Bill Text: CT SB00218 | 2014 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: An Act Creating A Veterans' Projects Account.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-02-21 - Public Hearing 02/25 [SB00218 Detail]

Download: Connecticut-2014-SB00218-Introduced.html

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General Assembly		Raised Bill No. 218
February Session, 2014		LCO No. 1357
		*01357_______VA_*
Referred to Committee on VETERANS' AFFAIRS
Introduced by:
(VA)

AN ACT CREATING A VETERANS' PROJECTS ACCOUNT.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 12-743 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2014, and applicable to taxable years commencing on or after January 1, 2014):

(a) Any taxpayer filing a return under this chapter may contribute any part of a refund under this chapter to (1) the organ transplant account established pursuant to section 17b-288, (2) the AIDS research education account established pursuant to section 19a-32a, (3) the endangered species, natural area preserves and watchable wildlife account established pursuant to section 22a-27l, (4) the breast cancer research and education account established pursuant to section 19a-32b, [or] (5) the safety net services account established pursuant to section 17b-112f, or (6) the veterans' projects account established pursuant to section 2 of this act, by indicating on the tax return, in a manner provided for by the Commissioner of Revenue Services pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, the amount to be contributed to the account.

(b) The Commissioner of Revenue Services shall revise the tax return form to implement the provisions of subsection (a) of this section which form shall include spaces on the return in which taxpayers may indicate their intention to make a contribution, in a whole dollar amount, in accordance with this section. The commissioner shall include in the instructions accompanying the tax return a description of the purposes for which the organ transplant account, the AIDS research education account, the endangered species, natural area preserves and watchable wildlife account, the breast cancer research and education account, [and] the safety net account and the veterans' projects account were created. For purposes of facilitating the registration of a taxpayer as an organ donor, the commissioner shall include information in the instructions accompanying the tax return that (1) indicates the manner by which a taxpayer may contact an organ donor registry organization, or (2) provides electronic links to appropriate organ donor registry organizations for such purpose.

(c) A designated contribution of all or part of any refund shall be irrevocable upon the filing of the return and shall be made in the full amount designated if the refund found due the taxpayer upon the initial processing of the return, and after any deductions required by this chapter, is greater than or equal to the designated contribution. If the refund due, as determined upon initial processing, and after any deductions required by this chapter, is less than the designated contribution, the contribution shall be made in the full amount of the refund. The Commissioner of Revenue Services shall subtract the amount of any contribution of all or part of any refund from the amount of the refund initially found due the taxpayer and shall certify the difference to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and the Treasurer for payment to the taxpayer in accordance with this chapter. For the purposes of any subsequent determination of the taxpayer's net tax payment, such contribution shall be considered a part of the refund paid to the taxpayer.

(d) The Commissioner of Revenue Services, after notification of and approval by the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, may deduct and retain from the funds so collected an amount equal to the costs of implementing this section and sections 17b-288, 19a-32a, 22a-27l, 19a-32b, [and] 17b-112f and section 2 of this act, but not to exceed seven and one-half per cent of the funds contributed in any fiscal year and in no event shall exceed the total cost of implementation of said sections.

Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2014) (a) There is established an account to be known as the "veterans' projects account" which shall be a separate, nonlapsing account within the General Fund. The account shall contain any moneys required by law to be deposited in the account, and any moneys collected under the contribution system established under section 12-743 of the general statutes, as amended by this act, shall be deposited by the Commissioner of Revenue Services into the account. This account may also receive moneys from public and private sources or from the federal government. Moneys in the account shall be expended by the Department of Veterans' Affairs for the purpose of providing grants to nonprofit organizations that provide services to veterans and their families. Such grants may be used for (1) assistance in the provision by such organizations of services to veterans or their families, through hiring personnel, paying for administrative equipment or upgrades to such equipment, or similar operating support, (2) special one-time events or initiatives open to veterans or their families, (3) promotion and outreach to publicize available services, and (4) such other projects as the Commissioner of Veterans' Affairs may approve.

(b) The Commissioner of Veterans' Affairs may adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 of the general statutes to provide for the distribution of funds available pursuant to this section and section 12-743 of the general statutes, as amended by this act.

This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1	July 1, 2014, and applicable to taxable years commencing on or after January 1, 2014	12-743
Sec. 2	July 1, 2014	New section

Statement of Purpose:

To create an account to be used for projects benefitting veterans and their families by allowing contributions from state income tax refunds to the account.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]