The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument, were prepared by Thomas L. Tyler.
DIGEST
SB 185 Original 2015 Regular Session Walsworth
Present law authorizes the State Board of Commerce and Industry to execute contracts with
businesses for certain tax incentives under the Louisiana Enterprise Zone Act ("Act"), after
consultation with the secretaries of the Department of Economic Development and the Department
of Revenue, and with the governor's approval.
Present law provides that to be eligible for an incentive under the program, businesses are to certify
that at least 50% of their employees meet at least one of the following qualifications:
(1)The employees are residents of either an enterprise zone in Louisiana, for a business located
in an urban enterprise zone or a business not located in either an enterprise zone or an
economic development zone or that the employees reside in the same parish as the location
of the business, or any enterprise zone in Louisiana, for a business located in a rural
enterprise zone, an economic development zone, or an enterprise zone in Calcasieu Parish.
(2)The employees were receiving some form of public assistance during the six-month period
prior to employment.
(3)The employees were considered unemployable by traditional standards, or lacking in basic
skills.
Proposed law retains these provisions.
Present law provides that in addition to the residence requirement, eligibility for a retail business,
assigned a North American Industry Classification Code (NAICC) of 44 or 45 having more than 100
employees nationwide including affiliates prior to the contract effective date, is limited to grocery
stores and pharmacies located in an enterprise zone, as those terms are defined by department rules
are eligible to participate in the incentive program.
Proposed law changes the number of nationwide employees to more than 50 employees instead of
no more than 100 employees and allows retail businesses with a NAICC of 722 to participate in the
incentive program.
Proposed law provides that businesses with a NAICC of 44, 45, or 722 which are located in a parish
having a population not in excess of 75,000 persons and businesses located in an enterprise zone
within a parish having a population in excess of 75,000 persons and which businesses have 50 or
fewer employees nationwide including affiliates prior to the contract's effective date are allowed to
participate in the incentive program under the Act. Proposed law applies to any contract for which an advance notification form is filed on or after the
effective date of proposed law.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 51:1787(B)(3)(b))