Income and corporations tax: hiring and career credits.

(1) The Personal Income Tax Law and The Corporation Tax Law authorize various credits against the taxes imposed by those laws. This bill, in accordance with legislative findings contained in this bill and for calendar years beginning on or after January 1, 2011, would, for a business entity, as described, that provides career technical education, authorize a credit against those taxes, subject to specified limitations, in an amount equal to that reserved and allocated by the Superintendent of Public Instruction. This bill would impose specified duties on the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Franchise Tax Board, and the State Board of Equalization in administering the credits. (2) The Personal Income Tax Law and the Corporation Tax Law authorize various credits against the taxes imposed by those laws, including a hiring credit for qualified taxpayers who hire qualified employees, as defined, within enterprise zones, subject to specific criteria. Qualified employees includes, for purposes of the credit, an ex-offender, as defined. Existing law requires a taxpayer to obtain, from specified agencies, a certification providing that a qualified employee meets the requirements of the credit. This bill would, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2011, revise the definition of "qualified employee" for this purpose, by providing that an ex-offender includes an individual who has been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor offense punishable by incarceration, or a person charged with a felony or misdemeanor punishable by incarceration but placed on probation without a finding of guilt, with specified exclusions. This bill would also, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2011, revise the definition of "qualified employee" by removing, as an element of eligibility as a qualified employee, residency in a targeted employment or targeted tax area. Additionally, this bill would require taxpayers to apply for, and obtain, the certification of a qualified employee within 42 days of the date of hire of the qualified employee. This bill would also make technical, nonsubstantive changes to remove obsolete references in the credit provisions. This bill would take effect immediately as a tax levy.