24 LC 50 0790S
The House Committee on Ways and Means offers the following substitute to HB 1195:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Article 2 of Chapter 7 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,1
relating to the imposition, rate, computation, exemptions, and credits relative to income2
taxes, so as to provide for a tax credit for workforce-ready graduates employed in high-tech3
full-time jobs in rural counties in this state; to require the Technical College System of4
Georgia to establish certain criteria; to provide for conditions and limitations; to provide for5
definitions; to provide for rules and regulations and forms; to provide for related matters; to6
provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other7
purposes.8
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:9
SECTION 1.10
Article 2 of Chapter 7 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the11
imposition, rate, computation, exemptions, and credits relative to income taxes, is amended12
by adding a new Code section to read as follows:13
"48-7-29.26.14
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:15
H. B. 1195 (SUB)
- 1 - 24 LC 50 0790S
(1) 'Employer' means an enterprise or organization, whether corporation, partnership,16
limited liability company, proprietorship, association, trust, business trust, real estate17
trust, or other form of organization, and its affiliates, which is registered and authorized18
to use the federal employment verification system known as 'E-Verify' or any successor19
federal employment verification system and is engaged in or carrying on any business20
activities within this state.21
(2) 'High-tech full-time job' means employment:22
(A) That is located in a rural county;23
(B) As a data scientist, software developer, information security analyst, web24
developer, computer sales engineer, information technology manager, computer25
research scientist, network and systems administrator, or computer support specialist;26
(C) Through an employer located in a rural county that is also a small business as such27
term is defined in Code Section 50-5-121;28
(D) That involves a regular work week of 30 hours or more;29
(E) That has no predetermined end date; and30
(F) That pays at or above the average hourly wage of the county with the lowest31
average hourly wage in the state, as reported in the most recently available annual issue32
of the Georgia Employment and Wages Averages Report of the Department of Labor.33
(3) 'Rural county' means a county in this state that has a population of less than 50,00034
with 10 percent or more of such population living in poverty based upon the most recent,35
reliable, and applicable data published by the United States Bureau of the Census. On36
or before December 31 of each year, the commissioner of the Department of Community37
Affairs shall publish a list of such counties.38
(4) 'Workforce-ready graduate' means an individual who has obtained a degree in the39
discipline of engineering or computer, information, or data science within a high-tech40
area of study and who is certified by the Technical College System of Georgia as having41
H. B. 1195 (SUB)
- 2 - 24 LC 50 0790S
completed a workforce readiness program approved by the Technical College System of42
Georgia in accordance with subsection (b) of this Code section.43
(b) By January 1, 2025, the Technical College System of Georgia shall adopt criteria for44
the establishment of workforce readiness programs and the certification of workforce-ready45
graduates for the purposes of this Code section.46
(c)(1) On and after January 1, 2025, each workforce-ready graduate employed in a47
high-tech full-time job for at least 40 weeks during a 12 month period shall be eligible48
for an income tax credit in the amount of $4,000.00 for each such year of employment49
against the tax imposed under this article; provided, however, that no individual shall be50
allowed more than $12,000.00 of tax credits under this paragraph.51
(2) No individual first employed in a high-tech full-time job before January 1, 2025,52
shall qualify to be eligible to receive the credit provided by this subsection.53
(3) No individual shall be eligible to receive the credit provided by this subsection more54
than once.55
(4) In no event shall the aggregate limit of tax credits allowed under this Code section56
for any year exceed $2 million.57
(d) In no event shall the credit provided by subsection (c) of this Code section for a taxable58
year exceed the taxpayer's income tax liability. Any unused portion of the credit provided59
by subsection (c) of this Code section shall be permitted to be carried forward and applied60
to the taxpayer's tax liability for the subsequent three years. The credit provided by61
subsection (c) of this Code section shall not be applied against the taxpayer's prior years'62
tax liabilities.63
(e) The commissioner shall promulgate rules and regulations and forms necessary to64
implement and administer the provisions of this Code section.65
(f) This Code section shall stand repealed on December 31, 2029."66
H. B. 1195 (SUB)
- 3 - 24 LC 50 0790S
SECTION 2.67
This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2024, and shall be applicable to all taxable years68
beginning on or after January 1, 2025.69
SECTION 3.70
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.71
H. B. 1195 (SUB)
- 4 -