FIRST REGULAR SESSION

[TRULY AGREED TO AND FINALLY PASSED]

SENATE SUBSTITUTE FOR

SENATE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

HOUSE BILL NO. 327

94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1217S.07T                                                         2007


 

AN ACT

To repeal sections 21.750, 32.105, 32.115, 99.805, 99.820, 99.825, 100.286, 135.400, 135.403, 135.460, 135.478, 135.500, 135.535, 135.545, 135.550, 135.600, 135.630, 135.750, 135.950, 135.963, 135.967, 135.1150, 137.106, 142.815, 144.030, 144.605, 147.010, 173.196, 173.796, 178.895, 178.896, 208.750, 208.755, 238.202, 238.207, 238.208, 238.225, 238.230, 238.275, 348.300, 578.395, 620.495, 620.521, 620.523, 620.527, 620.528, 620.529, 620.530, 620.537, 620.638, 620.1039, 620.1878, and 620.1881, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof eighty-two new sections relating to certain programs administered by the department of economic development.




Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:


            Section A. Sections 21.750, 32.105, 32.115, 99.805, 99.820, 99.825, 100.286, 135.400, 135.403, 135.460, 135.478, 135.500, 135.535, 135.545, 135.550, 135.600, 135.630, 135.750, 135.950, 135.963, 135.967, 135.1150, 137.106, 142.815, 144.030, 144.605, 147.010, 173.196, 173.796, 178.895, 178.896, 208.750, 208.755, 238.202, 238.207, 238.208, 238.225, 238.230, 238.275, 348.300, 578.395, 620.495, 620.521, 620.523, 620.527, 620.528, 620.529, 620.530, 620.537, 620.638, 620.1039, 620.1878, and 620.1881, RSMo, are repealed and eighty-two new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 21.750, 32.105, 32.115, 99.805, 99.812, 99.820, 99.825, 99.841, 99.1200, 100.286, 135.400, 135.403, 135.460, 135.478, 135.500, 135.535, 135.545, 135.550, 135.562, 135.571, 135.600, 135.630, 135.660, 135.662, 135.710, 135.750, 135.950, 135.963, 135.967, 135.1150, 137.106, 142.815, 142.817, 143.006, 143.114, 143.128, 144.030, 144.054, 144.061, 144.605, 144.806, 147.010, 173.196, 173.796, 178.715, 178.895, 178.896, 208.750, 208.755, 238.202, 238.207, 238.208, 238.225, 238.230, 238.275, 348.300, 388.700, 388.703, 388.706, 388.709, 388.712, 388.715, 388.718, 388.721, 388.724, 388.727, 388.730, 388.733, 388.736, 388.739, 388.742, 388.745, 620.495, 620.504, 620.507, 620.509, 620.638, 620.1039, 620.1878, 620.1881, 620.1892, and 1, to read as follows:

            21.750. 1. The general assembly hereby occupies and preempts the entire field of legislation touching in any way firearms, components, ammunition and supplies to the complete exclusion of any order, ordinance or regulation by any political subdivision of this state. Any existing or future orders, ordinances or regulations in this field are hereby and shall be null and void except as provided in subsection 3 of this section.

            2. No county, city, town, village, municipality, or other political subdivision of this state shall adopt any order, ordinance or regulation concerning in any way the sale, purchase, purchase delay, transfer, ownership, use, keeping, possession, bearing, transportation, licensing, permit, registration, taxation other than sales and compensating use taxes or other controls on firearms, components, ammunition, and supplies except as provided in subsection 3 of this section.

            3. Nothing contained in this section shall prohibit any ordinance of any political subdivision which conforms exactly with any of the provisions of sections 571.010 to 571.070, RSMo, with appropriate penalty provisions, or which regulates the open carrying of firearms readily capable of lethal use or the discharge of firearms within a jurisdiction, provided such ordinance complies with the provisions of section 99.812, RSMo.

            4. The lawful design, marketing, manufacture, distribution, or sale of firearms or ammunition to the public is not an abnormally dangerous activity and does not constitute a public or private nuisance.

            5. No county, city, town, village or any other political subdivision nor the state shall bring suit or have any right to recover against any firearms or ammunition manufacturer, trade association or dealer for damages, abatement or injunctive relief resulting from or relating to the lawful design, manufacture, marketing, distribution, or sale of firearms or ammunition to the public. This subsection shall apply to any suit pending as of October 12, 2003, as well as any suit which may be brought in the future. Provided, however, that nothing in this section shall restrict the rights of individual citizens to recover for injury or death caused by the negligent or defective design or manufacture of firearms or ammunition.

            6. Nothing in this section shall prevent the state, a county, city, town, village or any other political subdivision from bringing an action against a firearms or ammunition manufacturer or dealer for breach of contract or warranty as to firearms or ammunition purchased by the state or such political subdivision.

            32.105. As used in sections 32.100 to 32.125, the following terms mean:

            (1) "Affordable housing assistance activities", money, real or personal property, or professional services expended or devoted to the construction, or rehabilitation of affordable housing units;

            (2) "Affordable housing unit", a residential unit generally occupied by persons and families with incomes at or below the levels described in this subdivision and bearing a cost to the occupant no greater than thirty percent of the maximum eligible household income for the affordable housing unit. In the case of owner-occupied units, the cost to the occupant shall be considered the amount of the gross monthly mortgage payment, including casualty insurance, mortgage insurance, and taxes. In the case of rental units, the cost to the occupant shall be considered the amount of the gross rent. The cost to the occupant shall include the cost of any utilities, other than telephone. If any utilities are paid directly by the occupant, the maximum cost that may be paid by the occupant is to be reduced by a utility allowance prescribed by the commission. Persons or families are eligible occupants of affordable housing units if the household combined, adjusted gross income as defined by the commission is equal to or less than the following percentages of the median family income for the geographic area in which the residential unit is located, or the median family income for the state of Missouri, whichever is larger; ("geographic area" means the metropolitan area or county designated as an area by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development under Section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937, as amended, for purposes of determining fair market rental rates):

                           Percent of State or

                          Geographic Area Family

            Size of Household                  Median Income

                One Person                                   35%

                Two Persons                                 40%

                Three Persons                               45%

                Four Persons                                 50%

                Five Persons                                 54%

                Six Persons                                   58%

                Seven Persons                               62%

                Eight Persons                                66%

            (3) "Business firm", person, firm, a partner in a firm, corporation or a shareholder in an S corporation doing business in the state of Missouri and subject to the state income tax imposed by the provisions of chapter 143, RSMo, including any charitable organization that is exempt from federal income tax and whose Missouri unrelated business taxable income, if any, would be subject to the state income tax imposed under such chapter, or a corporation subject to the annual corporation franchise tax imposed by the provisions of chapter 147, RSMo, or an insurance company paying an annual tax on its gross premium receipts in this state, or other financial institution paying taxes to the state of Missouri or any political subdivision of this state pursuant to the provisions of chapter 148, RSMo, or an express company which pays an annual tax on its gross receipts in this state;

            (4) "Commission", the Missouri housing development commission;

            (5) "Community services", any type of counseling and advice, emergency assistance or medical care furnished to individuals or groups in the state of Missouri or transportation services at below-cost rates as provided in sections 208.250 to 208.275, RSMo;

            (6) "Crime prevention", any activity which aids in the reduction of crime in the state of Missouri;

            (7) "Defense industry contractor", a person, corporation or other entity which will be or has been negatively impacted as a result of its status as a prime contractor of the Department of Defense or as a second or third tier contractor. A "second tier contractor" means a person, corporation or other entity which contracts to perform manufacturing, maintenance or repair services for a prime contractor of the Department of Defense, and a "third tier contractor" means a person, corporation or other entity which contracts with a person, corporation or other entity which contracts with a prime contractor of the Department of Defense;

            (8) "Doing business", among other methods of doing business in the state of Missouri, a partner in a firm or a shareholder in an S corporation shall be deemed to be doing business in the state of Missouri if such firm or S corporation, as the case may be, is doing business in the state of Missouri;

            (9) "Economic development", the acquisition, renovation, improvement, or the furnishing or equipping of existing buildings and real estate in distressed or blighted areas of the state when such acquisition, renovation, improvement, or the furnishing or equipping of the business development projects will result in the creation or retention of jobs within the state; or, until June 30, 1996, a defense conversion pilot project located in a standard metropolitan statistical area which contains a city with a population of at least three hundred fifty thousand inhabitants, which will assist Missouri-based defense industry contractors in their conversion from predominately defense-related contracting to nondefense-oriented manufacturing. Only neighborhood organizations, as defined in subdivision (13) of this section, may apply to conduct economic development projects. Prior to the approval of an economic development project, the neighborhood organization shall enter into a contractual agreement with the department of economic development. Credits approved for economic development projects may not exceed four million dollars from within any one fiscal year's allocation, except that for fiscal years 2005, 2006, and 2007 credits approved for economic development projects shall not exceed six million dollars. Neighborhood assistance program tax credits for economic development projects and affordable housing assistance as defined in section 32.111 may be transferred, sold or assigned by a notarized endorsement thereof naming the transferee;

            (10) "Education", any type of scholastic instruction or scholarship assistance to an individual who resides in the state of Missouri that enables the individual to prepare himself or herself for better opportunities or community awareness activities rendered by a statewide organization established for the purpose of archeological education and preservation;

            (11) "Homeless assistance pilot project", the program established pursuant to section 32.117;

            (12) "Job training", any type of instruction to an individual who resides in the state of Missouri that enables the individual to acquire vocational skills so that the individual can become employable or be able to seek a higher grade of employment;

            (13) "Neighborhood organization", any organization performing community services or economic development activities in the state of Missouri and:

            (a) Holding a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service of the United States Department of the Treasury that the organization is exempt from income taxation pursuant to the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code; or

            (b) Incorporated in the state of Missouri as a not-for-profit corporation pursuant to the provisions of chapter 355, RSMo; or

            (c) Designated as a community development corporation by the United States government pursuant to the provisions of Title VII of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964;

            (14) "Physical revitalization", furnishing financial assistance, labor, material, or technical advice to aid in the physical improvement or rehabilitation of any part or all of a neighborhood area;

            (15) "S corporation", a corporation described in Section 1361(a)(1) of the United States Internal Revenue Code and not subject to the taxes imposed by section 143.071, RSMo, by reason of section 143.471, RSMo;

            (16) "Workfare renovation project", any project initiated pursuant to sections 215.340 to 215.355, RSMo.

            32.115. 1. The department of revenue shall grant a tax credit, to be applied in the following order until used, against:

            (1) The annual tax on gross premium receipts of insurance companies in chapter 148, RSMo;

            (2) The tax on banks determined pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection 2 of section 148.030, RSMo;

            (3) The tax on banks determined in subdivision (1) of subsection 2 of section 148.030, RSMo;

            (4) The tax on other financial institutions in chapter 148, RSMo;

            (5) The corporation franchise tax in chapter 147, RSMo;

            (6) The state income tax in chapter 143, RSMo; and

            (7) The annual tax on gross receipts of express companies in chapter 153, RSMo.

            2. For proposals approved pursuant to section 32.110:

            (1) The amount of the tax credit shall not exceed fifty percent of the total amount contributed during the taxable year by the business firm or, in the case of a financial institution, where applicable, during the relevant income period in programs approved pursuant to section 32.110;

            (2) Except as provided in subsection 2 or 5 of this section, a tax credit of up to seventy percent may be allowed for contributions to programs where activities fall within the scope of special program priorities as defined with the approval of the governor in regulations promulgated by the director of the department of economic development;

            (3) Except as provided in subsection 2 or 5 of this section, the tax credit allowed for contributions to programs located in any community shall be equal to seventy percent of the total amount contributed where such community is a city, town or village which has fifteen thousand or less inhabitants as of the last decennial census and is located in a county which is either located in:

            (a) An area that is not part of a standard metropolitan statistical area;

            (b) A standard metropolitan statistical area but such county has only one city, town or village which has more than fifteen thousand inhabitants; or

            (c) A standard metropolitan statistical area and a substantial number of persons in such county derive their income from agriculture.

 

Such community may also be in an unincorporated area in such county as provided in subdivision (1), (2) or (3) of this subsection. Except in no case shall the total economic benefit of the combined federal and state tax savings to the taxpayer exceed the amount contributed by the taxpayer during the tax year;

            (4) Such tax credit allocation, equal to seventy percent of the total amount contributed, shall not exceed four million dollars in fiscal year 1999 and six million dollars in fiscal year 2000 and any subsequent fiscal year. When the maximum dollar limit on the seventy percent tax credit allocation is committed, the tax credit allocation for such programs shall then be equal to fifty percent credit of the total amount contributed. Regulations establishing special program priorities are to be promulgated during the first month of each fiscal year and at such times during the year as the public interest dictates. Such credit shall not exceed two hundred and fifty thousand dollars annually except as provided in subdivision (5) of this subsection. No tax credit shall be approved for any bank, bank and trust company, insurance company, trust company, national bank, savings association, or building and loan association for activities that are a part of its normal course of business. Any tax credit not used in the period the contribution was made may be carried over the next five succeeding calendar or fiscal years until the full credit has been claimed. Except as otherwise provided for proposals approved pursuant to section 32.111, 32.112 or 32.117, in no event shall the total amount of all other tax credits allowed pursuant to sections 32.100 to 32.125 exceed thirty-two million dollars in any one fiscal year, of which six million shall be credits allowed pursuant to section 135.460, RSMo. If six million dollars in credits are not approved, then the remaining credits may be used for programs approved pursuant to sections 32.100 to 32.125 and section 135.571, RSMo, with the first one hundred thousand dollars in tax credits remaining to be issued as provided under section 135.571, RSMo;

            (5) The credit may exceed two hundred fifty thousand dollars annually and shall not be limited if community services, crime prevention, education, job training, physical revitalization or economic development, as defined by section 32.105, is rendered in an area defined by federal or state law as an impoverished, economically distressed, or blighted area or as a neighborhood experiencing problems endangering its existence as a viable and stable neighborhood, or if the community services, crime prevention, education, job training, physical revitalization or economic development is limited to impoverished persons.

            3. For proposals approved pursuant to section 32.111:

            (1) The amount of the tax credit shall not exceed fifty-five percent of the total amount invested in affordable housing assistance activities or market rate housing in distressed communities as defined in section 135.530, RSMo, by a business firm. Whenever such investment is made in the form of an equity investment or a loan, as opposed to a donation alone, tax credits may be claimed only where the loan or equity investment is accompanied by a donation which is eligible for federal income tax charitable deduction, and where the total value of the tax credits herein plus the value of the federal income tax charitable deduction is less than or equal to the value of the donation. Any tax credit not used in the period for which the credit was approved may be carried over the next ten succeeding calendar or fiscal years until the full credit has been allowed. If the affordable housing units or market rate housing units in distressed communities for which a tax is claimed are within a larger structure, parts of which are not the subject of a tax credit claim, then expenditures applicable to the entire structure shall be reduced on a prorated basis in proportion to the ratio of the number of square feet devoted to the affordable housing units or market rate housing units in distressed communities, for purposes of determining the amount of the tax credit. The total amount of tax credit granted for programs approved pursuant to section 32.111 for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1991, shall not exceed two million dollars, to be increased by no more than two million dollars each succeeding fiscal year, until the total tax credits that may be approved reaches ten million dollars in any fiscal year;

            (2) For any year during the compliance period indicated in the land use restriction agreement, the owner of the affordable housing rental units for which a credit is being claimed shall certify to the commission that all tenants renting claimed units are income eligible for affordable housing units and that the rentals for each claimed unit are in compliance with the provisions of sections 32.100 to 32.125. The commission is authorized, in its discretion, to audit the records and accounts of the owner to verify such certification;

            (3) In the case of owner-occupied affordable housing units, the qualifying owner occupant shall, before the end of the first year in which credits are claimed, certify to the commission that the occupant is income eligible during the preceding two years, and at the time of the initial purchase contract, but not thereafter. The qualifying owner occupant shall further certify to the commission, before the end of the first year in which credits are claimed, that during the compliance period indicated in the land use restriction agreement, the cost of the affordable housing unit to the occupant for the claimed unit can reasonably be projected to be in compliance with the provisions of sections 32.100 to 32.125. Any succeeding owner occupant acquiring the affordable housing unit during the compliance period indicated in the land use restriction agreement shall make the same certification;

            (4) If at any time during the compliance period the commission determines a project for which a proposal has been approved is not in compliance with the applicable provisions of sections 32.100 to 32.125 or rules promulgated therefor, the commission may within one hundred fifty days of notice to the owner either seek injunctive enforcement action against the owner, or seek legal damages against the owner representing the value of the tax credits, or foreclose on the lien in the land use restriction agreement, selling the project at a public sale, and paying to the owner the proceeds of the sale, less the costs of the sale and less the value of all tax credits allowed herein. The commission shall remit to the director of revenue the portion of the legal damages collected or the sale proceeds representing the value of the tax credits. However, except in the event of intentional fraud by the taxpayer, the proposal's certificate of eligibility for tax credits shall not be revoked.

            4. For proposals approved pursuant to section 32.112, the amount of the tax credit shall not exceed fifty-five percent of the total amount contributed to a neighborhood organization by business firms. Any tax credit not used in the period for which the credit was approved may be carried over the next ten succeeding calendar or fiscal years until the full credit has been allowed. The total amount of tax credit granted for programs approved pursuant to section 32.112 shall not exceed one million dollars for each fiscal year.

            5. The total amount of tax credits used for market rate housing in distressed communities pursuant to sections 32.100 to 32.125 shall not exceed thirty percent of the total amount of all tax credits authorized pursuant to sections 32.111 and 32.112.

            6. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, any tax credits granted under this section may be assigned, transferred, sold, or otherwise conveyed without consent or approval.

            99.805. As used in sections 99.800 to 99.865, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the following terms shall mean:

            (1) "Blighted area", an area which, by reason of the predominance of defective or inadequate street layout, unsanitary or unsafe conditions, deterioration of site improvements, improper subdivision or obsolete platting, or the existence of conditions which endanger life or property by fire and other causes, or any combination of such factors, retards the provision of housing accommodations or constitutes an economic or social liability or a menace to the public health, safety, morals, or welfare in its present condition and use;

            (2) "Collecting officer", the officer of the municipality responsible for receiving and processing payments in lieu of taxes or economic activity taxes from taxpayers or the department of revenue;

            (3) "Conservation area", any improved area within the boundaries of a redevelopment area located within the territorial limits of a municipality in which fifty percent or more of the structures in the area have an age of thirty-five years or more. Such an area is not yet a blighted area but is detrimental to the public health, safety, morals, or welfare and may become a blighted area because of any one or more of the following factors: dilapidation; obsolescence; deterioration; illegal use of individual structures; presence of structures below minimum code standards; abandonment; excessive vacancies; overcrowding of structures and community facilities; lack of ventilation, light or sanitary facilities; inadequate utilities; excessive land coverage; deleterious land use or layout; depreciation of physical maintenance; and lack of community planning. A conservation area shall meet at least three of the factors provided in this subdivision for projects approved on or after December 23, 1997;

            (4) "Economic activity taxes", the total additional revenue from taxes which are imposed by a municipality and other taxing districts, and which are generated by economic activities within a redevelopment area over the amount of such taxes generated by economic activities within such redevelopment area in the calendar year prior to the adoption of the ordinance designating such a redevelopment area, while tax increment financing remains in effect, but excluding personal property taxes, taxes imposed on sales or charges for sleeping rooms paid by transient guests of hotels and motels, licenses, fees or special assessments. For redevelopment projects or redevelopment plans approved after December 23, 1997, if a retail establishment relocates within one year from one facility to another facility within the same county and the governing body of the municipality finds that the relocation is a direct beneficiary of tax increment financing, then for purposes of this definition, the economic activity taxes generated by the retail establishment shall equal the total additional revenues from economic activity taxes which are imposed by a municipality or other taxing district over the amount of economic activity taxes generated by the retail establishment in the calendar year prior to its relocation to the redevelopment area;

            (5) "Economic development area", any area or portion of an area located within the territorial limits of a municipality, which does not meet the requirements of subdivisions (1) and (3) of this section, and in which the governing body of the municipality finds that redevelopment will not be solely used for development of commercial businesses which unfairly compete in the local economy and is in the public interest because it will:

            (a) Discourage commerce, industry or manufacturing from moving their operations to another state; or

            (b) Result in increased employment in the municipality; or

            (c) Result in preservation or enhancement of the tax base of the municipality;

            (6) "Gambling establishment", an excursion gambling boat as defined in section 313.800, RSMo, and any related business facility including any real property improvements which are directly and solely related to such business facility, whose sole purpose is to provide goods or services to an excursion gambling boat and whose majority ownership interest is held by a person licensed to conduct gambling games on an excursion gambling boat or licensed to operate an excursion gambling boat as provided in sections 313.800 to 313.850, RSMo. This subdivision shall be applicable only to a redevelopment area designated by ordinance adopted after December 23, 1997;

            (7) "Greenfield area", any vacant, unimproved, or agricultural property that is located wholly outside the incorporated limits of a city, town, or village, or that is substantially surrounded by contiguous properties with agricultural zoning classifications or uses unless said property was annexed into the incorporated limits of a city, town, or village ten years prior to the adoption of the ordinance approving the redevelopment plan for such greenfield area;

            (8) "Municipality", a city, village, or incorporated town or any county of this state. For redevelopment areas or projects approved on or after December 23, 1997, "municipality" applies only to cities, villages, incorporated towns or counties established for at least one year prior to such date;

            [(8)] (9) "Obligations", bonds, loans, debentures, notes, special certificates, or other evidences of indebtedness issued by a municipality to carry out a redevelopment project or to refund outstanding obligations;

            [(9)] (10) "Ordinance", an ordinance enacted by the governing body of a city, town, or village or a county or an order of the governing body of a county whose governing body is not authorized to enact ordinances;

            [(10)] (11) "Payment in lieu of taxes", those estimated revenues from real property in the area selected for a redevelopment project, which revenues according to the redevelopment project or plan are to be used for a private use, which taxing districts would have received had a municipality not adopted tax increment allocation financing, and which would result from levies made after the time of the adoption of tax increment allocation financing during the time the current equalized value of real property in the area selected for the redevelopment project exceeds the total initial equalized value of real property in such area until the designation is terminated pursuant to subsection 2 of section 99.850;

            [(11)] (12) "Redevelopment area", an area designated by a municipality, in respect to which the municipality has made a finding that there exist conditions which cause the area to be classified as a blighted area, a conservation area, an economic development area, an enterprise zone pursuant to sections 135.200 to 135.256, RSMo, or a combination thereof, which area includes only those parcels of real property directly and substantially benefited by the proposed redevelopment project;

            [(12)] (13) "Redevelopment plan", the comprehensive program of a municipality for redevelopment intended by the payment of redevelopment costs to reduce or eliminate those conditions, the existence of which qualified the redevelopment area as a blighted area, conservation area, economic development area, or combination thereof, and to thereby enhance the tax bases of the taxing districts which extend into the redevelopment area. Each redevelopment plan shall conform to the requirements of section 99.810;

            [(13)] (14) "Redevelopment project", any development project within a redevelopment area in furtherance of the objectives of the redevelopment plan; any such redevelopment project shall include a legal description of the area selected for the redevelopment project;

            [(14)] (15) "Redevelopment project costs" include the sum total of all reasonable or necessary costs incurred or estimated to be incurred, and any such costs incidental to a redevelopment plan or redevelopment project, as applicable. Such costs include, but are not limited to, the following:

            (a) Costs of studies, surveys, plans, and specifications;

            (b) Professional service costs, including, but not limited to, architectural, engineering, legal, marketing, financial, planning or special services. Except the reasonable costs incurred by the commission established in section 99.820 for the administration of sections 99.800 to 99.865, such costs shall be allowed only as an initial expense which, to be recoverable, shall be included in the costs of a redevelopment plan or project;

            (c) Property assembly costs, including, but not limited to, acquisition of land and other property, real or personal, or rights or interests therein, demolition of buildings, and the clearing and grading of land;

            (d) Costs of rehabilitation, reconstruction, or repair or remodeling of existing buildings and fixtures;

            (e) Initial costs for an economic development area;

            (f) Costs of construction of public works or improvements;

            (g) Financing costs, including, but not limited to, all necessary and incidental expenses related to the issuance of obligations, and which may include payment of interest on any obligations issued pursuant to sections 99.800 to 99.865 accruing during the estimated period of construction of any redevelopment project for which such obligations are issued and for not more than eighteen months thereafter, and including reasonable reserves related thereto;

            (h) All or a portion of a taxing district's capital costs resulting from the redevelopment project necessarily incurred or to be incurred in furtherance of the objectives of the redevelopment plan and project, to the extent the municipality by written agreement accepts and approves such costs;

            (i) Relocation costs to the extent that a municipality determines that relocation costs shall be paid or are required to be paid by federal or state law;

            (j) Payments in lieu of taxes;

            [(15)] (16) "Special allocation fund", the fund of a municipality or its commission which contains at least two separate segregated accounts for each redevelopment plan, maintained by the treasurer of the municipality or the treasurer of the commission into which payments in lieu of taxes are deposited in one account, and economic activity taxes and other revenues are deposited in the other account;

            [(16)] (17) "Taxing districts", any political subdivision of this state having the power to levy taxes;

            [(17)] (18) "Taxing districts' capital costs", those costs of taxing districts for capital improvements that are found by the municipal governing bodies to be necessary and to directly result from the redevelopment project; and

            [(18)] (19) "Vacant land", any parcel or combination of parcels of real property not used for industrial, commercial, or residential buildings.

            99.812. 1. This section shall be known as and may be cited as the "Hunting Heritage Protection Areas Act". Hunting heritage protection areas shall include all land located within the one hundred-year flood plain of the Missouri River and all land located within the one hundred-year flood plain of the Mississippi River, as designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as amended from time to time.

            2. In addition to the provisions of section 99.847 no new tax increment financing project shall be authorized in any hunting heritage protection area after August 28, 2007. This subsection shall not apply to tax increment financing projects or districts approved:

            (1) Prior to August 28, 2007, and shall allow the modification, amendment, or expansion of such projects including redevelopment project costs by not more than forty percent of such project's original projected cost and the tax increment finance district by not more than five percent of the district as it existed as of August 28, 2007;

            (2) For the purpose of flood or drainage protection and for any public infrastructure included therewith; or

            (3) For the purpose of constructing or operating a renewable fuel facility as defined in section 348.430, RSMo, or for the purpose of providing infrastructure necessary solely for the construction or operation of such renewable fuel production facility, provided no residential, commercial, or industrial development not directly associated with the production of renewable fuel shall occur within a hunting heritage protection area, either directly or indirectly, as a result of such tax increment financing project.

            3. The discharge of firearms for lawful hunting, sporting, target shooting, and all other lawful purposes shall not be prohibited in hunting heritage protection areas, subject to all applicable state and federal laws.

            4. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection 1 of this section to the contrary, hunting heritage protection areas shall not include:

            (1) Any area with a population of not less than fifty thousand persons that has been defined and designated in the 2000 United States Census as an "urbanized area" by the United States Secretary of Commerce;

            (2) Any land ever owned by an entity regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or any land ever used or operated by an entity regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission;

            (3) Any land used for the operation of a physical port of commerce to include customs ports, but shall not include other land managed or governed by a port authority if such other land extends beyond the actual physical port;

            (4) Any land contained within the boundary of any home rule city with more than four hundred thousand inhabitants and located in more than one county, or any land contained within a city not within a county; or

            (5) Any land located within one-half mile of any interstate highway, as such highways exist as of August 28, 2007.

            99.820. 1. A municipality may:

            (1) By ordinance introduced in the governing body of the municipality within fourteen to ninety days from the completion of the hearing required in section 99.825, approve redevelopment plans and redevelopment projects, and designate redevelopment project areas pursuant to the notice and hearing requirements of sections 99.800 to 99.865. No redevelopment project shall be approved unless a redevelopment plan has been approved and a redevelopment area has been designated prior to or concurrently with the approval of such redevelopment project and the area selected for the redevelopment project shall include only those parcels of real property and improvements thereon directly and substantially benefited by the proposed redevelopment project improvements;

            (2) Make and enter into all contracts necessary or incidental to the implementation and furtherance of its redevelopment plan or project;

            (3) Pursuant to a redevelopment plan, subject to any constitutional limitations, acquire by purchase, donation, lease or, as part of a redevelopment project, eminent domain, own, convey, lease, mortgage, or dispose of, land and other property, real or personal, or rights or interests therein, and grant or acquire licenses, easements and options with respect thereto, all in the manner and at such price the municipality or the commission determines is reasonably necessary to achieve the objectives of the redevelopment plan. No conveyance, lease, mortgage, disposition of land or other property, acquired by the municipality, or agreement relating to the development of the property shall be made except upon the adoption of an ordinance by the governing body of the municipality. Each municipality or its commission shall establish written procedures relating to bids and proposals for implementation of the redevelopment projects. Furthermore, no conveyance, lease, mortgage, or other disposition of land or agreement relating to the development of property shall be made without making public disclosure of the terms of the disposition and all bids and proposals made in response to the municipality's request. Such procedures for obtaining such bids and proposals shall provide reasonable opportunity for any person to submit alternative proposals or bids;

            (4) Within a redevelopment area, clear any area by demolition or removal of existing buildings and structures;

            (5) Within a redevelopment area, renovate, rehabilitate, or construct any structure or building;

            (6) Install, repair, construct, reconstruct, or relocate streets, utilities, and site improvements essential to the preparation of the redevelopment area for use in accordance with a redevelopment plan;

            (7) Within a redevelopment area, fix, charge, and collect fees, rents, and other charges for the use of any building or property owned or leased by it or any part thereof, or facility therein;

            (8) Accept grants, guarantees, and donations of property, labor, or other things of value from a public or private source for use within a redevelopment area;

            (9) Acquire and construct public facilities within a redevelopment area;

            (10) Incur redevelopment costs and issue obligations;

            (11) Make payment in lieu of taxes, or a portion thereof, to taxing districts;

            (12) Disburse surplus funds from the special allocation fund to taxing districts as follows:

            (a) Such surplus payments in lieu of taxes shall be distributed to taxing districts within the redevelopment area which impose ad valorem taxes on a basis that is proportional to the current collections of revenue which each taxing district receives from real property in the redevelopment area;

            (b) Surplus economic activity taxes shall be distributed to taxing districts in the redevelopment area which impose economic activity taxes, on a basis that is proportional to the amount of such economic activity taxes the taxing district would have received from the redevelopment area had tax increment financing not been adopted;

            (c) Surplus revenues, other than payments in lieu of taxes and economic activity taxes, deposited in the special allocation fund, shall be distributed on a basis that is proportional to the total receipt of such other revenues in such account in the year prior to disbursement;

            (13) If any member of the governing body of the municipality, a member of a commission established pursuant to subsection 2 of this section, or an employee or consultant of the municipality, involved in the planning and preparation of a redevelopment plan, or redevelopment project for a redevelopment area or proposed redevelopment area, owns or controls an interest, direct or indirect, in any property included in any redevelopment area, or proposed redevelopment area, which property is designated to be acquired or improved pursuant to a redevelopment project, he or she shall disclose the same in writing to the clerk of the municipality, and shall also so disclose the dates, terms, and conditions of any disposition of any such interest, which disclosures shall be acknowledged by the governing body of the municipality and entered upon the minutes books of the governing body of the municipality. If an individual holds such an interest, then that individual shall refrain from any further official involvement in regard to such redevelopment plan, redevelopment project or redevelopment area, from voting on any matter pertaining to such redevelopment plan, redevelopment project or redevelopment area, or communicating with other members concerning any matter pertaining to that redevelopment plan, redevelopment project or redevelopment area. Furthermore, no such member or employee shall acquire any interest, direct or indirect, in any property in a redevelopment area or proposed redevelopment area after either (a) such individual obtains knowledge of such plan or project, or (b) first public notice of such plan, project or area pursuant to section 99.830, whichever first occurs;

            (14) Charge as a redevelopment cost the reasonable costs incurred by its clerk or other official in administering the redevelopment project. The charge for the clerk's or other official's costs shall be determined by the municipality based on a recommendation from the commission, created pursuant to this section.

            2. Prior to adoption of an ordinance approving the designation of a redevelopment area or approving a redevelopment plan or redevelopment project, the municipality shall create a commission of nine persons if the municipality is a county or a city not within a county and not a first class county with a charter form of government with a population in excess of nine hundred thousand, and eleven persons if the municipality is not a county and not in a first class county with a charter form of government having a population of more than nine hundred thousand, and twelve persons if the municipality is located in or is a first class county with a charter form of government having a population of more than nine hundred thousand, to be appointed as follows:

            (1) In all municipalities two members shall be appointed by the school boards whose districts are included within the redevelopment plan or redevelopment area. Such members shall be appointed in any manner agreed upon by the affected districts;

            (2) In all municipalities one member shall be appointed, in any manner agreed upon by the affected districts, to represent all other districts levying ad valorem taxes within the area selected for a redevelopment project or the redevelopment area, excluding representatives of the governing body of the municipality;

            (3) In all municipalities six members shall be appointed by the chief elected officer of the municipality, with the consent of the majority of the governing body of the municipality;

            (4) In all municipalities which are not counties and not in a first class county with a charter form of government having a population in excess of nine hundred thousand, two members shall be appointed by the county of such municipality in the same manner as members are appointed in subdivision (3) of this subsection;

            (5) In a municipality which is a county with a charter form of government having a population in excess of nine hundred thousand, three members shall be appointed by the cities in the county which have tax increment financing districts in a manner in which the cities shall agree;

            (6) In a municipality which is located in the first class county with a charter form of government having a population in excess of nine hundred thousand, three members shall be appointed by the county of such municipality in the same manner as members are appointed in subdivision (3) of this subsection;

            (7) In a municipality which is in a county under the authority of the East-West Gateway Council of Governments, except any municipality in any county of the first classification with more than ninety-three thousand eight hundred but fewer than ninety-three thousand nine hundred inhabitants, the municipality shall create a commission in the same manner as the commission for a first class county with a charter form of government having a population of more than nine hundred thousand, such commission shall have twelve members with two such members appointed by the school boards whose districts are included in the county in a manner in which such school boards agree, with one such member to represent all other districts levying ad valorem taxes in a manner in which all such districts agree, three such members appointed either by the county executive or county commissioner, and six such members appointed by the cities in the county which have tax increment financing districts in a manner in which the cities shall agree;

            (8) When any city, town, or village under the authority of the East-West Gateway Council of Governments desires to implement a tax increment financing project, such city, town, or village shall first obtain the permission of the county tax increment financing commission created in this subsection within which the city, town, or village is located;

            (9) At the option of the members appointed by the municipality, the members who are appointed by the school boards and other taxing districts may serve on the commission for a term to coincide with the length of time a redevelopment project, redevelopment plan or designation of a redevelopment area is considered for approval by the commission, or for a definite term pursuant to this subdivision. If the members representing school districts and other taxing districts are appointed for a term coinciding with the length of time a redevelopment project, plan or area is approved, such term shall terminate upon final approval of the project, plan or designation of the area by the governing body of the municipality. Thereafter the commission shall consist of the six members appointed by the municipality, except that members representing school boards and other taxing districts shall be appointed as provided in this section prior to any amendments to any redevelopment plans, redevelopment projects or designation of a redevelopment area. If any school district or other taxing jurisdiction fails to appoint members of the commission within thirty days of receipt of written notice of a proposed redevelopment plan, redevelopment project or designation of a redevelopment area, the remaining members may proceed to exercise the power of the commission. Of the members first appointed by the municipality, two shall be designated to serve for terms of two years, two shall be designated to serve for a term of three years and two shall be designated to serve for a term of four years from the date of such initial appointments. Thereafter, the members appointed by the municipality shall serve for a term of four years, except that all vacancies shall be filled for unexpired terms in the same manner as were the original appointments.

            3. The commission, subject to approval of the governing body of the municipality, may exercise the powers enumerated in sections 99.800 to 99.865, except final approval of plans, projects and designation of redevelopment areas. The commission shall hold public hearings and provide notice pursuant to sections 99.825 and 99.830. The commission shall vote on all proposed redevelopment plans, redevelopment projects and designations of redevelopment areas, and amendments thereto, within thirty days following completion of the hearing on any such plan, project or designation and shall make recommendations to the governing body within ninety days of the hearing referred to in section 99.825 concerning the adoption of or amendment to redevelopment plans and redevelopment projects and the designation of redevelopment areas. The requirements of subsection 2 of this section and this subsection shall not apply to redevelopment projects upon which the required hearings have been duly held prior to August 31, 1991.

            99.825. 1. Prior to the adoption of an ordinance proposing the designation of a redevelopment area, or approving a redevelopment plan or redevelopment project, the commission shall fix a time and place for a public hearing and notify each taxing district located wholly or partially within the boundaries of the proposed redevelopment area, plan or project. At the public hearing any interested person or affected taxing district may file with the commission written objections to, or comments on, and may be heard orally in respect to, any issues embodied in the notice. The commission shall hear and consider all protests, objections, comments and other evidence presented at the hearing. The hearing may be continued to another date without further notice other than a motion to be entered upon the minutes fixing the time and place of the subsequent hearing. Prior to the conclusion of the hearing, changes may be made in the redevelopment plan, redevelopment project, or redevelopment area, provided that each affected taxing district is given written notice of such changes at least seven days prior to the conclusion of the hearing. After the public hearing but prior to the adoption of an ordinance approving a redevelopment plan or redevelopment project, or designating a redevelopment area, changes may be made to the redevelopment plan, redevelopment projects or redevelopment areas without a further hearing, if such changes do not enlarge the exterior boundaries of the redevelopment area or areas, and do not substantially affect the general land uses established in the redevelopment plan or substantially change the nature of the redevelopment projects, provided that notice of such changes shall be given by mail to each affected taxing district and by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the area of the proposed redevelopment not less than ten days prior to the adoption of the changes by ordinance. After the adoption of an ordinance approving a redevelopment plan or redevelopment project, or designating a redevelopment area, no ordinance shall be adopted altering the exterior boundaries, affecting the general land uses established pursuant to the redevelopment plan or changing the nature of the redevelopment project without complying with the procedures provided in this section pertaining to the initial approval of a redevelopment plan or redevelopment project and designation of a redevelopment area. Hearings with regard to a redevelopment project, redevelopment area, or redevelopment plan may be held simultaneously.

            2. If, after concluding the hearing required under this section, the commission makes a recommendation under section 99.820 in opposition to a proposed redevelopment plan, redevelopment project, or designation of a redevelopment area, or any amendments thereto, a municipality desiring to approve such project, plan, designation, or amendments shall do so only upon a two-thirds majority vote of the governing body of such municipality.

            3. Tax incremental financing projects within an economic development area shall apply to and fund only the following infrastructure projects: highways, roads, streets, bridges, sewers, traffic control systems and devices, water distribution and supply systems, curbing, sidewalks and any other similar public improvements, but in no case shall it include buildings.

            99.841. 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 99.800 to 99.865 to the contrary, no new tax increment financing project shall be authorized in any greenfield area, as such term is defined in section 99.805, that is located within a city not within a county or any county subject to the authority of the East West Gateway Council of Governments. Municipalities not subject to the authority of the East West Gateway Council of Governments may authorize tax increment finance projects in greenfield areas.

            99.1200. 1. This section shall be known and may be cited as the "Distressed Areas Land Assemblage Tax Credit Act".

            2. As used in this section, the following terms mean:

            (1) "Acquisition costs", the purchase price for the eligible parcel, costs of environmental assessments, closing costs, real estate brokerage fees, demolition costs of vacant structures, and maintenance costs incurred to maintain an acquired eligible parcel for a period of five years after the acquisition of such eligible parcel. Acquisition costs shall not include costs for title insurance and survey, attorney's fees, or relocation costs;

            (2) "Applicant", any person, firm, partnership, trust, limited liability company, or corporation which has:

            (a) Incurred, within an eligible project area, acquisition costs for the acquisition of land sufficient to satisfy the requirements under subdivision (8) of subsection 2 of this section; and

            (b) Been appointed or selected, pursuant to a redevelopment agreement by a municipal authority, as a redeveloper or similar designation, under an economic incentive act, to redevelop an urban renewal area or a redevelopment area that includes all of an eligible project area or whose redevelopment plan or redevelopment area, which encompasses all of an eligible project area, has been approved or adopted under an economic incentive act. The redevelopment agreement shall provide that the funds generated through the use or sale of the tax credits issued under this section be used to redevelop the eligible project area and, in addition to being designated the redeveloper, the applicant shall have been designated to receive economic incentives after the municipal authority has considered the amount of the tax credits in adopting such economic incentives as provided in subsection 8 of this section;

            (3) "Certificate", a tax credit certificate issued under this section;

            (4) "Condemnation proceedings", any action taken by, or on behalf of, an applicant to initiate an action in a court of competent jurisdiction to use the power of eminent domain to acquire a parcel within the eligible project area. Condemnation proceedings shall include any and all actions taken after the submission of a notice of intended acquisition to an owner of a parcel within the eligible project area by a municipal authority or any other person or entity under section 523.250, RSMo;

            (5) "Department", the Missouri department of economic development;

            (6) "Economic incentive acts", any provision of Missouri law pursuant to which economic incentives are provided to redevelopers of a parcel or parcels to redevelop the land, such as tax abatement or payments in lieu of taxes, or redevelopment plans or redevelopment projects approved or adopted which include the use of economic incentives to redevelop the land. Economic incentive acts include, but are not limited to, the land clearance for redevelopment authority law, the real property tax increment allocation redevelopment act, the Missouri downtown and rural economic stimulus act, and the downtown revitalization preservation program;

            (7) "Eligible parcel", a parcel:

            (a) Which is located within an eligible project area;

            (b) Which is to be redeveloped;

            (c) On which the applicant has not commenced construction prior to August 28, 2007; and

            (d) Which has been acquired without the commencement of any condemnation proceedings with respect to such parcel brought by or on behalf of the applicant. Any parcel acquired by the applicant from a municipal authority shall not constitute an eligible parcel;

            (8) "Eligible project area", an area which shall have satisfied the following requirements:

            (a) The eligible project area shall consist of at least one hundred acres and may include parcels within its boundaries that do not constitute an eligible parcel;

            (b) At least eighty percent of the eligible project area shall be located within a Missouri qualified census tract area as designated by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development under 26 U.S.C. Section 42;

            (c) The eligible parcels acquired by the applicant within the eligible project area shall total at least seventy-five acres, which may consist of contiguous and noncontiguous parcels;

            (d) The average number of parcels per acre in an eligible project area shall be four;

            (e) Less than five percent of the acreage within the boundaries of the eligible project area shall consist of owner-occupied residences which the applicant has identified for acquisition under the urban renewal plan or the redevelopment plan pursuant to which the applicant was appointed or selected as the redeveloper or by which the person or entity was qualified as an applicant under this section on the date of the approval or adoption of such plan;

            (9) "Interest costs", interest, loan fees, and closing costs. Interest costs shall not include attorney's fees;

            (10) "Municipal authority", any city, town, village, county, public body corporate and politic, political subdivision, or land trust of this state established and authorized to own land within the state;

            (11) "Municipality", any city, town, village, or county;

            (12) "Parcel", a single lot or tract of land, and the improvements thereon, owned by, or recorded as the property of, one or more persons or entities;

            (13) "Redeveloped", the process of undertaking and carrying out a redevelopment plan or urban renewal plan pursuant to which the conditions which provided the basis for an eligible project area to be included in a redevelopment plan or urban renewal plan are to be reduced or eliminated by redevelopment or rehabilitation; and

            (14) Redevelopment agreement", the redevelopment agreement or similar agreement into which the applicant entered with a municipal authority and which is the agreement for the implementation of the urban renewal plan or redevelopment plan pursuant to which the applicant was appointed or selected as the redeveloper or by which the person or entity was qualified as an applicant under this section.

            3. Any applicant shall be entitled to a tax credit against the taxes imposed under chapters 143, 147, and 148, RSMo, except for sections 143.191 to 143.265, RSMo, in an amount equal to fifty percent of the acquisition costs, and one hundred percent of the interest costs incurred for a period of five years after the acquisition of an eligible parcel. No tax credits shall be issued under this section until after January 1, 2008.

            4. If the amount of such tax credit exceeds the total tax liability for the year in which the applicant is entitled to receive a tax credit, the amount that exceeds the state tax liability may be carried forward for credit against the taxes imposed under chapters 143, 147, and 148, RSMo, for the succeeding six years, or until the full credit is used, whichever occurs first. The applicant shall not be entitled to a tax credit for taxes imposed under sections 143.191 to 143.265, RSMo. Applicants entitled to receive such tax credits may transfer, sell, or assign the tax credits. Tax credits granted to a partnership, a limited liability company taxed as a partnership, or multiple owners of property shall be passed through to the partners, members, or owners respectively pro rata or pursuant to an executed agreement among the partners, members, or owners documenting an alternate distribution method.

            5. A purchaser, transferee, or assignee of the tax credits may use acquired tax credits to offset up to one hundred percent of the tax liabilities otherwise imposed under chapters 143, 147, and 148, RSMo, except for sections 143.191 to 143.265, RSMo. A seller, transferor, or assignor shall perfect such transfer by notifying the department in writing within thirty calendar days following the effective date of the transfer and shall provide any information as may be required by the department to administer and to carry out the provisions of this section.

            6. To claim tax credits authorized under this section, an applicant shall submit to the department an application for a certificate. An applicant shall identify the boundaries of the eligible project area in the application. The department shall verify that the applicant has submitted a valid application in the form and format required by the department. On an annual basis, an applicant may file for the tax credit for the acquisition costs, and for the tax credit for the interest costs, subject to the limitations of this section. If an applicant applying for the tax credit meets the criteria required under this section, the department shall issue a certificate in the appropriate amount.

            7. The total aggregate amount of tax credits authorized under this section shall not exceed one hundred million dollars. At no time shall the annual amount of the tax credits issued under this section exceed twelve million dollars. If the tax credits that are to be issued under this section exceed, in any year, the twelve million dollar limitation, the department shall either:

            (1) Issue tax credits to the applicant in the amount of twelve million dollars, if there is only one applicant entitled to receive tax credits in that year; or

            (2) Issue the tax credits on a pro rata basis to all applicants entitled to receive tax credits in that year. Any amount of tax credits, which an applicant is, or applicants are, entitled to receive on an annual basis and are not issued due to the twelve million dollar limitation, shall be carried forward for the benefit of the applicant or applicants to subsequent years.

No tax credits provided under this section shall be authorized after August 28, 2013. Any tax credits which have been authorized on or before August 28, 2013, but not issued, may be issued, subject to the limitations provided under this subsection, until all such authorized tax credits have been issued.

            8. Upon issuance of any tax credits pursuant to this section, the department shall report to the municipal authority the applicant's name and address, the parcel numbers of the eligible parcels for which the tax credits were issued, the itemized acquisition costs and interest costs for which tax credits were issued, and the total value of the tax credits issued. The municipal authority and the state shall not consider the amount of the tax credits as an applicant's cost, but shall include the tax credits in any sources and uses and cost benefit analysis reviewed or created for the purpose of awarding other economic incentives. The amount of the tax credits shall not be considered an applicant's cost in the evaluation of the amount of any award of any other economic incentives, but shall be considered in measuring the reasonableness of the rate of return to the applicant with respect to such award of other economic incentives. The municipal authority shall provide the report to any relevant commission, board, or entity responsible for the evaluation and recommendation or approval of other economic incentives to assist in the redevelopment of the eligible project area.

            9. The department may promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this section. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, RSMo, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536, RSMo, and, if applicable, section 536.028, RSMo. This section and chapter 536, RSMo, are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536, RSMo, to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2007, shall be invalid and void.

            100.286. 1. Within the discretion of the board, the development and reserve fund, the infrastructure development fund or the export finance fund may be pledged to secure the payment of any bonds or notes issued by the board, or to secure the payment of any loan made by the board or a participating lender which loan:

            (1) Is requested to finance any project or export trade activity;

            (2) Is requested by a borrower who is demonstrated to be financially responsible;

            (3) Can reasonably be expected to provide a benefit to the economy of this state;

            (4) Is otherwise secured by a mortgage or deed of trust on real or personal property or other security satisfactory to the board; provided that loans to finance export trade activities may be secured by export accounts receivable or inventories of exportable goods satisfactory to the board;

            (5) Does not exceed five million dollars;

            (6) Does not have a term longer than five years if such loan is made to finance export trade activities; and

            (7) Is, when used to finance export trade activities, made to small or medium size businesses or agricultural businesses, as may be defined by the board.

            2. The board shall prescribe standards for the evaluation of the financial condition, business history, and qualifications of each borrower and the terms and conditions of loans which may be secured, and may require each application to include a financial report and evaluation by an independent certified public accounting firm, in addition to such examination and evaluation as may be conducted by any participating lender.

            3. Each application for a loan secured by the development and reserve fund, the infrastructure development fund or the export finance fund shall be reviewed in the first instance by any participating lender to whom the application was submitted. If satisfied that the standards prescribed by the board are met and that the loan is otherwise eligible to be secured by the development and reserve fund, the infrastructure development fund or the export finance fund, the participating lender shall certify the same and forward the application for final approval to the board.

            4. The securing of any loans by the development and reserve fund, the infrastructure development fund or the export finance fund shall be conditioned upon approval of the application by the board, and receipt of an annual reserve participation fee, as prescribed by the board, submitted by or on behalf of the borrower.

            5. The securing of any loan by the export finance fund for export trade activities shall be conditioned upon the board's compliance with any applicable treaties and international agreements, such as the general agreement on tariffs and trade and the subsidies code, to which the United States is then a party.

            6. Any taxpayer, including any charitable organization that is exempt from federal income tax and whose Missouri unrelated business taxable income, if any, would be subject to the state income tax imposed under chapter 143, RSMo, shall be entitled to a tax credit against any tax otherwise due under the provisions of chapter 143, RSMo, excluding withholding tax imposed by sections 143.191 to 143.261, RSMo, chapter 147, RSMo, or chapter 148, RSMo, in the amount of fifty percent of any amount contributed in money or property by the taxpayer to the development and reserve fund, the infrastructure development fund or the export finance fund during the taxpayer's tax year, provided, however, the total tax credits awarded in any calendar year beginning after January 1, 1994, shall not be the greater of ten million dollars or five percent of the average growth in general revenue receipts in the preceding three fiscal years. This limit may be exceeded only upon joint agreement by the commissioner of administration, the director of the department of economic development, and the director of the department of revenue that such action is essential to ensure retention or attraction of investment in Missouri. If the board receives, as a contribution, real property, the contributor at such contributor's own expense shall have two independent appraisals conducted by appraisers certified by the Master Appraisal Institute. Both appraisals shall be submitted to the board, and the tax credit certified by the board to the contributor shall be based upon the value of the lower of the two appraisals. The board shall not certify the tax credit until the property is deeded to the board. Such credit shall not apply to reserve participation fees paid by borrowers under sections 100.250 to 100.297. The portion of earned tax credits which exceeds the taxpayer's tax liability may be carried forward for up to five years.

            7. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, any taxpayer may sell, assign, exchange, convey or otherwise transfer tax credits allowed in subsection 6 of this section under the terms and conditions prescribed in subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection. Such taxpayer, hereinafter the assignor for the purpose of this subsection, may sell, assign, exchange or otherwise transfer earned tax credits:

            (1) For no less than seventy-five percent of the par value of such credits; and

            (2) In an amount not to exceed one hundred percent of annual earned credits.

 

The taxpayer acquiring earned credits, hereinafter the assignee for the purpose of this subsection, may use the acquired credits to offset up to one hundred percent of the tax liabilities otherwise imposed by chapter 143, RSMo, excluding withholding tax imposed by sections 143.191 to 143.261, RSMo, chapter 147, RSMo, or chapter 148, RSMo. Unused credits in the hands of the assignee may be carried forward for up to five years, provided all such credits shall be claimed within ten years following the tax years in which the contribution was made. The assignor shall enter into a written agreement with the assignee establishing the terms and conditions of the agreement and shall perfect such transfer by notifying the board in writing within thirty calendar days following the effective day of the transfer and shall provide any information as may be required by the board to administer and carry out the provisions of this section. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the amount received by the assignor of such tax credit shall be taxable as income of the assignor, and the excess of the par value of such credit over the amount paid by the assignee for such credit shall be taxable as income of the assignee.

            135.400. As used in sections 135.400 to 135.430, the following terms mean:

            (1) "Certificate", a tax credit certificate issued by the department of economic development in accordance with sections 135.400 to 135.430;

            (2) ["Community bank", either a bank community development corporation or development bank, which are financial organizations which receive investments from commercial financial institutions regulated by the federal reserve, the office of the comptroller of the currency, the office of thrift supervision, or the Missouri division of finance. Community banks, in addition to their other privileges, shall be allowed to make loans to businesses or equity investments in businesses or in real estate provided that such transactions have associated public benefits;

            (3) "Community development corporation", a not-for-profit corporation whose board of directors is composed of businesses, civic and community leaders, and whose primary purpose is to encourage and promote the industrial, economic, entrepreneurial, commercial, and civic development or redevelopment of a community or area, including the provision of housing and community development projects that benefit low-income individuals and communities;

            (4)] "Department", the Missouri department of economic development;

            [(5)] (3) "Director", the director of the department of economic development, or a person acting under the supervision of the director;

            [(6)] (4) "Investment", a transaction in which a Missouri small business [or a community bank] receives a monetary benefit from an investor pursuant to the provisions of sections 135.403 to 135.414;

            [(7)] (5) "Investor", an individual, partnership, financial institution, trust or corporation meeting the eligibility requirements of sections 135.403 to 135.414. In the case of partnerships and nontaxable trusts, the individual partners or beneficiaries shall be treated as the investors;

            (6) "Missouri innovation center", an innovation center created under section 348.271, RSMo;

            [(8)] (7) "Missouri small business", an independently owned and operated business as defined in Title 15 U.S.C. Section 632(a) and as described by Title 13 CFR Part 121, which is headquartered in Missouri and which employs at least eighty percent of its employees in Missouri, except that no such small business shall employ more than one hundred employees. Such businesses must be involved in interstate or intrastate commerce for the purpose of manufacturing, processing or assembling products, conducting research and development, or providing services in interstate commerce, but excluding retail, real estate, insurance or professional services[. For the purpose of qualifying for the tax credit pursuant to sections 135.400 to 135.430, "Missouri small business" shall include cooperative marketing associations organized pursuant to chapter 274, RSMo, which are engaged in the business of producing and marketing fuels derived from agriculture commodities, without regard for whether a cooperative marketing association has more than one hundred employees. Cooperative marketing associations organized pursuant to chapter 274, RSMo, shall not be required to comply with the requirements of section 135.414];

            [(9)] (8) "Primary employment", work which pays at least the [minimum] county average wage and which is not seasonal or part-time;

            [(10)] (9) "Principal owners", one or more persons who own an aggregate of fifty percent or more of the Missouri small business and who are involved in the operation of the business as a full-time professional activity;

            [(11)] (10) "Project", any commercial or industrial business or other economic development activity undertaken in a target area, designed to reduce conditions of blight, unemployment or widespread reliance on public assistance which creates permanent primary employment opportunities;

            (11) "Rural area", a county with a population of less than seventy-five thousand inhabitants or that does not contain an individual city with a population greater than fifty thousand inhabitants according to the most recent federal consensus;

            (12) "Small business development center", a center as referenced in section 620.1003, RSMo;

            [(12)] (13) "State tax liability", any liability incurred by a taxpayer pursuant to the provisions of chapter 143, RSMo, chapter 147, RSMo, chapter 148, RSMo, section 375.916, RSMo, and chapter 153, RSMo, exclusive of the provisions relating to the withholding of tax as provided for in sections 143.191 to 143.265, RSMo, and related provisions;

            [(13) "Target area", a group of blocks or a self-defined neighborhood where the rate of poverty in the area is greater than twice the national poverty rate and as defined by the department of social services in conjunction with the department of economic development. Areas of the state satisfying the criteria of this subdivision may be designated as a "target area" following appropriate findings made and certified by the departments of economic development and social services. In making such findings, the departments of economic development and social services may use any commonly recognized records and statistical indices published or made available by any agency or instrumentality of the federal or state government. No area of the state shall be a target area until so certified by the department of social services and the revitalization plan submitted pursuant to section 208.335, RSMo, has received ap