You asked for a brief summary of the bills the Labor and Public Employees Committee referred to the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee.

S.B. No. 360 AN ACT CONCERNING EMPLOYMENT OF INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM.

This bill creates an employer tax credit of up to $1,500 for each employee with autism the employer hires. It applies to individuals who are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and received state funding for training or education.

The credit would be allowed in the income year in which the employee first completes six full months of full-time employment with the employer. The credit applies to (1) the corporation business tax and (2) the insurance company, hospitals and medical services corporations taxes. The credit cannot exceed the taxpayers liability and may be taken once for each qualifying employee.

S.B. No. 711 AN ACT CONCERNING THE ELIMINATION OF STATE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR COMPANIES THAT REDUCE RETIREMENT BENEFITS.

This bill requires the state and its agencies, as a condition of providing financial assistance, to prohibit any business receiving state assistance from reducing or eliminating any retirement benefit being provided its retirees as of the date the state assistance is approved. If the business eliminates or reduces any retirement benefit in violation of the bill, it must repay the assistance in full plus a 5% penalty. Financial assistance includes loans, grants, guarantees, and tax abatements.

S.B. No. 979 AN ACT CONCERNING INTEREST PENALTIES ON LATE PAYMENT OF ASSESSMENTS TO THE SECOND INJURY FUND.

This bill specifies that the penalty provision for assessments overdue from employers or insurers to the Second Injury Fund is 15% of the assessment or a $50 minimum, whichever is greater. Current law says 15% or $50.

H.B. No. 6459 (FILE 73) AN ACT CONCERNING THE REPEAL OF THE OBSOLETE STATE HIRING INCENTIVE TAX CREDIT.

This bill repeals the corporate tax credit for employers hiring people receiving Temporary Family Assistance (TFA). Current law makes the credit available to employers hiring TFA recipients for at least 30 hours a week. It gives businesses a credit of up to $125 per month when they hire people who have been receiving TFA benefits for at least nine months.

The credit has not been funded for several years.

JM:ak