CHAPTER 644
H.P. 808 - L.D. 1165
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 30-A MRSA §4722, sub-§1, ¶Y, as amended by PL 2005, c. 261, §2, is further amended to read:
Y. Expand access to housing for young professionals and young families. The Maine State Housing Authority shall develop recommendations to create or modify programs with the goal of expanding access to housing for young professionals and young families. The Maine State Housing Authority shall specifically consider strategies to assist renters and first-time home buyers who are under 35 years of age and explore options for linking assistance levels to student loan obligations. The Maine State Housing Authority shall collaborate with the Maine Community College System, vocational high schools and community action programs to encourage the development of affordable housing in high-cost housing areas of the State.
(1) The Maine State Housing Authority shall report its findings and recommendations regarding expanded access to housing for young professionals and young families to the Future for Youth in Maine State Work Action Tactics Team established in Title 5, section 13161 and to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over housing matters no later than January 15, 2005 and annually thereafter; and
Sec. 2. 30-A MRSA §4722, sub-§1, ¶Z, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 261, §3, is amended to read:
Z. Condition approval of funding of a housing project upon an applicant's compliance with municipal health, safety and sanitation standards. The Maine State Housing Authority may condition approval of funding for a housing project upon a municipality's representation that the applicant, an affiliate of the applicant or any owner controlled by the applicant has no record of a material municipal code violation of health, safety or sanitation standards.; and
Sec. 3. 30-A MRSA §4722, sub-§1, ¶AA is enacted to read:
AA. Certify transfers of multifamily affordable housing property that qualify for the deduction under Title 36, section 5122, subsection 2, paragraph W or Title 36, section 5200-A, subsection 2, paragraph Q. The affordability restrictions that apply under this paragraph must be contained in a declaration signed by the transferee and recorded in the appropriate registry of deeds at the time of the sale or transfer.
(1) For the purposes of this paragraph, "multifamily affordable housing property" means a decent, safe and sanitary dwelling, apartment building or other living accommodation that includes at least 6 units, that meets at least one of the following affordability restrictions and for which those affordability restrictions, as applicable, expire in 10 years or less from the date of the sale or transfer of the property:
(a) At least 20% of the units have restricted rents affordable to households earning no more than 80% of the area median income as determined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development;
(b) The property is assisted by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, the United States Department of Agriculture or the Maine State Housing Authority; or
(c) The property qualifies for low-income housing credits under the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, Section 42.
(2) For the purposes of this paragraph, property does not qualify as multifamily affordable housing property unless:
(a) The transferee agrees to maintain the property as multifamily affordable housing property for an additional 30 years from the scheduled expiration;
(b) If the existing federal, state or other assistance is not available to maintain the property as multifamily affordable housing property, the transferee agrees to ensure that 1/2 of the units are affordable to persons at 60% of the area median income as determined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for 30 years from the expiration of the then-existing affordability restrictions; or
(c) The transferee agrees to an alternative affordability agreement approved by the Maine State Housing Authority.
Sec. 4. 36 MRSA §4641-B, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2005, c. 12, Pt. H, §1, is further amended to read:
4. Distribution of State's share of proceeds. The State Tax Assessor shall pay all net receipts received pursuant to this section to the Treasurer of State, and shall at the same time provide the Treasurer of State with documentation showing the amount of revenues derived from the tax imposed by section 4641-A, subsection 1 and the amount of revenues derived from the tax imposed by section 4641-A, subsection 2. The Treasurer of State shall credit 1/2 of the revenues derived from the tax imposed by section 4641-A, subsection 1 to the General Fund and shall monthly pay the remaining 1/2 of such revenues to the Maine State Housing Authority, which shall deposit the funds in the Housing Opportunities for Maine Fund created in Title 30-A, section 4853, except that in fiscal year 2003-04, fiscal year 2004-05, and fiscal year 2005-06 and fiscal year 2006-07, $7,500,000 of the remaining 1/2 of those revenues must be transferred to the General Fund before any payments are made to the Maine State Housing Authority and in fiscal year 2006-07, $7,687,067 of the remaining 1/2 of those revenues must be transferred to the General Fund before any payments are made to the Maine State Housing Authority. The Treasurer of State shall credit to the General Fund all of the revenues derived from the tax imposed by section 4641-A, subsection 2.
Sec. 5. 36 MRSA §5122, sub-§2, ¶U, as amended by PL 2005, c. 519, Pt. LLL, §2, is further amended to read:
U. For income tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2015, the gain attributable to the sale of sustainably managed, eligible timberlands as calculated in this paragraph.
(1) As used in this paragraph, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.
(a) "Commercial harvesting" or "commercially harvested" means the harvesting of forest products that have commercial value.
(b) "Eligible timberlands" means land of at least 10 acres located in the State and used primarily for the growth of trees to be commercially harvested. Land that would otherwise be included within this definition may not be excluded because of:
(i) Use of the land for multiple public recreation activities;
(ii) Statutory or governmental restrictions that prevent commercial harvesting of trees or require a primary use of the land other than commercial harvesting;
(iii) Deed restrictions, restrictive covenants or organizational charters that prevent commercial harvesting of trees or require a primary use of land other than commercial harvesting and that were effective prior to January 1, 1982; or
(iv) Past or present multiple use for mineral exploration.
(c) "Forest products that have commercial value" means logs, pulpwood, veneer, bolt wood, wood chips, stud wood, poles, pilings, biomass, fuel wood, Christmas trees, maple syrup, nursery products used for ornamental purposes, wreaths, bough material or cones or other seed products.
(d) "Sustainably managed" means:
(i) A forest management and harvest plan, as defined in section 573, subsection 3-A, has been prepared for the eligible timberlands and has been in effect for the entire time period used to compute the amount of the subtraction modification under this paragraph; and
(ii) The taxpayer has received a written statement from a licensed forester certifying that, as of the time of the sale, the eligible timberlands have been managed in accordance with the plan under subdivision (i) during that period.
(2) To the extent they are included in the taxpayer's federal adjusted gross income, the following amounts must be subtracted from federal adjusted gross income:
(a) For eligible timberlands held by the taxpayer for at least a 10-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005 but less than an 11-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005, 1/15 of the gain recognized on the sale of the eligible timberlands;
(b) For eligible timberlands held by the taxpayer for at least an 11-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005 but less than a 12-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005, 2/15 of the gain recognized on the sale of the eligible timberlands;
(c) For eligible timberlands held by the taxpayer for at least a 12-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005 but less than a 13-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005, 1/5 of the gain recognized on the sale of the eligible timberlands;
(d) For eligible timberlands held by the taxpayer for at least a 13-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005 but less than a 14-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005, 4/15 of the gain recognized on the sale of the eligible timberlands;
(e) For eligible timberlands held by the taxpayer for at least a 14-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005 but less than a 15-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005, 1/3 of the gain recognized on the sale of the eligible timberlands;
(f) For eligible timberlands held by the taxpayer for at least a 15-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005 but less than a 16-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005, 2/5 of the gain recognized on the sale of the eligible timberlands;
(g) For eligible timberlands held by the taxpayer for at least a 16-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005 but less than a 17-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005, 7/15 of the gain recognized on the sale of the eligible timberlands;
(h) For eligible timberlands held by the taxpayer for at least a 17-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005 but less than an 18-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005, 8/15 of the gain recognized on the sale of the eligible timberlands;
(i) For eligible timberlands held by the taxpayer for at least an 18-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005 but less than a 19-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005, 3/5 of the gain recognized on the sale of the eligible timberlands;
(j) For eligible timberlands held by the taxpayer for at least a 19-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005 but less than a 20-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005, 2/3 of the gain recognized on the sale of the eligible timberlands;
(k) For eligible timberlands held by the taxpayer for at least a 20-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005 but less than a 21-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005, 11/15 of the gain recognized on the sale of the eligible timberlands;
(l) For eligible timberlands held by the taxpayer for at least a 21-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005 but less than a 22-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005, 4/5 of the gain recognized on the sale of the eligible timberlands;
(m) For eligible timberlands held by the taxpayer for at least a 22-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005 but less than a 23-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005, 13/15 of the gain recognized on the sale of the eligible timberlands;
(n) For eligible timberlands held by the taxpayer for at least a 23-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005 but less than a 24-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005, 14/15 of the gain recognized on the sale of the eligible timberlands; or
(o) For eligible timberlands held by the taxpayer for at least a 24-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005, all of the gain recognized on the sale of the eligible timberlands.
(3) Taxpayers claiming this credit must attach a sworn statement from a forester licensed pursuant to Title 32, chapter 76 that the timberlands for which the credit is claimed have been managed sustainably. For the purposes of this subparagraph, "sustainably" means that the timberlands for which the credit is claimed have been managed to protect soil productivity and to maintain or improve stand productivity and timber quality; known occurrences of threatened or endangered species and rare or exemplary natural communities; significant wildlife habitat and essential wildlife habitat; and water quality, wetlands and riparian zones.
Upon request of the State Tax Assessor, the Director of the Bureau of Forestry within the Department of Conservation may provide assistance in determining whether timberlands for which the credit is claimed have been managed sustainably. When assistance is requested under this subparagraph, the director or the director's designee may enter and examine the timberlands for the purpose of determining whether the timberlands have been managed sustainably.
In the case of timberlands owned by an entity that is treated as a pass-through entity for income tax purposes, the land must be treated as eligible timberland if ownership and use of the land by the pass-through entity satisfies the requirements of this paragraph. If the owner of the eligible timberlands is an S corporation, the taxpayer must subtract the owner's pro rata share of the gain. If the owner of the timberlands is a partnership or limited liability company taxed as a partnership, the taxpayer must subtract the taxpayer's distributive share of the gain, subject to the percentage limitations provided in this paragraph.
This modification may not reduce Maine taxable income to less than zero. To the extent this modification results in Maine taxable income that is less than zero for the taxable year, the excess negative modification amount may be carried forward and applied as a subtraction modification for up to 10 taxable years. The entire amount of the excess negative modification must be carried to the earliest of the taxable years to which, by reason of this subsection, the negative modification may be carried and then to each of the other taxable years to the extent the unused negative modification is not used for a prior taxable year. Earlier carry-forward modifications must be used before newer modifications generated in later years; and
Sec. 6. 36 MRSA §5122, sub-§2, ¶V, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 519, Pt. LLL, §3 and affected by §4, is amended to read:
V. The portion of contributions to a qualified tuition program established under Section 529 of the Code up to $250 per designated beneficiary. This deduction may not be claimed on returns when federal adjusted gross income exceeds $100,000 for returns with a filing status of single or married filing separately or $200,000 for returns with a filing status of married joint or head of household.; and
Sec. 7. 36 MRSA §5122, sub-§2, ¶W is enacted to read:
W. For income tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2006, to the extent included in federal adjusted gross income and not otherwise removed from Maine taxable income, an amount equal to the total of capital gains and ordinary income resulting from depreciation recapture determined in accordance with the Code, Sections 1245 and 1250 that is realized upon the sale of property certified as multifamily affordable housing property by the Maine State Housing Authority in accordance with Title 30-A, section 4722, subsection 1, paragraph AA.
Sec. 8. 36 MRSA §5200-A, sub-§2, ¶M, as amended by PL 2005, c. 416, §5, is further amended to read:
M. A fraction of any amount previously added back by the taxpayer to federal taxable income pursuant to subsection 1, paragraph N.
(1) With respect to property first placed in service during taxable years beginning in 2002, the adjustment under this paragraph is available for each year during the recovery period, beginning 2 years after the beginning of the taxable year during which the property was first placed in service. The fraction is equal to the amount added back under subsection 1, paragraph N with respect to the property, divided by the number of years in the recovery period minus 2.
(2) With respect to all other property, for the taxable year immediately following the taxable year during which the property was first placed in service, the fraction allowed by this paragraph is equal to 5% of the amount added back under subsection 1, paragraph N with respect to the property. For each subsequent taxable year during the recovery period, the fraction is equal to 95% of the amount added back under subsection 1, paragraph N with respect to the property, divided by the number of years in the recovery period minus 2.
In the case of property expensed pursuant to Section 179 of the Code, the term "recovery period" means the recovery period that would have been applicable to the property had Section 179 not been applied; and
Sec. 9. 36 MRSA §5200-A, sub-§2, ¶P, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 416, §6, is amended to read:
P. For income tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2015, the gain attributable to the sale of sustainably managed, eligible timberlands as calculated pursuant to this paragraph.
(1) As used in this paragraph, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.
(a) "Commercial harvesting" or "commercially harvested" means the harvesting of forest products that have commercial value.
(b) "Eligible timberlands" means land of at least 10 acres located in the State and used primarily for the growth of trees to be commercially harvested. Land that would otherwise be included within this definition may not be excluded because of:
(i) Use of the land for multiple public recreation activities;
(ii) Statutory or governmental restrictions that prevent commercial harvesting of trees or require a primary use of the land other than commercial harvesting;
(iii) Deed restrictions, restrictive covenants or organizational charters that prevent commercial harvesting of trees or require a primary use of land other than commercial harvesting and that were effective prior to January 1, 1982; or
(iv) Past or present multiple use for mineral exploration.
(c) "Forest products that have commercial value" means logs, pulpwood, veneer, bolt wood, wood chips, stud wood, poles, pilings, biomass, fuel wood, Christmas trees, maple syrup, nursery products used for ornamental purposes, wreaths, bough material or cones or other seed products.
(d) "Sustainably managed" means:
(i) A forest management and harvest plan, as defined in section 573, subsection 3-A, has been prepared for the eligible timberlands and has been in effect for the entire time period used to compute the amount of the subtraction modification under this paragraph; and
(ii) The taxpayer has received a written statement from a licensed forester certifying that, as of the time of the sale, the eligible timberlands have been managed in accordance with the plan under subdivision (i) during that period.
(2) To the extent included in the taxpayer's taxable income under the laws of the United States, the taxable income of the taxpayer under the laws of the United States must be decreased by:
(a) For eligible timberlands held by the taxpayer for at least a 10-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005 but less than an 11-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005, 1/15 of the gain recognized on the sale of the eligible timberlands;
(b) For eligible timberlands held by the taxpayer for at least an 11-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005 but less than a 12-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005, 2/15 of the gain recognized on the sale of the eligible timberlands;
(c) For eligible timberlands held by the taxpayer for at least a 12-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005 but less than a 13-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005, 1/5 of the gain recognized on the sale of the eligible timberlands;
(d) For eligible timberlands held by the taxpayer for at least a 13-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005 but less than a 14-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005, 4/15 of the gain recognized on the sale of the eligible timberlands;
(e) For eligible timberlands held by the taxpayer for at least a 14-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005 but less than a 15-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005, 1/3 of the gain recognized on the sale of the eligible timberlands;
(f) For eligible timberlands held by the taxpayer for at least a 15-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005 but less than a 16-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005, 2/5 of the gain recognized on the sale of the eligible timberlands;
(g) For eligible timberlands held by the taxpayer for at least a 16-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005 but less than a 17-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005, 7/15 of the gain recognized on the sale of the eligible timberlands;
(h) For eligible timberlands held by the taxpayer for at least a 17-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005 but less than an 18-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005, 8/15 of the gain recognized on the sale of the eligible timberlands;
(i) For eligible timberlands held by the taxpayer for at least an 18-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005 but less than a 19-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005, 3/5 of the gain recognized on the sale of the eligible timberlands;
(j) For eligible timberlands held by the taxpayer for at least a 19-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005 but less than a 20-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005, 2/3 of the gain recognized on the sale of the eligible timberlands;
(k) For eligible timberlands held by the taxpayer for at least a 20-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005 but less than a 21-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005, 11/15 of the gain recognized on the sale of the eligible timberlands;
(l) For eligible timberlands held by the taxpayer for at least a 21-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005 but less than a 22-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005, 4/5 of the gain recognized on the sale of the eligible timberlands;
(m) For eligible timberlands held by the taxpayer for at least a 22-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005 but less than a 23-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005, 13/15 of the gain recognized on the sale of the eligible timberlands;
(n) For eligible timberlands held by the taxpayer for at least a 23-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005 but less than a 24-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005, 14/15 of the gain recognized on the sale of the eligible timberlands; or
(o) For eligible timberlands held by the taxpayer for at least a 24-year period beginning on or after January 1, 2005, all of the gain recognized on the sale of the eligible timberlands.
(3) Taxpayers claiming this credit must attach a sworn statement from a forester licensed pursuant to Title 32, chapter 76 that the timberlands for which the credit is claimed have been managed sustainably. For the purposes of this subparagraph, "sustainably" means that the timberlands for which the credit is claimed have been managed to protect soil productivity and to maintain or improve stand productivity and timber quality; known occurrences of threatened or endangered species and rare or exemplary natural communities; significant wildlife habitat and essential wildlife habitat; and water quality, wetlands and riparian zones.
Upon request of the State Tax Assessor, the Director of the Bureau of Forestry within the Department of Conservation may provide assistance in determining whether timberlands for which the credit is claimed have been managed sustainably. When assistance is requested under this subparagraph, the director or the director's designee may enter and examine the timberlands for the purpose of determining whether the timberlands have been managed sustainably.
In the case of timberlands owned by an entity that is treated as a pass-through entity for income tax purposes, the land must be treated as eligible timberland if ownership and use of the land by the pass-through entity satisfies the requirements of this paragraph. If the owner of the eligible timberlands is an S corporation, the taxpayer must subtract the owner's pro rata share of the gain. If the owner of the timberlands is a partnership or limited liability company taxed as a partnership, the taxpayer must subtract the taxpayer's distributive share of the gain, subject to the percentage limitations provided in this paragraph.
This modification may not reduce Maine taxable income to less than zero. To the extent this modification results in Maine taxable income that is less than zero for the taxable year, the excess negative modification amount may be carried forward and applied as a subtraction modification for up to 10 taxable years. The entire amount of the excess negative modification must be carried to the earliest of the taxable years to which, by reason of this subsection, the negative modification may be carried and then to each of the other taxable years to the extent the unused negative modification is not used for a prior taxable year. Earlier carry-forward modifications must be used before newer modifications generated in later years.; and
Sec. 10. 36 MRSA §5200-A, sub-§2, ¶Q is enacted to read:
Q. For income tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2006, to the extent included in federal taxable income and not otherwise removed from Maine taxable income, an amount equal to the total of capital gains and ordinary income resulting from depreciation recapture determined in accordance with the Code, Sections 1245 and 1250 that is realized upon the sale of property certified as multifamily affordable housing property by the Maine State Housing Authority in accordance with Title 30-A, section 4722, subsection 1, paragraph AA.
Sec. 11. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.
ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF
Maine Revenue Services 0002
Initiative: Provides funds for the computer programming costs associated with the income tax exemption for capital gains and depreciation recapture related to the transfer of certain affordable housing property.
GENERAL FUND 2005-06 2006-07
All Other $0 $20,000
__________ __________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL $0 $20,000
Effective August 23, 2006.
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