Provides for tax credits for employer sponsored tissue typing programs

BILL NUMBER:A297

Title of bill

An act to amend the tax law, in relation to providing for business tax credits for a portion of the cost of employer sponsored tissue typing programs

Purpose or general idea of bill

To provide a tax credit to certain employers who sponsor a tissue typing program.

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1 -- Adds a section 187-o to the Tax Law. Defines, for purposes of section 187-o, "employer" and "employee." This section of the bill also establishes a corporate tax credit of 25% for employers' tissue typing programs.

Section 2 -- Adds a new subdivision 20-a to section 210 of the Tax Law, Provides for a corporate franchise tax credit equal to 25% of expenses of an employer tissue typing program in any taxable year. Also defines, for purposes of this subdivision, the terms "employee" and "employer."

Section 3 -- Adds a new subsection (i-1) to Tax Law section 606. Estab- lishes a tax credit for a shareholder of an S corporation in an amount equal to their pro rata share of the credits created under Section 2 of the bill.

Section 4-- Adds a new subsection (r-1) to Tax Law section 606. Provides for a personal income tax credit equal to 25% of expenses of a tissue typing donor program in any taxable year. Defines, for purposes of this subsection, the terms "employee" and "employer."

Section 5 -- Adds a subsection (u) to Tax Law section 1456. Provides for a banking corporations tax credit equal to 25% of expenses of a tissue typing donor program in any taxable year. Defines, for purposes of this subsection, the terms "employee" and "employer."

Section 6 -- Adds a subdivision (y) to Tax Law section 1511. Provides for an insurance corporations tax credit equal to 25% of expenses of a tissue typing program in any taxable year. Defines for the purposes of this subdivision, the terms "employee" and "employer."

Section 7 -- Effective date.

Justification

Because of recent advances in bone marrow transplants, people dying of blood-related diseases such as leukemia and a plastic anemia can be saved. Saved, that is, if they can find a donor whose bone marrow match- es their own. Unfortunately, finding a match is not easy. On average, only about 1 in 20,000 unrelated people match closely enough for a marrow donation.

A national donor registry was begun in 1987 to assist in finding suit- able donors from a pool of "typed" readily available volunteers. Howev- er, it is estimated that at least 1 million potential donors worldwide must be listed on registries if the majority of the 10,000 victims pres- ently waiting for matches are to be saved. The national registry has approximately 90,000 potential donors listed and must continue to increase its pool of potential donors as rapidly as possible.

This legislation would provide much needed incentives to encourage employers to set up tissue typing programs, thus enlarging the regis- try's pool of potential bone marrow donors.

Prior legislative history

2007-2008: A7601 2003-2004: A8108A 2001-2002: A5806 1999-2000: A10375-A

Fiscal implications

Minimal.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to taxable years beginning on and after the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.