(a) Unless the context otherwise requires, the definitions set forth in Sections 17053.72 and 23627 govern the construction of this section.
(b) A qualified small business employer shall submit an application to the department in a form and manner prescribed by the department for a tentative credit reservation amount for the small business hiring tax credit allowed to a qualified small business employer pursuant to Section 17053.72 or 23627, or both.
(c) The application shall include the following:
(1) The net increase in qualified employees, as determined in subdivision (c) of Section 17053.72 or subdivision (c) of Section 23627.
(2) (A) Whether the credit will be applied under Part 10 (commencing with Section 17001) or Part 11 (commencing with Section 23001), or both.
(B) Whether the qualified small business employer makes an irrevocable election to apply the credit against qualified sales and use taxes pursuant to Section 6902.7 in lieu of claiming the credit allowed by Section 17053.72 or 23627. The election shall not be amended.
(3) Any other information as deemed necessary by the department.
(d) (1) Qualified small business employers shall submit, and the department shall accept, applications for tentative credit reservation amounts during the period beginning December 1, 2020, and ending January 15, 2021, or any earlier date determined by the department when the maximum cumulative total allocation limit in subdivision (e) is reached.
(2) Applications shall not be accepted by the department after January 15, 2021, or any other date determined by the department.
(3) The date and time an application is received shall be determined by the department. The determination of the department with respect to the date and time an application is received may not be reviewed in any administrative or judicial proceeding.
(e) (1) The aggregate amount of credit that may be allocated pursuant to Sections 6902.7, 17053.72, and 23627 shall not exceed the cumulative total of one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000).
(2) The department shall allocate a tentative credit reservation to qualified small business employers on a first-come, first-served basis. For each application received, the total amount of credit available for allocation shall be reduced by an amount equal to the allocated tentative credit reservation amount.
(3) The tentative credit reservation amount shall be equal to the net increase in qualified employees as reported on the application multiplied by one thousand dollars ($1,000) and shall not exceed one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) per qualified small business employer.
(4) The department shall promptly, no more than 30 days after the application is received, notify the applicant of the tentative credit reservation amount. The amount allocated shall not constitute a determination by the department with respect to any of the requirements of this section or eligibility for the credit authorized by Section 6902.7, 17053.72, or 23627.
(5) The department shall periodically provide on its website the aggregate allocated tentative credit reservation amount under Sections 6902.7, 17053.72, and 23627, and remaining credit amount available for allocation.
(f) Notwithstanding Section 7056, the department shall provide the Franchise Tax Board, in the form and manner agreed upon by the department and the Franchise Tax Board, any and all information provided by each applicant pursuant to subdivision (c) and any other information deemed necessary by the department and the Franchise Tax Board to administer and enforce this section, and Sections 17053.72 and 23267.
(g) The department may prescribe, adopt, and enforce any emergency regulations as necessary to implement, administer, and enforce its duties under this section. Any emergency regulation prescribed, adopted, or enforced pursuant to this section shall be adopted in accordance with Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, and, for purposes of that chapter, including Section 11349.6 of the Government Code, the adoption of the regulation is an emergency and shall be considered by the Office of Administrative Law as necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, and general welfare. Notwithstanding any other law, the emergency regulations adopted by the department may remain in effect for two years from adoption.
(Added by Stats. 2020, Ch. 41, Sec. 2. (SB 1447) Effective September 9, 2020.)