HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1397

TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to new market tax credits.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the business community, nonprofit organizations, and other entrepreneurs require a functional, service-oriented agency that is readily available to provide business counseling, financial backing, and general support to foster real community-based economic development for the various products and services demonstrating and embracing Hawaii's diversified economy.

     The Hawaii community-based economic development technical and financial assistance program in the department of business, economic development, and tourism, was established for this purpose.  The program was established by the legislature in Act 111, Session Laws of Hawaii 1990, and codified as chapter 210D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to provide financial assistance to community-based businesses and enterprises through low-interest loans and grants to qualifying applicants.

     There are various programs provided by the federal government, nonprofits, and foundations, and there are opportunities provided by public-private partnerships that further these goals.  These programs and partnerships can be used to provide a portion of the funding needed by economic development projects.  The project funding provided by Hawaii will be made more efficient and more effective if it is provided in the form most compatible with such programs and in the manner most suitable to optimize all sources of funding.  To achieve this, some modifications are necessary to the types of financial products offered by the community-based economic development program and the manner in which those products are provided along with an increase in the total amount that may be provided for an individual project and borrower.

     The purpose of this Act is to:

     (1)  Add the definition of "community development entity" to allow financing to be provided by Hawaii through a structure that facilitates the use of federal new market tax credits;

     (2)  Expand the methods of delivering funding to a project by providing loans to capitalize a community development entity and to provide guarantees or other credit enhancements that will facilitate private lenders' participation in new markets tax credit financing; and

     (3)  Adjust loan maximums and establish guarantees or credit enhancements to reflect current available funding and facilitate monetization of existing project assets for purposes of new markets tax credit financing.

     SECTION 2.  Section 210D-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new definition to be appropriately inserted and to read as follows:

     ""Community development entity" has the same meaning as in section 45D(c)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended."

     SECTION 3.  Section 210D-8, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§210D-8  Powers and duties.  The department shall have the necessary powers to carry out the purposes of this chapter, including the following:

     (1)  With advice from the council, prescribe the qualifications for eligibility of applicants for loans, [and] grants[;], guarantees, and credit enhancements;

     (2)  With advice from the council, establish preferences and priorities in determining eligibility for financial assistance;

     (3)  Establish the conditions, consistent with the purpose of this chapter, for the awarding of financial assistance;

     (4)  Provide for inspection at reasonable hours of facilities, books, and records of a community-based organization that has applied for or has been awarded financial assistance and require the submission of progress and final reports;

     (5)  Provide loans, [and] grants[;], guarantees, and credit enhancements for community-based economic development activities and community-based enterprises for purposes consistent with this chapter;

     (6)  Provide, participate in, and acquire loans used to capitalize entities that make financing available for activities and enterprises, including community development entities;

    [(6)] (7)  Determine the necessity for and the extent of security required [in a loan;] for loans, guarantees, and credit enhancements;

    [(7)] (8)  Prescribe and provide appropriate management counseling and monitoring of business activities;

    [(8)] (9)  Administer the Hawaii community-based economic development revolving fund;

    [(9)] (10)  Include in its budget for subsequent fiscal periods amounts necessary to effectuate the purposes of this chapter;

   [(10)] (11)  Participate in loans made to qualified persons by private lenders;

   [(11)] (12)  Establish interest rates chargeable by the State for [direct and participation] loans; [and]

    (13)  Establish interest rates, fees, and charges chargeable by the State for guarantees and credit enhancements; and

   [(12)] (14)  Adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to implement this chapter."

     SECTION 4.  Section 210D-9, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§210D-9  Loans[; limitation and terms].  Loans made under this chapter shall be [for the purposes and in accordance with the terms specified in paragraphs (1) and (2) and shall be made only to applicants who meet the eligibility requirements specified therein.] limited to the following:

     (1)  Community-based enterprise establishment and improvement loans may be made to provide for:

         (A)  The start-up costs, purchase or improvement of a community-based enterprise or working capital; and

         (B)  The purchase, construction, or improvement of facilities; [and]

     (2)  Operating loans may be made to carry on and improve an existing enterprise, including:

         (A)  The purchase of equipment; and

         (B)  The payment of production and marketing expenses including materials, labor, and services[.]; or

     (3)  Loans to entities that capitalize community development entities that use the proceeds to make loans to borrowers.

     [The loans shall be for an amount not to exceed $250,000 and for a term not to exceed ten years.]"

     SECTION 5.  Section 210D-10, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§210D-10  Terms and limitations of loans[.], guarantees, and credit enhancements.  [Loans shall be made to qualified applicants with the] The following terms and conditions[:] shall apply:

     (1)  The amount of the outstanding balance on all loans, guarantees, and other credit enhancements issued under this chapter to any one applicant at any one time shall not exceed [$250,000;] $5,000,000;

     (2)  The maximum term of a loan, guarantee, or credit enhancement shall not exceed ten years;

     (3)  Each loan shall bear simple interest at a rate of not less than three and not more than six per cent a year, depending on the nature of the loan; [and]

     (4)  Interest rates for guarantees and credit enhancements shall not be more than the market rate for similar instruments; and

    [(4)] (5)  The commencement date for the repayment of the first installment on principal and interest of each loan may be deferred by the director of business, economic development, and tourism for a period not to exceed two years."

     SECTION 6.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 7.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Economic Development; New Markets Tax Credits; Loans; Community Development Entity

 

Description:

Expands methods for delivering funding to a community development entity by allowing guarantees and credit enhancements.  Increases total maximum funding amounts from $250,000 to $5,000,000.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.