Bill Text: MN HF2361 | 2011-2012 | 87th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Angel investment tax credit changes made, and data practices exemption added.
Sponsorship: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-02-20 - Introduction and first reading, referred to Jobs and Economic Development Finance [HF2361 Detail]
Download: Minnesota-2011-HF2361-Introduced.html
1.2relating to economic development; making changes to the angel investment tax
1.3credit; adding a data practices exemption;amending Minnesota Statutes 2010,
1.4section 116J.8737, subdivision 8; Minnesota Statutes 2011 Supplement, section
1.5116J.8737, subdivisions 1, 2.
1.6BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.7 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2011 Supplement, section 116J.8737, subdivision 1,
1.8is amended to read:
1.9 Subdivision 1. Definitions. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms
1.10have the meanings given.
1.11(b) "Qualified small business" means a business that has been certified by the
1.12commissioner under subdivision 2.
1.13(c) "Qualified investor" means an investor who has been certified by the
1.14commissioner under subdivision 3.
1.15(d) "Qualified fund" means a pooled angel investment network fund that has been
1.16certified by the commissioner under subdivision 4.
1.17(e) "Qualified investment" means a cash investment in a qualified small business
1.18of a minimum of:
1.19(1) $10,000 in a calendar year by a qualified investor; or
1.20(2) $30,000 in a calendar year by a qualified fund.
1.21A qualified investment must be made in exchange for common stock, a partnership
1.22or membership interest, preferred stock, debt with mandatory conversion to equity, or an
1.23equivalent ownership interest as determined by the commissioner.
1.24(f) "Family" means a family member within the meaning of the Internal Revenue
1.25Code, section 267(c)(4).
2.1(g) "Pass-through entity" means a corporation that for the applicable taxable year is
2.2treated as an S corporation or a general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability
2.3partnership, trust, or limited liability company and which for the applicable taxable year is
2.4not taxed as a corporation under chapter 290.
2.5(h) "Intern" means a student of an accredited institution of higher education, or a
2.6former student who has graduated in the past six months from an accredited institution
2.7of higher education, who is employed by a qualified small business in a nonpermanent
2.8position for a duration of nine months or less that provides training and experience in the
2.9primary business activity of the business.
2.10(i) "Liquidation event" means a conversion of qualified investment for cash, cash
2.11and other consideration, or any other form of equity or debt interest.
2.12 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2011 Supplement, section 116J.8737, subdivision 2, is
2.13amended to read:
2.14 Subd. 2. Certification of qualified small businesses. (a) Businesses may apply
2.15to the commissioner for certification as a qualified small business for a calendar year.
2.16The application must be in the form and be made under the procedures specified by the
2.17commissioner, accompanied by an application fee of $150. Application fees are deposited
2.18in the small business investment tax credit administration account in the special revenue
2.19fund. The application for certification for 2010 must be made available on the department's
2.20Web site by August 1, 2010. Applications for subsequent years' certification must be made
2.21available on the department's Web site by November 1 of the preceding year.
2.22(b) Within 30 days of receiving an application for certification under this subdivision,
2.23the commissioner must either certify the business as satisfying the conditions required of a
2.24qualified small business, request additional information from the business, or reject the
2.25application for certification. If the commissioner requests additional information from the
2.26business, the commissioner must either certify the business or reject the application within
2.2730 days of receiving the additional information. If the commissioner neither certifies the
2.28business nor rejects the application within 30 days of receiving the original application or
2.29within 30 days of receiving the additional information requested, whichever is later, then
2.30the application is deemed rejected, and the commissioner must refund the $150 application
2.31fee. A business that applies for certification and is rejected may reapply.
2.32(c) To receive certification, a business must satisfy all of the following conditions:
2.33(1) the business has its headquarters in Minnesota;
2.34(2) at least 51 percent of the business's employees are employed in Minnesota, and
2.3551 percent of the business's total payroll is paid or incurred in the state;
3.1(3) the business is engaged in, or is committed to engage in, innovation in Minnesota
3.2in one of the following as its primary business activity:
3.3(i) using proprietary technology to add value to a product, process, or service in a
3.4qualified high-technology field;
3.5(ii) researching or developing a proprietary product, process, or service in a qualified
3.6high-technology field; or
3.7(iii) researching, developing, or producing a new proprietary technology for use in
3.8the fields of agriculture, tourism, forestry, mining, manufacturing, or transportation;
3.9(4) other than the activities specifically listed in clause (3), the business is not
3.10engaged in real estate development, insurance, banking, lending, lobbying, political
3.11consulting, information technology consulting, wholesale or retail trade, leisure,
3.12hospitality, transportation, construction, ethanol production from corn, or professional
3.13services provided by attorneys, accountants, business consultants, physicians, or health
3.14care consultants;
3.15(5) the business has fewer than 25 employees;
3.16(6) the business must pay its employees annual wages of at least 175 percent of the
3.17federal poverty guideline for the year for a family of four and must pay its interns annual
3.18wages of at least 175 percent of the federal minimum wage used for federally covered
3.19employers, except that this requirement must be reduced proportionately for employees
3.20and interns who work less than full-time, and does not apply to an executive, officer, or
3.21member of the board of the business, or to any employee who owns, controls, or holds
3.22power to vote more than 20 percent of the outstanding securities of the business;
3.23(7) the business has not been in operation for more than ten years, except as provided
3.24in clause (8);
3.25(8) the business has not been in operation for more than 20 years if the business is
3.26engaged in the research, development, or production of medical devices or pharmaceuticals
3.27for which U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval is required for use in the treatment
3.28or diagnosis of a disease or condition;
3.29(8) (9) the business has not previously received private equity investments of more
3.30than $4,000,000;and
3.31(9) (10) the business is not an entity disqualified under section
80A.50 , paragraph
3.32(b), clause (3); and
3.33(11) the business has not issued securities that are traded on a public exchange.
3.34(d) In applying the limit under paragraph (c), clause (5), the employees in all
3.35members of the unitary business, as defined in section290.17, subdivision 4 , must be
3.36included.
4.1(e) In order for a qualified investment in a business to be eligible for tax credits,:
4.2(1) the business must have applied for and received certification for the calendar
4.3year in which the investment was made prior to the date on which the qualified investment
4.4was made.;
4.5(2) the business must not have issued securities that are traded on a public exchange;
4.6(3) the business must not issue securities that are traded on a public exchange within
4.7180 days subsequent to the date on which the qualified investment was made; and
4.8(4) the business must not have a liquidation event within 180 days subsequent to the
4.9date on which the qualified investment was made.
4.10(f) The commissioner must maintain a list of businesses certified under this
4.11subdivision for the calendar year and make the list accessible to the public on the
4.12department's Web site.
4.13(g) For purposes of this subdivision, the following terms have the meanings given:
4.14(1) "qualified high-technology field" includes aerospace, agricultural processing,
4.15renewable energy, energy efficiency and conservation, environmental engineering, food
4.16technology, cellulosic ethanol, information technology, materials science technology,
4.17nanotechnology, telecommunications, biotechnology, medical device products,
4.18pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, biologicals, chemistry, veterinary science, and similar
4.19fields; and
4.20(2) "proprietary technology" means the technical innovations that are unique and
4.21legally owned or licensed by a business and includes, without limitation, those innovations
4.22that are patented, patent pending, a subject of trade secrets, or copyrighted.
4.23 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 116J.8737, subdivision 8, is amended to read:
4.24 Subd. 8. Data privacy. (a) Data contained in an application submitted to the
4.25commissioner under subdivision 2, 3, or 4 are nonpublic data, or private data on
4.26individuals, as defined in section13.02, subdivision 9 or 12, except that the following
4.27data items are public:
4.28(1) the name, mailing address, phone number, contact person's name, and industry
4.29type of a qualified small business upon approval of the application and certification by the
4.30commissioner under subdivision 2;
4.31(2) the name of a qualified investor upon approval of the application and certification
4.32by the commissioner under subdivision 3;
4.33(3) the name of a qualified fund upon approval of the application and certification
4.34by the commissioner under subdivision 4;
5.1(4) for credit certificates issued under subdivision 5, the amount of the credit
5.2certificate issued, amount of the qualifying investment, the name of the qualifying investor
5.3or qualifying fund that received the certificate, and the name of the qualifying small
5.4business in which the qualifying investment was made;
5.5(5) for credits revoked under subdivision 7, paragraph (a), the amount revoked and
5.6the name of the qualified investor or qualified fund; and
5.7(6) for credits revoked under subdivision 7, paragraphs (b) and (c), the amount
5.8revoked and the name of the qualified small business.
5.9(b) The following data, including data classified as nonpublic or private, must be
5.10provided to the consultant for use in conducting the program evaluation under subdivision
5.1110:
5.12(1) the commissioner of employment and economic development shall provide data
5.13contained in an application for certification received from a qualified small business,
5.14qualified investor, or qualified fund, and any annual reporting information received on a
5.15qualified small business, qualified investor, or qualified fund; and
5.16(2) the commissioner of revenue shall provide data contained in any applicable tax
5.17returns of a qualified small business, qualified investor, or qualified fund.
1.3credit; adding a data practices exemption;amending Minnesota Statutes 2010,
1.4section 116J.8737, subdivision 8; Minnesota Statutes 2011 Supplement, section
1.5116J.8737, subdivisions 1, 2.
1.6BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.7 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2011 Supplement, section 116J.8737, subdivision 1,
1.8is amended to read:
1.9 Subdivision 1. Definitions. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms
1.10have the meanings given.
1.11(b) "Qualified small business" means a business that has been certified by the
1.12commissioner under subdivision 2.
1.13(c) "Qualified investor" means an investor who has been certified by the
1.14commissioner under subdivision 3.
1.15(d) "Qualified fund" means a pooled angel investment network fund that has been
1.16certified by the commissioner under subdivision 4.
1.17(e) "Qualified investment" means a cash investment in a qualified small business
1.18of a minimum of:
1.19(1) $10,000 in a calendar year by a qualified investor; or
1.20(2) $30,000 in a calendar year by a qualified fund.
1.21A qualified investment must be made in exchange for common stock, a partnership
1.22or membership interest, preferred stock, debt with mandatory conversion to equity, or an
1.23equivalent ownership interest as determined by the commissioner.
1.24(f) "Family" means a family member within the meaning of the Internal Revenue
1.25Code, section 267(c)(4).
2.1(g) "Pass-through entity" means a corporation that for the applicable taxable year is
2.2treated as an S corporation or a general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability
2.3partnership, trust, or limited liability company and which for the applicable taxable year is
2.4not taxed as a corporation under chapter 290.
2.5(h) "Intern" means a student of an accredited institution of higher education, or a
2.6former student who has graduated in the past six months from an accredited institution
2.7of higher education, who is employed by a qualified small business in a nonpermanent
2.8position for a duration of nine months or less that provides training and experience in the
2.9primary business activity of the business.
2.10(i) "Liquidation event" means a conversion of qualified investment for cash, cash
2.11and other consideration, or any other form of equity or debt interest.
2.12 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2011 Supplement, section 116J.8737, subdivision 2, is
2.13amended to read:
2.14 Subd. 2. Certification of qualified small businesses. (a) Businesses may apply
2.15to the commissioner for certification as a qualified small business for a calendar year.
2.16The application must be in the form and be made under the procedures specified by the
2.17commissioner, accompanied by an application fee of $150. Application fees are deposited
2.18in the small business investment tax credit administration account in the special revenue
2.19fund. The application for certification for 2010 must be made available on the department's
2.20Web site by August 1, 2010. Applications for subsequent years' certification must be made
2.21available on the department's Web site by November 1 of the preceding year.
2.22(b) Within 30 days of receiving an application for certification under this subdivision,
2.23the commissioner must either certify the business as satisfying the conditions required of a
2.24qualified small business, request additional information from the business, or reject the
2.25application for certification. If the commissioner requests additional information from the
2.26business, the commissioner must either certify the business or reject the application within
2.2730 days of receiving the additional information. If the commissioner neither certifies the
2.28business nor rejects the application within 30 days of receiving the original application or
2.29within 30 days of receiving the additional information requested, whichever is later, then
2.30the application is deemed rejected, and the commissioner must refund the $150 application
2.31fee. A business that applies for certification and is rejected may reapply.
2.32(c) To receive certification, a business must satisfy all of the following conditions:
2.33(1) the business has its headquarters in Minnesota;
2.34(2) at least 51 percent of the business's employees are employed in Minnesota, and
2.3551 percent of the business's total payroll is paid or incurred in the state;
3.1(3) the business is engaged in, or is committed to engage in, innovation in Minnesota
3.2in one of the following as its primary business activity:
3.3(i) using proprietary technology to add value to a product, process, or service in a
3.4qualified high-technology field;
3.5(ii) researching or developing a proprietary product, process, or service in a qualified
3.6high-technology field; or
3.7(iii) researching, developing, or producing a new proprietary technology for use in
3.8the fields of agriculture, tourism, forestry, mining, manufacturing, or transportation;
3.9(4) other than the activities specifically listed in clause (3), the business is not
3.10engaged in real estate development, insurance, banking, lending, lobbying, political
3.11consulting, information technology consulting, wholesale or retail trade, leisure,
3.12hospitality, transportation, construction, ethanol production from corn, or professional
3.13services provided by attorneys, accountants, business consultants, physicians, or health
3.14care consultants;
3.15(5) the business has fewer than 25 employees;
3.16(6) the business must pay its employees annual wages of at least 175 percent of the
3.17federal poverty guideline for the year for a family of four and must pay its interns annual
3.18wages of at least 175 percent of the federal minimum wage used for federally covered
3.19employers, except that this requirement must be reduced proportionately for employees
3.20and interns who work less than full-time, and does not apply to an executive, officer, or
3.21member of the board of the business, or to any employee who owns, controls, or holds
3.22power to vote more than 20 percent of the outstanding securities of the business;
3.23(7) the business has not been in operation for more than ten years, except as provided
3.24in clause (8);
3.25(8) the business has not been in operation for more than 20 years if the business is
3.26engaged in the research, development, or production of medical devices or pharmaceuticals
3.27for which U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval is required for use in the treatment
3.28or diagnosis of a disease or condition;
3.29
3.30than $4,000,000;
3.31
3.32(b), clause (3); and
3.33(11) the business has not issued securities that are traded on a public exchange.
3.34(d) In applying the limit under paragraph (c), clause (5), the employees in all
3.35members of the unitary business, as defined in section
3.36included.
4.1(e) In order for a qualified investment in a business to be eligible for tax credits
4.2(1) the business must have applied for and received certification for the calendar
4.3year in which the investment was made prior to the date on which the qualified investment
4.4was made
4.5(2) the business must not have issued securities that are traded on a public exchange;
4.6(3) the business must not issue securities that are traded on a public exchange within
4.7180 days subsequent to the date on which the qualified investment was made; and
4.8(4) the business must not have a liquidation event within 180 days subsequent to the
4.9date on which the qualified investment was made.
4.10(f) The commissioner must maintain a list of businesses certified under this
4.11subdivision for the calendar year and make the list accessible to the public on the
4.12department's Web site.
4.13(g) For purposes of this subdivision, the following terms have the meanings given:
4.14(1) "qualified high-technology field" includes aerospace, agricultural processing,
4.15renewable energy, energy efficiency and conservation, environmental engineering, food
4.16technology, cellulosic ethanol, information technology, materials science technology,
4.17nanotechnology, telecommunications, biotechnology, medical device products,
4.18pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, biologicals, chemistry, veterinary science, and similar
4.19fields; and
4.20(2) "proprietary technology" means the technical innovations that are unique and
4.21legally owned or licensed by a business and includes, without limitation, those innovations
4.22that are patented, patent pending, a subject of trade secrets, or copyrighted.
4.23 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 116J.8737, subdivision 8, is amended to read:
4.24 Subd. 8. Data privacy. (a) Data contained in an application submitted to the
4.25commissioner under subdivision 2, 3, or 4 are nonpublic data, or private data on
4.26individuals, as defined in section
4.27data items are public:
4.28(1) the name, mailing address, phone number, contact person's name, and industry
4.29type of a qualified small business upon approval of the application and certification by the
4.30commissioner under subdivision 2;
4.31(2) the name of a qualified investor upon approval of the application and certification
4.32by the commissioner under subdivision 3;
4.33(3) the name of a qualified fund upon approval of the application and certification
4.34by the commissioner under subdivision 4;
5.1(4) for credit certificates issued under subdivision 5, the amount of the credit
5.2certificate issued, amount of the qualifying investment, the name of the qualifying investor
5.3or qualifying fund that received the certificate, and the name of the qualifying small
5.4business in which the qualifying investment was made;
5.5(5) for credits revoked under subdivision 7, paragraph (a), the amount revoked and
5.6the name of the qualified investor or qualified fund; and
5.7(6) for credits revoked under subdivision 7, paragraphs (b) and (c), the amount
5.8revoked and the name of the qualified small business.
5.9(b) The following data, including data classified as nonpublic or private, must be
5.10provided to the consultant for use in conducting the program evaluation under subdivision
5.1110:
5.12(1) the commissioner of employment and economic development shall provide data
5.13contained in an application for certification received from a qualified small business,
5.14qualified investor, or qualified fund, and any annual reporting information received on a
5.15qualified small business, qualified investor, or qualified fund; and
5.16(2) the commissioner of revenue shall provide data contained in any applicable tax
5.17returns of a qualified small business, qualified investor, or qualified fund.
