Second Regular Session Seventy-third General Assembly STATE OF COLORADO REVISED This Version Includes All Amendments Adopted on Second Reading in the Second House LLS NO. 22-0161.01 Jason Gelender x4330 HOUSE BILL 22-1026 House Committees Senate Committees Finance Finance Appropriations 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 SENATE Amended 2nd Reading May 9, 2022 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 PROVIDED TO16 EMPLOYEES WORKING IN COLORADO, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO17 RIDESHARING ARRANGEMENTS, PROVISION OF RIDESHARING VANS OR18 LOW-SPEED CONVEYANCES SUCH AS HUMAN-POWERED OR ELECTRIC19 BICYCLES, SHARED MICROMOBILITY OPTIONS SUCH AS BIKESHARING AND20 ELECTRIC SCOOTER SHARING PROGRAMS , CARSHARING PROGRAMS, AND21 GUARANTEED RIDE HOME PROGRAMS for employees, including, but not22 limited to, providing TO:23 (I) P ROVIDING vehicles for such arrangements, cash incentives24 (not RIDESHARING ARRANGEMENTS;25 (II) C ASH INCENTIVES, NOT to exceed the value of such26 transportation) TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES ,27 1026 -3- INCLUDING for participation in ridesharing OR BIKESHARING;1 arrangements, and the2 (III) T HE payment of all or part of the administrative cost incurred3 in organizing, establishing, or administering a ridesharing program4 ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS PROGRAMS FOR EMPLOYEES; 5 (IV) F REE OR PARTIALLY SUBSIDIZED MASS TRANSIT TICKETS ,6 TOKENS, PASSES, OR FARES FOR USE BY EMPLOYEES IN GOING TO AND7 RETURNING FROM THEIR PLACES OF EMPLOYMENT; AND8 (V) FREE OR PARTIALLY SUBSIDIZED PREARRANGED RIDES , AS9 DEFINED IN SECTION 40-10.1-602 (2), OR FREE OR PARTIALLY SUBSIDIZED10 RIDES PROVIDED BY BIKESHARING ARRANGEMENTS FOR USE BY AN11 EMPLOYEE IN TRAVELING BETWEEN THE EMPLOYEE'S RESIDENCE, THE12 EMPLOYEE'S PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT, OR A MASS TRANSIT FACILITY THAT13 CONNECTS THE EMPLOYEE TO THE EMPLOYEE'S RESIDENCE OR PLACE OF14 EMPLOYMENT.15 (b) "BIKESHARING ARRANGEMENT" MEANS A RENTAL OPERATION16 AT WHICH BICYCLES, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 42-1-102 (10); ELECTRICAL17 ASSISTED BICYCLES, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 42-1-102 (28.5); OR ELECTRIC18 SCOOTERS, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 42-1-102 (28.8), ARE MADE AVAILABLE19 TO PICK UP AND DROP OFF FOR POINT-TO-POINT USE WITHIN A DEFINED20 GEOGRAPHIC AREA.21 (c) "EMPLOYER" MEANS AN ENTITY, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED22 TO A CORPORATION, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, PARTNERSHIP, JOINT23 VENTURE, COMMON TRUST FUND , LIMITED ASSOCIATION, POOL OR24 WORKING AGREEMENT , LOCAL GOVERNMENT, OR LIMITED LIABILITY25 COMPANY, THAT EMPLOYS THREE OR MORE PERSONS IN THIS STATE.26 (d) "LOCAL GOVERNMENT" MEANS ANY HOME RULE CITY, TOWN,27 1026 -4- OR CITY AND COUNTY, OR STATUTORY CITY OR TOWN.1 (II) (e) For the purposes of this section, "Ridesharing2 arrangement" means the vehicular transportation of passengers traveling3 together primarily to and from such passengers' places of business or4 work or traveling together on a regularly scheduled basis with a5 commonality of purposes if the vehicle used in such transportation is not6 operated for profit by an entity primarily engaged in the transportation7 business and if no charge is made therefor other than that reasonably8 calculated to recover the direct and indirect costs of the "ridesharing9 arrangement", including, but not limited to, a reasonable incentive to10 maximize occupancy of the vehicle. However, nothing in this11 subparagraph (II) shall be construed as excluding SUBSECTION (2)(c)12 EXCLUDES from this definition an arrangement by an employer engaged13 in the transportation business who THAT provides ridesharing14 arrangements for its employees. The term "RIDESHARING" includes15 "ridesharing arrangements" commonly known as carpools and vanpools,16 except that this term BUT does not include school transportation vehicles17 operated by elementary and secondary schools when they are operated for18 the transportation of children to or from school or on school-related19 events.20 (b) Free or partially subsidized mass transit tickets, tokens, passes,21 or fares for use by employees in going to and returning from their places22 of employment.23 (3) (a) FOR INCOME TAX YEARS BEGINNING ON OR AFTER JANUARY24 1, 2023, BUT BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2025, THERE IS ALLOWED A CREDIT TO25 EACH EMPLOYER IN AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO FIFTY PERCENT OF THE AM OUNT26 SPENT BY THE EMPLOYER TO PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION27 1026 -5- OPTIONS TO ITS EMPLOYEES, SUBJECT TO THE LIMITATIONS THAT THE1 MAXIMUM AMOUNT SPENT IN ANY INCOME TAX YEAR FOR WHICH AN2 EMPLOYER MAY CLAIM A CREDIT IS TWO HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND3 DOLLARS AND THAT THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT SPENT IN ANY INCOME TAX4 YEAR FOR ANY ONE EMPLOYEE FOR WHICH AN EMPLOYER MAY CLAIM A5 CREDIT IS TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS .6 (b) A LOCAL GOVERNMENT OR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION SHALL7 FILE A CORPORATE INCOME TAX RETURN FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES8 FOR EACH INCOME TAX YEAR THAT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT OR9 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION CLAIMS THE CREDIT ALLOWED IN SUBSECTION10 (3)(a) OF THIS SECTION.11 (c) A S A PREREQUISITE FOR CLAIMING A CREDIT, AN EMPLOYER 12 SHALL PROVIDE TO THE DEPARTMENT , ON A FORM PROVIDED BY THE13 DEPARTMENT OR OTHERWISE IN SUCH FORM AS THE DEPARTMENT MAY14 REQUIRE AND BY AN ANNUAL DEADLINE SPECIFIED BY THE DEPARTMENT ,15 ITS PLAN FOR NOTIFYING ITS EMPLOYEES OF THE AVAILABILITY OF THE16 ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS THAT IT OFFERS AND THE STEPS17 BEYOND SUCH NOTIFICATION THAT IT PLANS TO TAKE TO ENCOURAGE18 EMPLOYEES TO USE THOSE ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS .19 (d) A N EMPLOYER MAY CLAIM A CREDIT ONLY FOR AMOUNTS 20 SPENT BY THE EMPLOYER FOR ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS21 THAT IT MAKES AVAILABLE TO ALL OF ITS EMPLOYEES WHO ARE EMPLOYED22 IN COLORADO; EXCEPT THAT, IF IT IS NOT FEASIBLE TO OFFER A23 PARTICULAR ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION OPTION TO CERTAIN24 EMPLOYEES, AN EMPLOYER MAY OFFER A SUBSTANTIALLY EQUIVALENT25 ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION OPTION TO SUCH EMPLOYEES . THE26 REQUIREMENT THAT AN ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION OPTION BE27 1026 -6- OFFERED TO ALL EMPLOYEES WHO ARE EMPLOYED IN COLORADO APPLIES1 REGARDLESS OF THE POSITION THAT AN EMPLOYEE HOLDS , WHETHER THE2 EMPLOYEE IS EMPLOYED ON A FULL -TIME OR PART-TIME BASIS, OR3 WHETHER AN EMPLOYEE IS SALARIED , COMPENSATED IN WHOLE OR IN4 PART THROUGH COMMISSIONS OR TIPS , OR PAID ON AN HOURLY BASIS.5 (4) T HE AMOUNT OF ANY CREDIT ALLOWED UNDER THIS SECTION6 THAT EXCEEDS THE EMPLOYER 'S INCOME TAXES DUE IS REFUNDED TO THE7 EMPLOYER.8 (5) T HE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MAY PRESCRIBE FORMS AND9 PROMULGATE RULES AS NECESSARY TO ADMINISTER THIS SECTION .10 (6) T HIS SECTION IS REPEALED, EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2029.11 SECTION 2. Appropriation. (1) For the 2022-23 state fiscal12 year, $93,758 is appropriated to the department of revenue. This13 appropriation is from the general fund. To implement this act, the14 department may use this appropriation as follows:15 (a) $63,564 for use by taxation services for personal services,16 which amount is based on an assumption that the division will require an17 additional 0.2 FTE;18 (b) $18,000 for tax administration IT system (GenTax) support;19 and20 (c) $12,194 for the purchase of document management services.21 (2) For the 2022-23 state fiscal year, $12,194 is appropriated to22 the department of personnel. This appropriation is from reappropriated23 funds received from the department of revenue under subsection (1)(c) of24 this section. To implement this act, the department of personnel may use25 this appropriation to provide document management services for the26 department of revenue.27 1026 -7- SECTION 3. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act1 takes effect January 1, 2023; except that, if a referendum petition is filed2 pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V of the state constitution against this3 act or an item, section, or part of this act within the ninety-day period4 after final adjournment of the general assembly, then the act, item,5 section, or part will not take effect unless approved by the people at the6 general election to be held in November 2022 and, in such case, will take7 effect January 1, 2023, or on the date of the official declaration of the8 vote thereon by the governor, whichever is later.9 1026 -8-