BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    




                                                                  AB 1139
                                                                  Page A
          Date of Hearing:   April 29, 2009

          ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON JOBS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE ECONOMY
                               V. Manuel Perez, Chair
                   AB 1139 (J. P?rez) - As Amended:  April 13, 2009
           
          SUBJECT  :   Enterprise Zone Hiring Credits

           SUMMARY  :   Revises credit eligibility, calculation, redemption  
          and reporting of the hiring credit, under the Personal Income  
          Tax and the Corporate Tax, for businesses located in enterprise  
          zones.  Specifically,  this bill  :  

          1)Modifies the definition of "qualified wages" to mean:

             a)   That portion of wages paid or incurred by the taxpayer  
               during the taxable year to a qualified employee that does  
               not exceed ___ percent of minimum wage; or

             b)   That portion of wages paid or incurred during a taxable  
               year to a qualified aircraft employee in the Long Beach  
               Enterprise Zone that does not exceed 202% of minimum wage;  
               or

             c)   That portion of wages paid or incurred by the taxpayer  
               during the taxable year that does not exceed ___ percent of  
               the minimum wage for a qualified employee that works for a  
               qualified employer for at least 35 hours a week, and for  
               whom the taxpayer pays at least 80% of any of the  
               following:

               i)     Health care coverage that meets the minimum  
                 requirements set forth in Chapter 2.2 of Division 2 of  
                 the Health and Safety Code;  

               ii)    A group insurance policy, as defined, that covers  
                 hospital, surgical, and medical care expenses, provided  
                 that the out of pocket costs for enrollees of health care  
                 service plans providing benefits under a preferred  
                 provider organization policy;

               iii)   Any Taft-Hartley health and welfare fund or any  
                 other lawful collective bargaining agreement that  
                 provides for health and welfare coverage for collective  
                 bargaining unit or other employees thereby covered;









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               iv)    Any employer-sponsored group health plan meeting the  
                 requirements of the federal Employee Income Security Act  
                 of 1974, provided it meets the benefits required under  
                 sub clause (I) or (II) of this clause;

               v)     A multiple employer welfare agreement established,  
                 as specified, provided that its benefits have not changed  
                 after January 1, 2004, or that it meets the benefits  
                 required under sub clause (I) or (II) of this clause; 

               vi)    Coverage provided under the Public Employees'  
                 Medical and Hospital Care Act (Part 5 (commencing with  
                 Section 22850) of Division 5 of Title 2 of the Government  
                 Code), provided it meets the benefits required under sub  
                 clause (I) or (II) of this clause or is otherwise  
                 collectively bargained; (VII) Health coverage provided by  
                 the University of California to students of the  
                 University of California who are also employed by the  
                 University of California.

          2)Provides that for the purposes of meeting the requirements of  
            (b) (ii) above, a health care service plan does not include  
            Medicare supplement, vision-only, dental-only, or specified  
            disease insurance that pays benefits on a fixed benefit,  
            cash-payment-only basis.

          3)Requires applications for a hiring credit certification be  
            submitted to the certifying agency within 21 days of the  
            commencement of employment.

          4)Deletes targeted employment areas as an eligible category for  
            the issuance of hiring credits.

          5)Provides annual reporting requirements on tax payers for each  
            employee who has been certified as eligible for the hiring  
            credit to include:

             a)   The total wages or other compensation paid to the  
               qualified employee.

             b)   The total type of work performed by the qualified  
               employee.

             c)   The length of employment of the qualified employee.









                                                                  AB 1139
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             d)   Any benefits provided by the tax payer to the qualified  
               employee.

          6)Authorizes a certifying agency to refuse to issue a  
            certification for a subsequently hired employee is the tax  
            payer has failed to report the specified information.

          7)Delete the hiring credit eligibility reference to the now  
            defunct Aid to Families with Dependent Children and replace it  
            with the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.

          8)Delete the hiring credit eligibility reference to the now  
            defunct federal Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) to the  
            Workforce Investment Act.

          9)Delete the hiring credit eligibility reference to the now  
            defunct Greater Avenues for Independence Act of 1985 and  
            replace it with the federal California Work Opportunity and  
            Responsibility to Kids Act.

          10)Specifies that changes in this act become effective on  
            January 1, 2010.
           
           EXISTING LAW  

          1)Establishes the Enterprise Zone Program, administered by the  
            Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to  
            stimulate business and industrial growth and create jobs in  
            depressed areas of the state.  A maximum of 42 EZs are  
            authorized at any one time.  Designations are for a period of  
            15-years, HCD, however, is authorized to approve one five-year  
            extension for EZs designated prior to January 1, 1990.  
           
          2)Requires applications in response to enterprise zone  
            designation solicitations after January 1, 2007 be ranked  
            based on their economic development strategy and  
            implementation plan, including to the extent of the strategy:   
            sets reasonable and measurable benchmarks, goals, and  
            objectives; identifies local resources, incentives, and  
            programs; provides for the attraction of private investment;  
            includes regional and community-based partnerships; and  
            addresses hiring and retention of unemployed or underemployed  
            residents or low-income individuals.  Further, EZ's designated  
            prior to January 1, 2007, are required to update their goals  









                                                                  AB 1139
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            and objectives through an amendment in their Memorandum of  
            Understanding (MOU) with HCD, as specified,

          3)Requires EZs to biannually report to HCD on their progress in  
            meeting the goals and objectives identified in their  
            implementing MOU.   

          4)Authorizes an income tax credit for hiring certain "qualified  
            employees."  Qualified employees include only those  
            individuals who meet all of the following:

             a)   The employee provides service to an employer where at  
               least 90% of those services within a taxable year are  
               directly related to the conduct of a taxpayers business or  
               trade located in an enterprise zone; 

             b)   The employee performs at least 50% of their service for  
               the taxpayer during the taxable year in an enterprise zone;  
               and

             c)   The employee is hired after the date of the enterprise  
               zone designation.

          5)Provides that in addition to the requirements detailed in (5)  
            above, a qualified employee is required to also meet one of  
            over a dozen specific categories of  individuals who  
            immediately preceding employment were:

             a)   Eligible for services under the federal JTPA, or its  
               successor;

             b)   Eligible to be a voluntary or mandatory registrant under  
               GAIN, or its successor;

             c)   An economically disadvantaged individual 14 years or  
               older;

             d)   A dislocated worker, as specified;

             e)   A disabled individual who is eligible for, enrolled in,  
               or has completed a state rehabilitation plan; 

             f)   A service-connected disabled veteran, veteran of  
               Vietnam, or veteran who has been recently separated from  
               military service;









                                                                  AB 1139
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             g)   An ex-offender, as specified;

             h)   Eligible to receive specified social services benefits,  
               including Federal Supplemental Security Income benefits,  
               Aid to Families with Dependent Children, food stamps, or  
               state and local general assistance;

             i)   A member of a federally recognized Indian tribe, band,  
               or other group of Native American descent; 

             j)   A member of a targeted group, as defined by the Internal  
               Revenue Service for the purposes of the Work Opportunity  
               Tax Credit, which includes a qualified IV-A recipient, a  
               qualified veteran, a qualified ex-felon, a high-risk youth,  
               a vocational rehabilitation referral, a qualified summer  
               youth employee, a qualified food stamp recipient, a  
               qualified Supplemental Security Income recipient, or a  
               long-term family assistance recipient; or,

             aa)  A resident of a targeted employment area, as specified.

          6)Requires "qualified employees" to be retained in employment  
            for a minimum of 270 days in order to qualify for hiring  
            credit vouchering.  The value of the hiring credit incentive  
            totals 50% of the employees' wages in the first year, 40% in  
            the second, 30% in the third, 20% in the fourth, and 10% in  
            the fifth year.  Although employees can be paid more, the  
            maximum wage rate used to calculate the credit is 150% of  
            minimum wage.  Aircraft manufacturers in Long Beach may  
            calculate the credit based on 202% of minimum wage. The  
            maximum value of the credit per employee is approximately  
            $40,000 over five years.  The hiring credit may only be  
            applied to offset tax liability attributable to revenues  
            received from activities located within the EZ where the  
            employee is primarily working.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :   Unknown

           COMMENTS  :   

           1)Author's intent  :  According to the author, AB 1139 seeks to  
            enact meaningful reforms to California's enterprise zone  
            program to ensure that California maximizes its investment in  
            the program through incentivizing employers to provide quality  









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            employment in genuinely economically challenged areas.  It is  
            crucial for California during this current fiscal crisis to  
            ensure that tax credit dollars are working to achieve our  
            goals.  

            Further, the author states, that while the enterprise zone  
            program is intended to address the competitive disadvantages  
            faced by businesses located in communities plagued by  
            unemployment, crime, and poverty, the program's current  
            statutory construct fails to benefit workers living in these  
            same communities. Currently the program does nothing to  
            incentivize employers to provide quality jobs to workers in  
            need of tax revenue derived from income expenditure.  In order  
            for the program to work for employers and employees alike, it  
            is imperative that the program be revamped to better ensure  
            that employers benefiting from enterprise zone tax breaks  
            provide quality jobs to their employees.  

            In addition, the author states that, AB 1139 lifts the curtain  
            on how the enterprise zone tax credits are being earned by  
            employers by requiring that employers reaping the benefits of  
            the tax credits provide data to certifying agencies which will  
            then be reported to the Department of HCD so that such data  
            may be annually reported to the Legislature.  The author  
            believes that current law does not impose any reporting  
            requirements on employers estimated to garner approximately  
            $500 million in tax benefits via the enterprise zone program  
            per year.  

            The author also states that, this revenue neutral bill will  
            incentivize employers by rewarding employers with larger tax  
            benefits for their full time benefited employees.   
            Additionally the bill reduces (but does not eliminate) the tax  
            benefit for part-time and non-benefited employees. reduces the  
            time period for retro-vouchering and amends the Targeted  
            Employment Area eligibility criterion.

          2)  Unclear policy change  :  Existing law specifies that the value  
            of the hiring credit is to be based on the total amount of  
            wages paid to employee.  For a wage rate, statute limits the  
            calculation to 150% of minimum wage, except for certain  
            credits authorized in the Long Beach Enterprise Zone.  
           
             AB 1139 proposes to modify the calculation of the hiring  
            credit by deleting the current threshold of 150% of minimum.   









                                                                  AB 1139
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            The bill would, instead, establish two new and yet to be  
            identified percentage thresholds.   Information in the  
            author's statement indicates that the author's intent is to  
            "increase the tax credit for employers of full time workers  
            who provide health benefits to their employees and decrease  
            the amount of the tax credit for part time and non-benefited  
            employees."  

            Without having more specific information, however, it is  
            difficult to determine the potential impact of the proposed  
            changes.  As an example, the author may be intending to keep  
            the lower threshold at or near the current level.  In this  
            case, the impact may be minimal.  On the other hand, to the  
            extent that the threshold is deeply reduced for workers with  
            no or limited health care benefits, the reduced value of the  
            credit could affect the financial viability of businesses  
            currently using the program.  

            Given the state's current unemployment rate of over 11%, with  
            some enterprise zone areas having unemployment rates of over  
            20%, understanding the value of the wage rate differential  
            could be the difference between encouraging a positive social  
            good (quality jobs) and significantly eliminating the ability  
            of a business to access the hiring credit and bring on another  
            employee.
             
          3)Revenue neutral  :  Questions have arisen as to whether this  
            bill is revenue neutral.  According to the bill's fiscal key  
            the bill may be passed by a majority vote, which generally  
            indicates that in the opinion of the Legislative Counsel, the  
            impact of implementing the bill does not result in higher  
            revenues being generated.  However, in this case, the revenue  
            estimate is unclear based on the remaining blank percentage  
            wage rates.  The sponsor has indicated that the author is  
            awaiting a letter from the Franchise Tax Board before filling  
            in the blanks in the bill. 

           4)Cost of health care  :  Health care costs have been rising for  
            several decades. Expenditures in the U.S. on health care  
            surpassed $2 trillion in 2006, almost three times the $714  
            billion spent in 1990, and over eight times the $253 billion  
            spent in 1980.  In 2006, U.S. health care spending was about  
            $7,026 per resident and accounted for 16% of the nation's  
            gross domestic product.   










                                                                  AB 1139
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            Total health care expenditures grew at an annual rate of 6.7  
            percent in 2006, a slower rate than recent years, yet still  
            outpacing inflation and the growth in national income.   
            Although Americans clearly benefit from an increase the  
            availability of health care, the recent rapid cost growth,  
            coupled with an overall economic slowdown and rising federal  
            deficit, is placing great strains on the nation's health care  
            delivery systems, including private employer-sponsored health  
            insurance coverage.

            According to a Families USA study in 2008, California workers  
            face some of the highest health care costs in the nation.   
            Over the past eight years (2000 through 2007), family health  
            insurance premiums rose five times more quickly than median  
            earnings.  In addition, the study found:

             a)   Health insurance premiums for California's working  
               families skyrocketed over the last eight years, increasing  
               by 95.8 percent from 2000 to 2007 while medium income rose  
               by only 19.3%.

             b)   For family health coverage in California, the average  
               annual premium (employer and worker share of premiums  
               combined) rose from $6,227 to $12,194, an increase of  
               $5,967.

             c)   For family health coverage in the state, the employer's  
               portion of annual premiums rose from $4,683 to $8,938 (a  
               difference of $4,256), while the worker's portion rose from  
               $1,544 to $3,256 (a difference of $1,712).

            In addition to higher premiums, working families faced higher  
            out-of-pocket health care costs, such as deductibles,  
            co-payments, and costs for services that were not covered by  
            their insurance plans.  As a result, health care costs are  
            absorbing an ever-larger portion of family budgets.

            AB 1139 proposes to use the enterprise zone hiring credit as a  
            new incentive for encouraging businesses located in an  
            enterprise zone to fund worker health care benefits.    
            Proponents of the measure state that the current program does  
            nothing to encourage quality jobs.  Opponents of the bill  
            question whether eliminating or significantly curtailing the  
            use of hiring credits to businesses trying to provide jobs in  
            lower income communities is an appropriate trade-off for a new  









                                                                  AB 1139
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            health care tax credit.   

           5)California's EZ programs  :   Existing law authorizes the  
            creation of up to 42 enterprise zones based on a statutory  
            list of criteria related to poverty and economic dislocation.   
            In addition to the Enterprise Zone Program, existing law also  
            authorizes the establishment of two Manufacturing Enhancement  
            Areas, one Targeted Tax Area, and eight Local Agency Military  
            Base Recovery Areas.  Collectively, these business incentive  
            areas are referred to as geographically-targeted economic  
            development areas (G-TEDA).

            The G-TEDA programs are based on the economic principle that  
            targeting significant incentives to lower income communities  
            allows these communities to more effectively compete for new  
            businesses and retain existing businesses, which results in  
            increased tax revenues, less reliance on social services, and  
            lower public safety costs.  Residents and businesses also  
            directly benefit from these more sustainable economic  
            conditions through improved neighborhoods, business expansion,  
            and job creation. 

            Under the G-TEDA programs, businesses and other entities  
            located within the area are eligible for a variety of local  
            and state incentives.  Local government incentives can include  
            writing down the costs of development, funding related  
            infrastructure improvements, providing job training to  
            prospective employees, or establishing streamlined processes  
            for obtaining permits.  The state also offers a number of  
            incentives, including: tax credits, special tax provisions,  
            priority notification in the sale of state surplus lands,  
            access to certain Brownfield clean-up programs, and  
            preferential treatment for state contracts.  

            Enterprise zones are located in portions of more than 54  
            Assembly Districts and more than 35 Senate Districts.   
            Enterprise zones range in size from one square mile to 70  
            square miles and in geographic locations ranging from Eureka  
            and Shasta Valley near the Oregon border to San Diego and  
            Calexico along the Mexican border.  Below is a chart comparing  
            the state tax incentives offered to businesses located in a  
            G-TEDA.


                ------------------------------------------------------------ 









                                                                  AB 1139
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               |    Comparison of State Tax Benefits by Targeted Area       |
                ------------------------------------------------------------ 
               |-----------+------+---------+---------+----------+----------|
               |           |Hiring|Longer   |Sales    |Accelerate|Lender    |
               |           |      |NOL<1>   |and Use  |d         |Interest  |
               |           |Credit|Carry-   |Tax      |Depreciati|Deduction |
               |           |      |Forward  |Credit   |on        |          |
               |           |      |Period   |         |          |          |
               |-----------+------+---------+---------+----------+----------|
               |Enterprise |  X   |    X    |    X    |    X     |    X     |
               |Zone       |      |         |         |          |          |
               |-----------+------+---------+---------+----------+----------|
               |Manufacturi|  X   |         |         |          |          |
               |ng         |      |         |         |          |          |
               |Enhancement|      |         |         |          |          |
               | Zone      |      |         |         |          |          |
               |-----------+------+---------+---------+----------+----------|
               |Targeted   |  X   |    X    |    X    |    X     |          |
               |Tax Area   |      |         |         |          |          |
               |-----------+------+---------+---------+----------+----------|
               |Local      |  X   |    X    |    X    |    X     |          |
               |Agency     |      |         |         |          |          |
               |Military   |      |         |         |          |          |
               |Base       |      |         |         |          |          |
               |Recovery   |      |         |         |          |          |
               |Area       |      |         |         |          |          |
                ------------------------------------------------------------ 
                ------------------------------------------------------------ 
               |Source:  Legislative Analyst's Office                       |
                ------------------------------------------------------------ 

            By far, the largest G-TEDA business incentive is the income  
            tax credit given for hiring certain targeted employment  
            populations.  According to the Franchise Tax Board (FTB), in  
            2006, businesses located within a G-TEDA claimed 4,851 credits  
            worth over $230 million in hiring and sales and use tax  
            credits. Of the 4,851 hiring and sales and use credits claimed  
            by all taxpayers located in a G-TEDA, 4,440 were claimed by  
                                                      businesses located in an enterprise zone.  Below is a chart  
            summarizing total G-TEDA credits claimed in the 2004-2006 tax  
            years.
             

             ------------------------------------------------------------ 



          ---------------------------
          <1> NOL= Net Operating Loss








                                                                  AB 1139
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            | Comparison of Total G-TEDA Credits Claimed in 2004 to 2006 |
            |                         Tax Years                          |
             ------------------------------------------------------------ 
            |---------+------------+------------+------------+------------|
            |         |Number of   |Value of    |Number of   |Value of    |
            |         |Credits     |Credits     |Credits     |Credits     |
            |         |Claimed on  |Claimed on  |Claimed on  |Claimed on  |
            |         |Corporate   |Bank and    |Personal    |Personal    |
            |         |Taxes       |Corporate   |Income      |Income      |
            |         |            |Taxes       |Taxes       |(thousands) |
            |         |            |(thousands) |            |            |
            |---------+------------+------------+------------+------------|
            |2004     |   3,256    |  $218,726  |   5,054    |  $130,080  |
            |Total    |            |            |            |            |
            |G-TEDA   |            |            |            |            |
            |Credits  |            |            |            |            |
            |---------+------------+------------+------------+------------|
            |2005     |   4,325    |  $216,416  |   8,270    | $146,02443 |
            |Total    |            |            |            |            |
            |G-TEDA   |            |            |            |            |
            |Credits  |            |            |            |            |
            |---------+------------+------------+------------+------------|
            |2006     |   4,851    |  $230,751  |   9,973    |  $154,926  |
            |Total    |            |            |            |            |
            |G-TEDA   |            |            |            |            |
            |Credits  |            |            |            |            |
             ------------------------------------------------------------- 
             ------------------------------------------------------------ 
            |Source:  Franchise Tax Board                                |
            |                                                            |
             ------------------------------------------------------------ 

            Below is a chart comparing the use of individual credits under  
            each of the G-TEDA programs for the 2006 tax year.


             -------------------------------------------------------------- 
            |   Comparison of Individual G-TEDA Credits Claimed in 2006    |
             -------------------------------------------------------------- 
             --------------------------------------------------------------- 
            |               |Hiring     |Sales and Use |Business Expense    |
            |               |Credit     |Tax Credit    |Deduction           |
            |               |(millions) |(millions)    |(millions)          |
             --------------------------------------------------------------- 
            |---------------+-----------+--------------+---------+---------|









                                                                 AB 1139
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            |               |           |              | Amount  |Estimated|
            |               |           |              |   of    |   Tax   |
            |               |           |              |deduction| Impact  |
            |               |           |              |         |         |
            |---------------+-----------+--------------+---------+---------|
            |Total EZ       |  $ 177.4  |    $ 39.7    |  $ 4.5  |  $ 0.3  |
            |Credits        |           |              |         |         |
            |---------------+-----------+--------------+---------+---------|
            |Total LAMBRA   |   $0.7    |    $ 0.6     |   /a    |   /a    |
            |Credits        |           |              |         |         |
             -------------------------------------------------------------- 
            |Total MEA      |    /a     |     ---      |   ---   |   ---   |
            |Credits        |           |              |         |         |
            |---------------+-----------+--------------+---------+---------|
            |Total TTA      |   $ 4.4   |    $0.2      |   /a    |   /a    |
            |Credits        |           |              |         |         |
             -------------------------------------------------------------- 
             -------------------------------------------------------------- 
            |Source:  Estimated by Franchise Tax Board       /a = less     |
            |than $50,000       --- not applicable                         |
            |                                                              |
             -------------------------------------------------------------- 

            Based on an analysis of FTB data from the 2000 tax year, the  
            LAO found that approximately 60% of the hiring credits are  
            filed by small and medium-sized businesses - businesses with  
             assets under $5 million  .  However, approximately 65% of the  
            total value of the credits claimed are from businesses with  
             assets over $1 billion  .  Similarly, approximately 50% of the  
            total value of the credits claimed went to companies with  
             receipts of over $1 billion  .    

           6)G-TEDA Reforms in 2005  :  In the winter of 2005, the Assembly  
            Committees on Revenue and Taxation, and Jobs, Economic  
            Development, and the Economy (JEDE) held a series of hearings  
            on the G-TEDA programs.  A summary of these hearings,  
            including background materials, is available on the JEDE  
            Committee website at  www.assembly.ca.gov  .

            During the course of these hearings, the Committees reviewed  
            current and best practices related to designation, management  
            and monitoring, and use of business incentives available  
            through the G-TEDA programs.  As a result of these hearings,  
            JEDE developed a list of 47 recommendations on how to improve  
            the overall G-TEDA programs and drafted AB 1550 (Arambula and  









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            Karnette), Chapter 718, Statutes of 2006.  Key reforms in AB  
            1550 include:

             a)   Requiring EZ applications be ranked based on their  
               economic development strategy and implementation plan,  
               including to the extent the strategy does the following:   
               sets reasonable and measurable benchmarks, goals, and  
               objectives; identifies local resources, incentives, and  
               programs; provides for the attraction of private  
               investment; includes regional and community-based  
               partnerships; and, addresses hiring and retention of  
               unemployed or underemployed residents or low-income  
               individuals.

             b)   Requiring G-TEDAs to biennially report to HCD on their  
               progress in meeting the goals and objectives identified in  
               their implementing MOU.  G-TEDAs designated prior to  
               January 1, 2007, are required to update their goals and  
               objectives by April 15, 2008, and meet the annual reporting  
               requirements by October 1, 2009.  

             c)   Adding a new audit element that requires the review of  
               an EZ's administrative support and whether financial  
               commitments made in the G-TEDA application and MOU have  
               been kept.  The bill also made similar conforming changes  
               in the MEA, TTA, and LAMBRA audit requirements.
                                                          
           7)Establishing employee eligibility  :  Existing law authorizes  
            the establishment of a TEA as a means for encouraging  
            businesses within an enterprise zone to hire new workers that  
            live in and around the enterprise zone.  TEAs are designated  
            by the enterprise zone based on the most current U.S. Census  
            data and can include areas both within and adjacent to the  
            enterprise zone.  None of the other categories of eligible  
            employee provide a nexus to the community where the enterprise  
            zone is located. It is estimated that between 80% and 90% of  
            hiring credit vouchers use the TEA designation for qualifying  
            employees.
           
             The high usage of the TEA designation is related to a number  
            of factors.  One of the most significant advantages of the TEA  
            over qualifying an employee under the other nine criteria is  
            the employer's ability to easily access the appropriate  
            documentation for submitting the voucher application.  As an  
            example, to demonstrate that an employee qualifies as a  









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            resident of a TEA an employer has the option of submitting a  
            copy of the employee's driver's license or state  
            identification card.

            In order to demonstrate that an employee qualifies for the  
            other eligibility categories, employers have to ask employees  
            to provide them with copies of sometimes very personal  
            documents, including, but not limited to, bankruptcy  
            documents, physicians statements, letters from parole, and  
            public assistance records or printouts.  Some employers have  
            voiced concerns over asking employees questions about their  
            eligibility other than being a resident of a TEA.

           8)Vouchering Employees  :  In order for a business to claim a  
            hiring credit for an employee, the business must obtain a  
            voucher from a local enterprise zone administrator certifying  
            the employee hired meets specified criteria.  As discussed  
            above, employers are responsible for gathering the appropriate  
            documentation to substantiate their claim that the employee  
            being vouchered meets the statutory and regulatory  
            requirements.  Once vouchered, an employer can claim the  
            hiring credit on their tax returns filed with FTB.
           
             Currently, an employer is not statutorily limited by when they  
            must file the voucher application with the enterprise zone  
            administrator for certification.  AB 1139 proposes to require  
            that voucher applications are filed within 21 days of the  
            employee being hired.  Opponents of the bill state that this  
            requirement is too onerous, especially for small and medium  
            size businesses that do not have specialized human resource  
            staff.  Supporters of the bill have stated that by eliminating  
            the ability of employers to voucher employees, well after they  
            have been hired, will better focus the hiring credit toward  
            the creation of new jobs.

           9)What is being measured and reported  :  When taxpayer dollars  
            are being expended it is important that there is clear  
            reporting of the use and impacts of these expenditures and/or  
            forgone funding.   Prior to the enactment of AB 1550,  
            reporting of zone activities involved an annual report based  
            on questions submitted to the enterprise zone by HCD.  The  
            depth and specifics of these reports varied from enterprise  
            zone to enterprise zone.   

             With the enactment of AB 1550, the reporting requirements and  









                                                                  AB 1139
                                                                  Page O
            the consequences for not meeting measurable goals and  
            objectives in a zone's MOU with HCD were increased.  Further,  
            having each zone's MOU more accurately reflect specific  
            outcomes increases the effectiveness of the existing audit  
            provisions.  HCD is also required to provide a report every  
            five years that evaluates the effect of the enterprise zone  
            program on employment, investment and income, and on state and  
            local tax revenues.  In January 2008, HCD also began requiring  
            enterprises zones to make monthly reports on their vouchering  
            activities.  

            In claiming tax credits, taxpayers are required to submit a  
            specified tax form when filing their returns.  From these  
            forms FTB is required to provide the Legislature and HCD  
            information on how businesses are claiming credits.  The  
            charts in comment 4 were developed with information provided  
            by FTB.

            AB 1139 proposes to further expand the reporting requirements  
            in the bill by requiring employers to annually report on each  
            vouchered employee.   The report would include, among other  
            items, the total wages paid to the qualified employee, the  
            type of work performed, their length of employment, and  
            whether the employee received benefits.  Some, but not all of  
            this information is required to be provided to FTB when the  
            employer claims the credit.  Having the employer report to the  
            enterprise zone administrator may be a more transparent method  
            for reporting.

           10)Overall effect of the bill  :  Supporters of AB 1139 believe  
            that the existing enterprise zone program provides hundreds of  
            millions of dollars per year in tax credits for employers but  
            does not do anything for employees.  In AB 1139 the sponsors,  
            International Longshore and Warehouse Union, seek to  
            incentivize employers to provide quality jobs to all eligible  
            workers, by entitling employers to a higher tax credit for  
            full time benefited employees.   As California and the nation  
            face these times of economic straits it is imperative that  
            California gets the biggest return possible on its tax benefit  
            investment.   Finally, AB 1139 will also relieve the current  
            burden on local government that forced to shoulder the weight  
            of the uninsured worker, by incentivizing employers to provide  
            health benefits.

            Opponents of the measure, including local governments and  









                                                                  AB 1139
                                                                  Page P
            business organizations, believe that given the current  
            economic times, that implementation of AB 1139 would be  
            destabilizing to local communities that are already under  
            great duress.  Some enterprise zone managers believe that the  
            full impact of the bill will result in a drastic reduction in  
            the number of hiring credit vouchers that are issued rather  
            than reform the system.  The elimination of the TEA, without  
            first addressing the documentation problems of the other  
            qualifying employee categories is particularly problematic.  
            Finally, while providing health care is a laudable goal,  
            realistically, a majority of small and medium size businesses  
            cannot afford to provide health benefits and the problems of  
            the uninsured and underinsured should not be specially borne  
            by lower income communities.

           11)Related legislation from 2007-08 legislative session  :

              a)   AB 121 (Maze) and AB 2709 (Maze)  :  These bills would  
               have established a separate category of employee  
               eligibility under the California Enterprise Zone Program's  
               hiring income tax credit program to include a person who  
               was a former foster care recipient.  Status:  Held in  
               Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation during the  
               2007-08 Session.

              b)   AB 579 (Swanson)  :  This bill would have extended the  
               official term of the designation of a LAMBRA from eight to  
               15 years, except that the term may be for 20 years if the  
               Department of Housing and Community Development determines  
               that certain conditions exist in year five.   Status:  Held  
               in Assembly Committee on Appropriations during the 2007-08  
               legislative session.

              c)   AB 1550 (Arambula)  :  This bill would have made a number  
               of significant changes to the management and oversight of  
               the G-TEDA programs.  This bill is the result of extensive  
               oversight hearings by JEDE and Revenue and Taxation, as  
               well as, extended discussions with stakeholder groups.   
               Status:  Signed by the Governor, Chapter 718, Statutes of  
               2006.
          
              d)   AB 1766 (Dymally ):  This bill would have made a number  
               of significant changes in G-TEDA Program including  
               streamlining the selection criteria, authorizing  
               noncontiguous zones, extending certain zone designations,  









                                                                  AB 1139
                                                                 Page Q
               and tightening up of the TEA.  Status:  Held on the Senate  
               Floor in the 2005-06 Session.

              e)   AB 2589 (Runner)  :  This bill would have authorized a  
               business to use credits generated in an EZ to offset taxes  
               attributable to the business from any EZ.  Status:  Held in  
               the Assembly Committee of Revenue and Taxation in 2005-06  
               Session.  

              f)   SB 1008 (Duchney):   This bill would have made a number  
               of significant changes in G-TEDA Program including  
               streamlining the selection criteria, authorizing  
               noncontiguous zones, extending certain zone designations,  
               and tightening up of the TEA.  Status:  Held in the  
               Assembly Committee on Jobs, Economic Development, and the  
               Economy in 2005-06 Session.
           
             g)   SB 341 (Lowenthal)  :  This bill would have expanded the  
               ways in which a local government applying for an enterprise  
               zone designation after October 1, 2007, may meet the  
               requirements of California Environmental Quality Act and  
               eliminates the ability of these jurisdictions to limit  
               subsequent environmental reviews based on the contents of  
               the initial CEQA documents.  Status:  Signed by the  
               Governor, Chapter 643, Statutes of 2007.

              h)   SB 763 (Lowenthal)  :  This bill would have expanded HCD's  
               fee authority for the purpose of offsetting the cost of  
               administering the geographically-targeted economic  
               development area programs.  Status:  Signed by the  
               Governor, Chapter 634, Statutes of 2006.
           
          12)Re-referral of legislation  :  Should AB 1139 be recommended  
            "do pass" from the Assembly Committee on Jobs, Economic  
            Development, and the Economy, this measure will be referred to  
            the Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation for additional  
            consideration of the taxation-related portions of this  
            measure.

           REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION  :   

           Support 
           
          International Longshore and Warehouse Union (sponsor)
          Amalgamated Transit Union 









                                                                  AB 1139
                                                                  Page R
          California Conference of Machinists
          California Labor Federation/ AFLCIO
          California Teamsters Public Affairs Council
          UNITE HERE!
          United Food and Commercial Workers Union, Western States Council
          Women's Policy Institute Economic Justice Team

           Opposition 
           


           ------------------ 
          |10 letters from   |
          |Individuals       |
          |------------------|
          |Ace Parking       |
          |------------------|
          |Acme Auto         |
          |Headlining Co.    |
          |------------------|
          |Acoustics Metal   |
          |Studs and Drywall |
          |------------------|
          |ADH Denim, Inc    |
          |------------------|
          |Alliage, Inc.     |
          |------------------|
          |Alliantgroup, LP  |
          |------------------|
          |Amazon            |
          |Consultants       |
          |------------------|
          |Antelope Valley   |
          |Chambers of       |
          |Commerce          |
          |------------------|
          |Asbestos Instant  |
          |Response, Inc.    |
          |------------------|
          |AVACO Textiles,   |
          |Inc.              |
          |------------------|
          |Baja's Produce,   |
          |Inc.              |
          |------------------|









                                                                  AB 1139
                                                                  Page S
          |Barbosa Cabinets  |
          |Inc               |
          |------------------|
          |Baskin Robbins    |
          |------------------|
          |Berberian Design  |
          |and Cabinets      |
          |------------------|
          |Blum & Clark      |
          |Accounting Firm   |
          |------------------|
          |Boos & Associates |
          |------------------|
          |Brassuer Inc.     |
          |------------------|
          |Bryant Rubber     |
          |Corp.             |
          |------------------|
          |C & I Tax         |
          |Consultants       |
          |------------------|
          |CalChamber        |
          |------------------|
          |Calexico County   |
          |Enterprise Zone   |
          |------------------|
          |California        |
          |Aerospace         |
          |Technology        |
          |Association       |
          |------------------|
          |California        |
          |Association for   |
          |Local Economic    |
          |Development       |
          |------------------|
          |California        |
          |Association of    |
          |Enterprise Zones  |
          |------------------|
          |California        |
          |Bankers           |
          |Association       |
          |------------------|
          |California        |









                                                                  AB 1139
                                                                  Page T
          |Business          |
          |Properties        |
          |Association       |
          |------------------|
          |California        |
          |Employment        |
          |Opportunity       |
          |Network           |
          |------------------|
          |California        |
          |Grocers           |
          |Association       |
          |------------------|
          |California        |
          |Independent       |
          |Grocers           |
          |Association       |
          |------------------|
          |California        |
          |Manufacturers &   |
          |Technology        |
          |Association       |
          |------------------|
          |California        |
          |Retailers         |
          |Association       |
          |------------------|
          |California        |
          |Taxpayers         |
          |Association       |
          |------------------|
          |Capital Credit    |
          |Consulting, LLC   |
          |------------------|
          |Casa Leaders,     |
          |Inc.              |
          |------------------|
          |Caterpillar Inc.  |
          |------------------|
          |Certified         |
          |Laboratories,     |
          |Inc.              |
          |------------------|
          |Choon Taik Lim,   |
          |CPA, Inc          |









                                                                  AB 1139
                                                                  Page U
          |------------------|
          |Chung and         |
          |Company, LLC      |
          |------------------|
          |Cinder Block,     |
          |Inc.              |
          |------------------|
          |City of Calexico  |
          |------------------|
          |City of Chula     |
          |Vista             |
          |------------------|
          |City of Eureka    |
          |------------------|
          |City of Long      |
          |Beach             |
          |------------------|
          |City of Manteca   |
          |------------------|
          |City of Oroville  |
          |------------------|
          |City of Pittsburg |
          |------------------|
          |City of           |
          |Sacramento        |
          |------------------|
          |City of San       |
          |Bernardino        |
          |Economic          |
          |Development       |
          |Agency            |
          |------------------|
          |City of Wheatland |
          |------------------|
          |City of Yreka     |
          |------------------|
          |Coachella Valley  |
          |Enterprise Zone   |
          |------------------|
          |Community Bank of |
          |the Bay           |
          |------------------|
          |Compete           |
          |Consulting, LLC   |
          |------------------|









                                                                  AB 1139
                                                                  Page V
          |Con J. Franke     |
          |Electric, Inc.    |
          |------------------|
          |Contractors       |
          |Wardrobe, Inc.    |
          |------------------|
          |County of         |
          |Siskiyou          |
          |------------------|
          |County of Tulare  |
          |------------------|
          |Cozad Trailer     |
          |Sales, LLC        |
          |------------------|
          |Crystal Casino    |
          |------------------|
          |Cunico            |
          |------------------|
          |CustomEyes        |
          |Optometry         |
          |------------------|
          |Dairy Institute   |
          |------------------|
          |Del Monte Foods   |
          |------------------|
          |Delphis,Inc. dba  |
          |Burger King       |
          |------------------|
          |Dependable        |
          |Highway Express   |
          |------------------|
          |Diamond Diesel    |
          |Service Inc.      |
          |------------------|
          |Dickson Testing   |
          |Company. Inc.     |
          |------------------|
          |Disney            |
          |------------------|
          |DiTomaso          |
          |Incentive Group   |
          |------------------|
          |Dougherty &       |
          |Company           |
          |------------------|









                                                                  AB 1139
                                                                  Page W
          |Eby Cnstruction,  |
          |Inc.              |
          |------------------|
          |Economic          |
          |Development       |
          |Corporation of    |
          |Oxnard            |
          |------------------|
          |ELLS CPA's and    |
          |Business Advisors |
          |------------------|
          |Embroidery        |
          |Industries, Inc.  |
          |------------------|
          |Encore Tax        |
          |Consulting Group, |
          |Inc.              |
          |------------------|
          |ENY Textiles,     |
          |Inc.              |
          |------------------|
          |Epsilon Systems   |
          |Solutions, Inc.   |
          |------------------|
          |Evapco West       |
          |------------------|
          |Fine Discounts    |
          |#1, Inc.          |
          |------------------|
          |First Capitol     |
          |Consulting, Inc.  |
          |------------------|
          |Foreston Trends   |
          |------------------|
          |Gallina, LLP      |
          |------------------|
          |Gate City         |
          |Beverage          |
          |Distributors      |
          |------------------|
          |Global            |
          |Immigration Law   |
          |Group             |
          |------------------|
          |Great Fresno Area |









                                                                  AB 1139
                                                                  Page X
          |Chamber of        |
          |Commerce          |
          |------------------|
          |Guess?, Inc.      |
          |------------------|
          |Guilbert Tex,     |
          |Inc.              |
          |------------------|
          |Harbor            |
          |Distributing, LLC |
          |------------------|
          |Homexx            |
          |International     |
          |------------------|
          |Hromiko &         |
          |Associates, LLC   |
          |------------------|
          |Imperial County   |
          |Board of          |
          |Supervisors       |
          |------------------|
          |IndigoSportswear  |
          |Inc.              |
          |------------------|
          |International     |
          |Beauty Network,   |
          |Inc               |
          |------------------|
          |International     |
          |Component         |
          |Technology        |
          |------------------|
          |Jacobs Pine       |
          |Consulting, Inc.  |
          |Tax Incentive     |
          |Specialist        |
          |------------------|
          |JC Industries     |
          |------------------|
          |Jilllson &        |
          |Roberts           |
          |------------------|
          |Joseph Gallo      |
          |Farms             |
          |------------------|









                                                                  AB 1139
                                                                  Page Y
          |Kagome Inc.       |
          |------------------|
          |KAOS Management,  |
          |Inc.              |
          |------------------|
          |Kohl's            |
          |------------------|
          |Krost Baumgarten  |
          |Kniss & Guerrero  |
          |------------------|
          |L & T Meat        |
          |Company           |
          |------------------|
          |Labhart Milles    |
          |Consulting Group, |
          |Inc.              |
          |------------------|
          |Land Concern      |
          |Landscape         |
          |Architecture      |
          |------------------|
          |Land Design       |
          |Consultants, Inc. |
          |------------------|
          |Long Beach Area   |
          |Chamber of        |
          |Commerce          |
          |------------------|
          |Los Angeles Area  |
          |Chamber of        |
          |Commerce          |
          |------------------|
          |Los Angeles Cold  |
          |Storage Company   |
          |------------------|
          |Los Angeles       |
          |County Economic   |
          |Development       |
          |Corporation       |
          |------------------|
          |Los Angeles       |
          |Northeast Valley  |
          |Enterprise Zone   |
          |------------------|
          |Madera Economic   |









                                                                  AB 1139
                                                                  Page Z
          |Development       |
          |Commission        |
          |------------------|
          |Marcus &          |
          |Millichap         |
          |------------------|
          |Marza Consulting  |
          |------------------|
          |Merced County     |
          |Board of          |
          |Supervisors       |
          |------------------|
          |Merced Regional   |
          |Enterprise Zone   |
          |------------------|
          |Metal Supply Inc. |
          |------------------|
          |Mira California   |
          |------------------|
          |Modesto Chamber   |
          |of Commerce       |
          |------------------|
          |Moon & Bong Chang |
          |Medical Clinic    |
          |------------------|
          |MSI Metal Supply, |
          |Inc.              |
          |------------------|
          |National          |
          |Federation of     |
          |Independent       |
          |Busness (NFIB)    |
          |------------------|
          |Nibbi Brothers    |
          |Associates, Inc.  |
          |------------------|
          |Ole Clothing,     |
          |Inc.              |
          |------------------|
          |Oroville          |
          |Enterprise Zone   |
          |------------------|
          |Otay Mesa Chamber |
          |of Commerce       |
          |------------------|









                                                                  AB 1139
                                                                  Page A
          |Oxnard Chamber of |
          |Commerce          |
          |------------------|
          |Pacific Alloy     |
          |Casting Co.   Inc |
          |------------------|
          |Pacific Credit    |
          |Group             |
          |------------------|
          |Pacific Gas &     |
          |Electric          |
          |------------------|
          |Pacific Lift and  |
          |Equipment         |
          |------------------|
          |Pacific Real      |
          |Estate            |
          |------------------|
          |Palm Desert       |
          |Chamber of        |
          |Commerce          |
          |------------------|
          |Paragon Textiles, |
          |Inc               |
          |------------------|
          |Pasadena          |
          |Enterprise Zone   |
          |------------------|
          |Professional      |
          |Finishing         |
          |------------------|
          |Professional      |
          |Solutions Group   |
          |LLC               |
          |------------------|
          |R. W. Zant        |
          |Company           |
          |------------------|
          |Rivera & Jamjian, |
          |LLP               |
          |------------------|
          |Ryan, Inc.        |
          |------------------|
          |Samiyatex         |
          |------------------|









                                                                  AB 1139
                                                                  Page B
          |San Bernardino    |
          |Area Chamber of   |
          |Commerce          |
          |------------------|
          |San Bernardino    |
          |Board of          |
          |Supervisors       |
          |------------------|
          |San Bernardino    |
          |Downtown Business |
          |Association,      |
          |Inc.              |
          |------------------|
          |San Diego Chamber |
          |of Commerce       |
          |------------------|
          |San Diego         |
          |Leather, Inc.     |
          |------------------|
          |San Fernando      |
          |Greater Valley    |
          |Chamber of        |
          |Commerce          |
          |------------------|
          |San Francisco     |
          |Center for        |
          |Economic          |
          |Development       |
          |------------------|
          |San Gabriel       |
          |Valley Economic   |
          |Partnership       |
          |(SGVEP)           |
          |------------------|
          |San Ysidro        |
          |Chamber of        |
          |Commerce          |
          |------------------|
          |Sandicast         |
          |------------------|
          |Sempra Energy     |
          |------------------|
          |Service           |
          |Connection, Inc.  |
          |------------------|









                                                                  AB 1139
                                                                  Page C
          |Shafter           |
          |Enterprise Zone   |
          |#23               |
          |------------------|
          |Shamloo & Company |
          |AT&C              |
          |------------------|
          |Shilpark Paint    |
          |Corp.             |
          |------------------|
          |Siderman,         |
          |Yampolsky Dental  |
          |Corporation       |
          |------------------|
          |Sierra Cheese     |
          |Manufacturing     |
          |Co., Inc.         |
          |------------------|
          |Siskiyou County   |
          |Board of          |
          |Supervisors       |
          |------------------|
          |Siskiyou          |
          |Enterprise Zone   |
          |------------------|
          |Southwest         |
          |Airlines          |
          |------------------|
          |Space Age Control |
          |------------------|
          |Stanislaus        |
          |Economic          |
          |Development and   |
          |Workforce         |
          |Alliance          |
          |------------------|
          |Star Fisheries,   |
          |Inc               |
          |------------------|
          |State Farm        |
          |------------------|
          |Summit Bank       |
          |------------------|
          |Tactical Assault  |
          |Gear              |









                                                                  AB 1139
                                                                  Page D
          |------------------|
          |Targeted          |
          |Management        |
          |Company, Inc.     |
          |------------------|
          |Tax-Tax Group,    |
          |Inc.              |
          |------------------|
          |Tenacore Holdings |
          |Inc.              |
          |------------------|
          |TGR Geotechnical, |
          |Inc.              |
          |------------------|
          |The Enterprise    |
          |Zone Company      |
          |------------------|
          |The National City |
          |Chamber           |
          |------------------|
          |The Vally         |
          |Economic Alliance |
          |------------------|
          |Title & Company,  |
          |LLP               |
          |------------------|
          |Troll Systems     |
          |------------------|
          |Tulare County     |
          |Targeted Tax Area |
          |------------------|
          |Ultimate Beauty   |
          |Companies         |
          |------------------|
          |United Leather,   |
          |Inc.              |
          |------------------|
          |Unity Forest      |
          |Products          |
          |------------------|
          |Universal Tax     |
          |Services          |
          |------------------|
          |Urban Industries  |
          |Embroidery        |









                                                                  AB 1139
                                                                  Page E
          |------------------|
          |Vermont           |
          |Outlet,Inc.       |
          |------------------|
          |Villa Sorriso     |
          |Restaurant        |
          |------------------|
          |Wakecraft Boats,  |
          |Inc.              |
          |------------------|
          |Walton Management |
          |Services, Inc.    |
          |------------------|
          |Watsco, Inc.      |
          |------------------|
          |Wencentive        |
          |Corporation       |
          |------------------|
          |Western Growers   |
          |------------------|
          |Windsor Mortgage  |
          |and Capital       |
          |------------------|
          |Woods Maintenance |
          |Services, Inc.    |
          |------------------|
          |Young Electric    |
          |Sign Company      |
          |(YESCO)           |
          |------------------|
          |Yuba Sutter       |
          |Economic          |
          |Development       |
          |Corporation       |
          |------------------|
          |Yuba-Sutter       |
          |Enterprise Zone   |
          |------------------|
          |Z & S             |
          |Electronics, Inc. |
          |                  |
           ------------------ 

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Toni Symonds / J., E.D. & E. / (916)  
          319-2090 









                                                                  AB 1139
                                                                 Page F