Second Regular Session Seventy-third General Assembly STATE OF COLORADO REENGROSSED This Version Includes All Amendments Adopted in the House of Introduction LLS NO. 22-0161.01 Jason Gelender x4330 HOUSE BILL 22-1026 House Committees Senate Committees Finance Appropriations A BILL FOR AN ACT C ONCERNING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE INCOME TAX DEDUCTION FOR101 AMOUNTS SPENT BY AN EMPLOYER TO PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE102 TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS TO EMPLOYEES WITH AN INCOME103 TAX CREDIT FOR AMOUNTS SPENT BY AN EMPLOYER FOR THAT104 PURPOSE, AND, IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, MAKING AN105 APPROPRIATION.106 Bill Summary (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://leg.colorado.gov/ .) Legislative Oversight Committee Concerning Tax Policy. The HOUSE 3rd Reading Unamended May 4, 2022 HOUSE Amended 2nd Reading May 3, 2022 HOUSE SPONSORSHIP Bird and Woog, Benavidez, Boesenecker, Duran, Kipp, Lindsay, McCluskie, Mullica, Snyder, Valdez A. SENATE SPONSORSHIP Hansen and Liston, Kolker Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment. Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing statute. Dashes through the words indicate deletions from existing statute. bill replaces an existing income tax deduction for expenses incurred by employers when providing alternative transportation options to employees with a refundable income tax credit of 50% of such expenses for such employers. The credit is allowed for income tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2023, but before January 1, 2033. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1 SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 39-22-509 as2 follows:3 39-22-509. Credit against tax - employer expenditures for4 alternative transportation options for employees - legislative5 declaration - definitions. (1) I N ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 39-21-3046 (1), WHICH REQUIRES EACH BILL THAT CREATES A NEW TAX EXPENDITURE7 TO INCLUDE A TAX PREFERENCE PERFORMANCE STATEMENT AS PART OF A8 STATUTORY LEGISLATIVE DECLARATION , THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HEREBY9 FINDS AND DECLARES THAT:10 (a) T HE GENERAL LEGISLATIVE PURPOSES OF THE TAX CREDIT11 ALLOWED BY THIS SECTION ARE:12 (I) T O INDUCE CERTAIN DESIGNATED BEHAVIOR BY TAXPAYERS ,13 SPECIFICALLY THE PROVISION OF ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS14 BY EMPLOYERS TO EMPLOYEES ; AND15 (II) T O PROVIDE TAX RELIEF FOR CERTAIN EMPLOYERS THAT16 PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS TO THEIR EMPLOYEES ;17 (b) T HE SPECIFIC LEGISLATIVE PURPOSE OF THE TAX CREDIT18 ALLOWED BY THIS SECTION IS TO INCREASE THE USE OF ALTERNATIVE19 TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS BY EMPLOYEES IN GOING TO AND RETURNING20 FROM THEIR PLACES OF EMPLOYMENT BY PROVIDING AN INCENTIVE TO21 EMPLOYERS TO PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS TO22 EMPLOYEES. IN ORDER TO ALLOW THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND THE23 1026-2- STATE AUDITOR TO MEASURE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE CREDIT , THE1 DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE , WHEN ADMINISTERING THE CREDIT , SHALL2 REQUIRE EACH EMPLOYER THAT CLAIMS THE CREDIT TO PROVIDE , AT A3 MINIMUM, INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPECIFIC ALTERNATIVE4 TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS OFFERED , THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES5 OFFERED AN ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION OPTION , AND, TO THE6 EXTENT FEASIBLE, THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES ACTUALLY USING AN7 ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION OPTION AND THE NUMBER OF TRIPS8 TAKEN BY EMPLOYEES USING AN ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION OPTION .9 (1) (2) There shall be allowed to corporate employers a deduction10 from Colorado gross income, to the extent not previously deducted in11 arriving at Colorado gross income, equal to the employer's contribution12 to: AS USED IN THIS SECTION, UNLESS THE CONTEXT OTHERWISE REQUIRES :13 (a) "A LTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS " MEANS free or14 partially subsidized ridesharing arrangements GENERALLY ACCEPTED15 TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES, INCLUDING BUT16 NOT LIMITED TO RIDESHARING ARRANGEMENTS , PROVISION OF17 RIDESHARING VANS OR LOW -SPEED CONVEYANCES SUCH AS18 HUMAN-POWERED OR ELECTRIC BICYCLES, SHARED MICROMOBILITY19 OPTIONS SUCH AS BIKESHARING AND ELECTRIC SCOOTER SHARING20 PROGRAMS, CARSHARING PROGRAMS, AND GUARANTEED RIDE HOME21 PROGRAMS for employees, including, but not limited to, providing TO:22 (I) P ROVIDING vehicles for such arrangements, cash incentives23 (not RIDESHARING ARRANGEMENTS;24 (II) C ASH INCENTIVES, NOT to exceed the value of such25 transportation) TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES,26 INCLUDING for participation in ridesharing OR BIKESHARING;27 1026 -3- arrangements, and the1 (III) T HE payment of all or part of the administrative cost incurred2 in organizing, establishing, or administering a ridesharing program3 ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS PROGRAMS FOR EMPLOYEES; 4 (IV) F REE OR PARTIALLY SUBSIDIZED MASS TRANSIT TICKETS ,5 TOKENS, PASSES, OR FARES FOR USE BY EMPLOYEES IN GOING TO AND6 RETURNING FROM THEIR PLACES OF EMPLOYMENT; AND7 (V) FREE OR PARTIALLY SUBSIDIZED PREARRANGED RIDES, AS8 DEFINED IN SECTION 40-10.1-602 (2), OR FREE OR PARTIALLY SUBSIDIZED9 RIDES PROVIDED BY BIKESHARING ARRANGEMENTS FOR USE BY AN10 EMPLOYEE IN TRAVELING BETWEEN THE EMPLOYEE'S RESIDENCE, THE11 EMPLOYEE'S PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT, OR A MASS TRANSIT FACILITY THAT12 CONNECTS THE EMPLOYEE TO THE EMPLOYEE'S RESIDENCE OR PLACE OF13 EMPLOYMENT.14 (b) "BIKESHARING ARRANGEMENT" MEANS A RENTAL OPERATION15 AT WHICH BICYCLES, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 42-1-102 (10); ELECTRICAL16 ASSISTED BICYCLES, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 42-1-102 (28.5); OR ELECTRIC17 SCOOTERS, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 42-1-102 (28.8), ARE MADE AVAILABLE18 TO PICK UP AND DROP OFF FOR POINT-TO-POINT USE WITHIN A DEFINED19 GEOGRAPHIC AREA.20 (c) "EMPLOYER" MEANS AN ENTITY, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED21 TO A CORPORATION, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, PARTNERSHIP, JOINT22 VENTURE, COMMON TRUST FUND , LIMITED ASSOCIATION, POOL OR23 WORKING AGREEMENT , LOCAL GOVERNMENT, OR LIMITED LIABILITY24 COMPANY, THAT EMPLOYS THREE OR MORE PERSONS IN THIS STATE.25 (d) "LOCAL GOVERNMENT" MEANS ANY HOME RULE CITY, TOWN,26 OR CITY AND COUNTY, OR STATUTORY CITY OR TOWN.27 1026 -4- (II) (e) For the purposes of this section, "Ridesharing1 arrangement" means the vehicular transportation of passengers traveling2 together primarily to and from such passengers' places of business or3 work or traveling together on a regularly scheduled basis with a4 commonality of purposes if the vehicle used in such transportation is not5 operated for profit by an entity primarily engaged in the transportation6 business and if no charge is made therefor other than that reasonably7 calculated to recover the direct and indirect costs of the "ridesharing8 arrangement", including, but not limited to, a reasonable incentive to9 maximize occupancy of the vehicle. However, nothing in this10 subparagraph (II) shall be construed as excluding SUBSECTION (2)(c)11 EXCLUDES from this definition an arrangement by an employer engaged12 in the transportation business who THAT provides ridesharing13 arrangements for its employees. The term "RIDESHARING" includes14 "ridesharing arrangements" commonly known as carpools and vanpools,15 except that this term BUT does not include school transportation vehicles16 operated by elementary and secondary schools when they are operated for17 the transportation of children to or from school or on school-related18 events.19 (b) Free or partially subsidized mass transit tickets, tokens, passes,20 or fares for use by employees in going to and returning from their places21 of employment.22 (3) (a) FOR INCOME TAX YEARS BEGINNING ON OR AFTER JANUARY23 1, 2023, BUT BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2025, THERE IS ALLOWED A CREDIT TO24 EACH EMPLOYER IN AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO FIFTY PERCENT OF THE AMOUNT25 SPENT BY THE EMPLOYER TO PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION26 OPTIONS TO SOME OR ALL OF ITS EMPLOYEES, SUBJECT TO THE27 1026 -5- LIMITATIONS THAT THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT SPENT IN ANY INCOME TAX1 YEAR FOR WHICH AN EMPLOYER MAY CLAIM A CREDIT IS TWO HUNDRED2 FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS AND THAT THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT SPENT IN3 ANY INCOME TAX YEAR FOR ANY ONE EMPLOYEE FOR WHICH AN EMPLOYER4 MAY CLAIM A CREDIT IS TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS .5 (b) A LOCAL GOVERNMENT OR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION SHALL6 FILE A CORPORATE INCOME TAX RETURN FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES7 FOR EACH INCOME TAX YEAR THAT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT OR8 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION CLAIMS THE CREDIT ALLOWED IN SUBSECTION9 (3)(a) OF THIS SECTION.10 (4) T HE AMOUNT OF ANY CREDIT ALLOWED UNDER THIS SECTION11 THAT EXCEEDS THE EMPLOYER 'S INCOME TAXES DUE IS REFUNDED TO THE12 EMPLOYER.13 (5) T HE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MAY PRESCRIBE FORMS AND14 PROMULGATE RULES AS NECESSARY TO ADMINISTER THIS SECTION .15 (6) T HIS SECTION IS REPEALED, EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2029.16 SECTION 2. Appropriation. (1) For the 2022-23 state fiscal17 year, $93,758 is appropriated to the department of revenue. This18 appropriation is from the general fund. To implement this act, the19 department may use this appropriation as follows:20 (a) $63,564 for use by taxation services for personal services,21 which amount is based on an assumption that the division will require an22 additional 0.2 FTE;23 (b) $18,000 for tax administration IT system (GenTax) support;24 and25 (c) $12,194 for the purchase of document management services.26 (2) For the 2022-23 state fiscal year, $12,194 is appropriated to27 1026 -6- the department of personnel. This appropriation is from reappropriated1 funds received from the department of revenue under subsection (1)(c) of2 this section. To implement this act, the department of personnel may use3 this appropriation to provide document management services for the4 department of revenue.5 SECTION 3. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act6 takes effect January 1, 2023; except that, if a referendum petition is filed7 pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V of the state constitution against this8 act or an item, section, or part of this act within the ninety-day period9 after final adjournment of the general assembly, then the act, item,10 section, or part will not take effect unless approved by the people at the11 general election to be held in November 2022 and, in such case, will take12 effect January 1, 2023, or on the date of the official declaration of the13 vote thereon by the governor, whichever is later.14 1026 -7-