HCS HB 891 -- TAX CREDITS FOR HIRING DISABLED WORKERS

SPONSOR:  Richard (Kratky)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Special Committee on
Job Creation and Economic Development by a vote of 11 to 0.

This substitute authorizes a tax credit for a business employing
a disabled worker against a company's corporate income tax;
corporate franchise tax; financial institutions tax; or bridge,
express, and public utility company tax.  Individuals are
excluded from this tax credit.  The amount of the credit is based
on the disabled employee's average hours worked per week in a
taxable year.  If the average is at least 10 hours, the credit
will be $1,000 per disabled employee; $1,500 if the average is at
least 20 hours; and $3,000 if the average is at least 40 hours.
The credit cannot be refunded, carried over, or transferred.

The provisions of the substitute will expire six years from the
effective date.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Cost on General Revenue Fund of $0 in
FY 2008, More than $100,000 in FY 2009, and More than $100,000 in
FY 2010.  No impact on Other State Funds in FY 2008, FY 2009, and
FY 2010.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that disabled individuals face many
barriers when trying to enter the workforce.  The bill will
provide an incentive for businesses to hire disabled individuals
and encourage potential employers to take a second look at hiring
a disabled worker.  When people have a job, they have more
spending power and a better quality of life.  They will pay more
sales tax because they'll be able to buy more.  This tax credit
also compliments the Ticket to Work Program.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Kratky; Paraquad;
MERS/Missouri Goodwill Industries; Craig Henning, Disability
Resource Association; Southwest Center for Independent Living;
Whole Person, Incorporated; and Theresa Rohlfing.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated July 25, 2007 at 11:20 am