three but no later than November thirtieth, two thousand twenty-three for program eleven, after January first, two thousand twenty-four but no later than November thirtieth, two thousand twenty-four for program twelve, after January first, two thousand twenty-five but no later than November thirtieth, two thousand twenty-five for program thirteen, after January first, two thousand twenty-six but no later than November thirtieth, two thousand twenty-six for program fourteen, and after January first, two thousand twenty-seven but no later than November thirtieth, two thousand twenty-seven for program fifteen. The qualified employees must start their employment on or after January first, two thousand twelve but no later than December thirty-first, two thousand twelve for program one, on or after January first, two thousand fourteen but no later than December thirty-first, two thousand fourteen for program two, on or after January first, two thousand fifteen but no later than December thirty-first, two thousand fifteen for program three, on or after January first, two thousand sixteen but no later than December thirty-first, two thousand sixteen for program four, on or after January first, two thousand seventeen but no later than December thirty-first, two thousand seventeen for program five, on or after January first, two thousand eighteen but no later than December thirty-first, two thousand eighteen for program six, on or after January first, two thousand nineteen but no later than December thirty-first, two thousand nineteen for program seven, on or after January first, two thousand twenty but no later than December thirty-first, two thousand twenty for program eight, on or after January first, two thousand twenty-one but no later than December thirty-first, two thousand twenty-one for program nine, on or after January first, two thousand twenty-two but no later than December thirty-first, two thousand twenty-two for program ten, on or after January first, two thousand twenty-three but no later than December thirty-first, two thousand twenty-three for program eleven, on or after January first, two thousand twenty-four but no later than December thirty-first, two thousand twenty-four for program twelve, on or after January first, two thousand twenty-five but no later than December thirty-first, two thousand twenty-five for program thirteen, on or after January first, two thousand twenty-six but no later than December thirty-first, two thousand twenty-six for program fourteen, and on or after January first, two thousand twenty-seven but no later than December thirty-first, two thousand twenty-seven for program fifteen. As part of such application, an employer must:

(1) agree to allow the department of taxation and finance to share its tax information with the commissioner. However, any information shared as a result of this agreement shall not be available for disclosure or inspection under the state freedom of information law, and

(2) allow the commissioner and its agents and the department of taxation and finance and its agents access to any and all books and records of employers the commissioner may require to monitor compliance.

(e) If, after reviewing the application submitted by an employer, the commissioner determines that such employer is eligible to participate in the program established under this section, the commissioner shall issue the employer a preliminary certificate of eligibility that establishes the employer as a qualified employer. The preliminary certificate of eligibility shall specify the maximum amount of tax credit that the employer may be allowed to claim and the program year under which it may be claimed. The maximum amount of tax credit the employer is allowed to claim shall be computed as prescribed in subdivision (c) of this section.

(e-1)(1) To receive an annual final certificate of tax credit, the qualified employer must annually submit, on or before January thirty-first of the calendar year subsequent to the payment of wages paid to an eligible employee, a report to the commissioner, in a form prescribed by the commissioner. The report must demonstrate that the employer has satisfied all eligibility requirements and provided all the information necessary for the commissioner to compute an actual amount of credit allowed.

(2) After reviewing the report and finding it sufficient, the commissioner shall issue an annual final certificate of tax credit. Such certificate shall include, in addition to any other information the commissioner determines is necessary, the following information:

(i) The name and employer identification number of the qualified employer;

(ii) The program year for the corresponding credit award;

(iii) The actual amount of credit to which the qualified employer is entitled for that calendar year or the fiscal year in which the annual final certificate is issued, which actual amount cannot exceed the amount of credit listed on the preliminary certificate but may be less than such amount; and

(iv) A unique certificate number identifying the annual final certificate of tax credit.

(e-2) In determining the amount of credit for purposes of the annual final certificate of tax credit, the portion of the credit described in paragraph one of subdivision (c) of this section shall be allowed for the calendar year in which the wages are paid to the qualified employee, the portion of the credit described in paragraph two of subdivision (c) of this section shall be allowed for the calendar year in which the additional six consecutive month period ends, and the portion of the credit described in paragraph three of subdivision (c) of this section shall be allowed for the calendar year in which the additional year of consecutive employment ends after the completion of the time periods and satisfaction of the conditions set forth in paragraphs one and two of subdivision (c) of this section. If the qualified employer's taxable year is a calendar year, the employer shall be entitled to claim the credit as calculated on the annual final certificate of tax credit on the calendar year return for which the annual final certificate of tax credit was issued. If the qualified employer's taxable year is a fiscal year, the employer shall be entitled to claim the credit as calculated on the annual final certificate of tax credit on the return for the fiscal year that encompasses the date on which the annual final certificate of tax credit is issued.

(e-3) The commissioner shall establish guidelines and criteria that specify requirements for employers to participate in the program including criteria for certifying qualified employees, and issuing the preliminary certificate of eligibility and annual final certificate of tax credit. Such requirements may include the types of industries that the employers are engaged in. The commissioner may give preference to employers that are engaged in demand occupations or industries, or in regional growth sectors, including but not limited to those identified by the regional economic development councils, such as clean energy, healthcare, advanced manufacturing and conservation. In addition, the commissioner shall give preference to employers who offer advancement and employee benefit packages to the qualified individuals.

(f) The commissioner shall annually publish a report. Such report must contain the names and addresses of any employer issued a preliminary certificate of eligibility under this section, the amount of New York youth works tax credit allowed to the qualified employer as specified on an annual final certificate of tax credit and any other information as determined by the commissioner.