S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
628
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
(PREFILED)
January 7, 2015
___________
Introduced by M. of A. LENTOL -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law and the tax law, in relation to estab-
lishing the New York entrepreneur program act
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
the "New York entrepreneur program act".
S 2. Article 5 of the education law is amended by adding a new part
2-A to read as follows:
PART II-A
NEW YORK ENTREPRENEUR PROGRAM ACT
SECTION 286. NEW YORK ENTREPRENEUR PROGRAM ESTABLISHED; DEFINITIONS.
286-A. OVERSIGHT.
286-B. LOAN DEFERRALS AND JOB CREATION.
286-C. TAX CREDIT FOR SUPPORTING BUSINESSES.
S 286. NEW YORK ENTREPRENEUR PROGRAM ESTABLISHED; DEFINITIONS. 1.
THERE IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED A NEW YORK ENTREPRENEUR PROGRAM UNDER THE
PURVIEW OF THE REGENTS AND THE BOARD FOR ANY STARTUP BUSINESS LOCATED AT
ANY OF THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK'S COMMUNITY COLLEGES. SUCH
PROGRAM SHALL PROVIDE ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY TO A SELECT GROUP OF STARTUP
ENTREPRENEURS HELPING THEM CREATE BUSINESSES THAT GROW NEW YORK STATE'S
ECONOMY. THE PROGRAM SHALL NOT PROVIDE BUSINESS LOANS TO THE PARTIC-
IPANTS.
2. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS ARTICLE, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE
THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
(A) "BOARD" SHALL MEAN THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF
NEW YORK.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01789-01-5
A. 628 2
(B) "PARTICIPANT" SHALL MEAN ANY COLLEGE GRADUATE ACCEPTED TO THE
PROGRAM.
(C) "PROGRAM" SHALL MEAN THE NEW YORK ENTREPRENEUR PROGRAM ESTABLISHED
PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.
(D) "REGENTS" SHALL MEAN THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY.
(E) "SCHOOL" SHALL MEAN ANY COLLEGE WITHIN THE STATE UNIVERSITY OR THE
CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK.
(F) "STARTUP BUSINESS" SHALL MEAN AN ENTREPRENEURIAL IDEA SUPPORTED BY
A BUSINESS PLAN THAT A POTENTIAL PARTICIPANT PREPARES WHEN APPLYING TO
THE PROGRAM.
(G) "SUPPORTING BUSINESS" SHALL MEAN ANY PERSON, FIRM, CORPORATION,
PARTNERSHIP OR OTHER BUSINESS ENTITY WHICH ASSISTS A STARTUP BUSINESS
DURING THE FIVE YEAR PERIOD DURING WHICH SUCH STARTUP BUSINESS IS PART
OF THE PROGRAM.
3. THE REGENTS SHALL PROMULGATE SUCH RULES AND REGULATIONS AS THEY SEE
FIT TO IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE.
S 286-A. OVERSIGHT. 1. (A) THE REGENTS, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE BOARD
FOR ANY STARTUP BUSINESS TO BE LOCATED AT ANY OF THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF
NEW YORK'S COMMUNITY COLLEGES, SHALL SELECT PARTICIPANTS' STARTUP BUSI-
NESSES BASED ON THE QUALITY OF THEIR BUSINESS PROPOSAL, EXPERIENCE AND
ABILITY TO OBTAIN OUTSIDE FINANCING.
(B) SUCH PROGRAM SHALL ACCEPT A MAXIMUM OF THREE HUNDRED PARTICIPANTS
BUT SHALL NOT ACCEPT MORE THAN FIFTY PARTICIPANTS INTO THE PROGRAM IN
ANY YEAR.
2. IN ADDITION TO THE LOAN DEFERRAL SET FORTH IN SECTION TWO HUNDRED
EIGHTY-SIX-B OF THIS ARTICLE, THE REGENTS AND THE BOARD FOR ANY STARTUP
BUSINESS LOCATED AT ANY OF THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK'S COMMUNITY
COLLEGES SHALL PROVIDE FOR PARTICIPANTS, DURING THEIR FIVE YEARS OF
PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM:
(A) FREE HOUSING WITHIN THE LIMITS ESTABLISHED BY THE REGENTS; AND
(B) ACCESS TO SCHOOL RESOURCES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO FACULTY
AND TECHNOLOGY.
3. (A) THE REGENTS AND THE BOARD FOR ANY STARTUP BUSINESS LOCATED AT
ANY OF THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK'S COMMUNITY COLLEGES, AT THE
RECOMMENDATION OF A SCHOOL MAY TERMINATE A PARTICIPANT'S OR STARTUP
BUSINESS' PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM.
(B) THE REGENTS SHALL ESTABLISH AN APPEALS PROCESS FOR TERMINATED
PARTICIPANTS AND STARTUP BUSINESSES TO APPEAL SUCH DECISIONS.
4. (A) THE PROGRESS OF EACH STARTUP BUSINESS SHALL BE MONITORED BY THE
REGENTS, THE SCHOOL AT WHICH THE PARTICIPANTS OPERATING SUCH STARTUP
BUSINESS RESIDE, A SCHOOL-AFFILIATED SUPERVISING OFFICER OR PROFESSOR
AND THE BOARD FOR ANY STARTUP BUSINESS LOCATED AT ANY OF THE CITY
UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK'S COMMUNITY COLLEGES.
(B) THE REGENTS OR THE BOARD FOR ANY STARTUP BUSINESS LOCATED AT ANY
OF THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK'S COMMUNITY COLLEGES SHALL COMPENSATE
SUCH SCHOOL-AFFILIATED SUPERVISING OFFICERS OR PROFESSORS AND THE
REGENTS MAY COMPENSATE OTHER PROFESSORS WHO TAKE TIME TO MENTOR PARTIC-
IPANTS UPON THE REQUEST OF A PARTICIPANT.
5. THE REGENTS AND THE BOARD FOR ANY STARTUP BUSINESS LOCATED AT ANY
OF THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK'S COMMUNITY COLLEGES SHALL MAXIMIZE
THE FLEXIBILITY AND MINIMIZE THE BURDENS IMPOSED BY EXTENSIVE PAPERWORK
AND FILING PROCEDURES WHILE MAINTAINING THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF STARTUPS
AND THE PROGRAM.
S 286-B. LOAN DEFERRALS AND JOB CREATION. 1. UPON ENTERING THE
PROGRAM, EACH PARTICIPANT WILL BEGIN A FIVE YEAR PERIOD DURING WHICH
TIME THE STATE UNIVERSITY, OR THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK FOR ANY
A. 628 3
STARTUP BUSINESS LOCATED AT ANY OF THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK'S
COMMUNITY COLLEGES, SHALL PAY THE MINIMUM MONTHLY PAYMENT ON ANY STUDENT
LOANS SUCH PARTICIPANT HAS OUTSTANDING UNTIL EITHER (A) THE PARTICIPANT
EXITS THE PROGRAM BEFORE THE END OF SUCH FIVE YEAR PERIOD, OR (B) THE
PARTICIPANT COMPLETES FIVE YEARS IN THE PROGRAM WHEN UPON SUCH TIME HE
OR SHE SHALL BE EVALUATED AGAINST THE JOB CREATION CRITERIA IN SUBDIVI-
SIONS TWO AND THREE OF THIS SECTION.
2. AFTER FIVE YEARS, STARTUPS THAT HAVE CREATED A CERTAIN NUMBER OF
JOBS WITHIN NEW YORK STATE SHALL HAVE A MAXIMUM OF THREE PARTICIPANTS'
LOANS FULLY PAID OFF BY THE STATE PURSUANT TO THE SCHEDULE SET FORTH IN
SUBDIVISION THREE OF THIS SECTION.
3. NUMBER OF FULL-TIME PERCENTAGE OF LOAN
EMPLOYEES (EXCLUDING PAID OFF PER YEAR
PARTICIPANTS)
3 10%
4 15%
5 20%
6+ 25%
S 286-C. TAX CREDIT FOR SUPPORTING BUSINESSES. 1. THE COMMISSIONER OF
TAXATION AND FINANCE SHALL GRANT A CREDIT AGAINST ANY TAX DUE UNDER THE
PROVISIONS OF ARTICLES NINE, NINE-A AND TWENTY-TWO OF THE TAX LAW IN AN
AMOUNT EQUAL TO THE AMOUNT SPECIFIED BY THE REGENTS IN ANY TAX CREDIT
VOUCHER ISSUED BY SUCH REGENTS PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS
SECTION.
2. THE REGENTS SHALL ESTABLISH A SYSTEM OF TAX CREDIT VOUCHERS FOR
SUPPORTING BUSINESSES ALLOWING THE USE OF EQUIPMENT ESSENTIAL TO THE
FUNCTION OR GROWTH OF ANY STARTUP BUSINESS. SUCH VOUCHERS MAY BE USED AS
A CREDIT AGAINST ANY OF THE TAXES TO WHICH SUCH SUPPORTING BUSINESS IS
SUBJECT AND WHICH ARE ENUMERATED IN SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION.
THE AMOUNT OF THE TAX CREDIT VOUCHER SHALL EQUAL THE PRICE TO RENT SUCH
EQUIPMENT.
S 3. The tax law is amended by adding a new section 42 to read as
follows:
S 42. NEW YORK ENTREPRENEUR PROGRAM CREDIT. (A) GENERAL. A TAXPAYER
SUBJECT TO TAX UNDER ARTICLE NINE, NINE-A OR TWENTY-TWO OF THIS CHAPTER
SHALL BE ALLOWED A CREDIT AGAINST SUCH TAX PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS
REFERENCED IN SUBDIVISION (D) OF THIS SECTION. THE CREDIT (OR PRO RATA
SHARE OF EARNED CREDIT IN THE CASE OF A PARTNERSHIP) SHALL EQUAL THE
AMOUNT SPECIFIED BY THE REGENTS PURSUANT TO SECTION TWO HUNDRED EIGHTY-
SIX-C OF THE EDUCATION LAW.
(B) DEFINITIONS. FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS SECTION, THE TERM "STARTUP
BUSINESS" SHALL MEAN AN ENTREPRENEURIAL IDEA SUPPORTED BY A BUSINESS
PLAN THAT A POTENTIAL PARTICIPANT PREPARES WHEN APPLYING TO THE NEW YORK
ENTREPRENEUR PROGRAM ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SECTION TWO HUNDRED EIGHT-
Y-SIX OF THE EDUCATION LAW.
(C) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. A TAXPAYER WISHING TO CLAIM A CREDIT UNDER
THIS SECTION SHALL ANNUALLY CERTIFY TO THE COMMISSIONER THE RENTAL VALUE
OF EQUIPMENT USED BY STARTUP BUSINESSES THAT SUCH TAXPAYER SUPPORTED.
(D) CROSS-REFERENCES. FOR APPLICATION OF THE CREDIT PROVIDED FOR IN
THIS SECTION, SEE THE FOLLOWING PROVISIONS OF THIS CHAPTER:
(1) ARTICLE 9: SECTION 187-T.
(2) ARTICLE 9-A: SECTION 210-B, SUBDIVISION 49.
(3) ARTICLE 22: SECTION 606, SUBSECTIONS (XLI) AND (CCC).
S 4. The tax law is amended by adding a new section 187-t to read as
follows:
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S 187-T. NEW YORK ENTREPRENEUR PROGRAM CREDIT. A TAXPAYER SHALL BE
ALLOWED A CREDIT TO BE COMPUTED AS PROVIDED IN SECTION FORTY-TWO OF THIS
CHAPTER, AGAINST THE TAX IMPOSED BY THIS ARTICLE. PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
THAT THE AMOUNT OF SUCH CREDIT ALLOWED AGAINST THE TAX IMPOSED BY
SECTION ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY-FOUR OF THIS ARTICLE SHALL BE THE EXCESS OF
THE AMOUNT OF SUCH CREDIT OVER THE AMOUNT OF ANY CREDIT ALLOWED BY THIS
SECTION AGAINST THE TAX IMPOSED BY SECTION ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY-THREE OF
THIS ARTICLE. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE CREDIT UNDER THIS SECTION BE ALLOWED
IN AN AMOUNT WHICH WILL REDUCE THE TAX PAYABLE TO LESS THAN THE APPLICA-
BLE MINIMUM TAX FIXED BY SECTION ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY-THREE OR ONE HUNDRED
EIGHTY-FIVE OF THIS ARTICLE. IF, HOWEVER, THE AMOUNT OF THE CREDIT
ALLOWED UNDER THIS SECTION FOR ANY TAXABLE YEAR REDUCES THE TAX TO SUCH
AMOUNT, THE EXCESS SHALL BE TREATED AS AN OVERPAYMENT OF TAX TO BE CRED-
ITED OR REFUNDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION SIX
HUNDRED EIGHTY-SIX OF THIS CHAPTER. PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THE PROVISIONS OF
SUBSECTION (C) OF SECTION ONE THOUSAND EIGHTY-EIGHT OF THIS CHAPTER
NOTWITHSTANDING, NO INTEREST SHALL BE PAID THEREON.
S 5. Section 210-B of the tax law is amended by adding a new subdivi-
sion 49 to read as follows:
49. NEW YORK ENTREPRENEUR PROGRAM CREDIT. A TAXPAYER SHALL BE ALLOWED
A CREDIT, TO BE COMPUTED AS PROVIDED IN SECTION FORTY-TWO OF THIS CHAP-
TER, AGAINST THE TAX IMPOSED BY THIS ARTICLE. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
CREDIT PROVIDED HEREIN BE ALLOWED IN AN AMOUNT WHICH WILL REDUCE THE TAX
PAYABLE TO LESS THAN THE FIXED DOLLAR MINIMUM AMOUNT PRESCRIBED IN PARA-
GRAPH (D) OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF SECTION TWO HUNDRED TEN OF THIS ARTICLE.
HOWEVER, IF THE AMOUNT OF CREDIT ALLOWED UNDER THIS SUBDIVISION FOR ANY
TAXABLE YEAR REDUCES THE TAX TO SUCH AMOUNT, ANY AMOUNT OF CREDIT THUS
NOT DEDUCTIBLE IN SUCH TAXABLE YEAR SHALL BE TREATED AS AN OVERPAYMENT
OF TAX TO BE CREDITED OR REFUNDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF
SECTION ONE THOUSAND EIGHTY-SIX OF THIS CHAPTER. PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THE
PROVISIONS OF SUBSECTION (C) OF SECTION ONE THOUSAND EIGHTY-EIGHT OF
THIS CHAPTER NOTWITHSTANDING, NO INTEREST SHALL BE PAID THEREON.
S 6. Subparagraph (B) of paragraph 1 of subsection (i) of section 606
of the tax law is amended by adding a new clause (xli) to read as
follows:
(XLI) NEW YORK AMOUNT OF CREDIT UNDER SUBDIVISION
ENTREPRENEUR PROGRAM FORTY-NINE OF SECTION TWO HUNDRED
CREDIT UNDER SUBSECTION (CCC) TEN-B
S 7. Section 606 of the tax law is amended by adding a new subsection
(ccc) to read as follows:
(CCC) NEW YORK ENTREPRENEUR PROGRAM CREDIT. A TAXPAYER SHALL BE
ALLOWED A CREDIT TO BE COMPUTED AS PROVIDED IN SECTION FORTY-TWO OF THIS
CHAPTER, AGAINST THE TAX IMPOSED BY THIS ARTICLE. IF THE AMOUNT OF THE
CREDIT ALLOWED UNDER THIS SUBSECTION FOR ANY TAXABLE YEAR SHALL EXCEED
THE TAXPAYER'S TAX FOR SUCH YEAR, THE EXCESS SHALL BE TREATED AS AN
OVERPAYMENT OF TAX TO BE CREDITED OR REFUNDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
PROVISIONS OF SECTION SIX HUNDRED EIGHTY-SIX OF THIS ARTICLE, PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, THAT NO INTEREST SHALL BE PAID THEREON.
S 8. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amend-
ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
tation of this act on its effective date is authorized to be made on or
before such date.