Empowering Jobs Act of 2015

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the rules for tax-exempt enterprise zone facility bonds and to extend the tax incentives for empowerment zones. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Empowering Jobs Act of 2015 2. Modification of rules for tax-exempt enterprise zone facility bonds (a) In general Clause (i) of section 1394(b)(3)(B) (1) by striking References (I) In general Except as provided in subclause (II), references , and (2) by adding at the end the following new subclause: (II) Special rule for employee residence test For purposes of subsection (b)(6) and (c)(5) of section 1397C, an employee shall be treated as a resident of an empowerment zone if such employee is a resident of an empowerment zone, an enterprise community, or a qualified low-income community within an applicable nominating jurisdiction. . (b) Definitions (1) Qualified low-income community Paragraph (3) of section 1394(b) (C) Qualified low-income community For purposes of subparagraph (B)— (i) In general The term qualified low-income community (I) the poverty rate for such tract is at least 20 percent, or (II) the median family income for such tract does not exceed 80 percent of statewide median family income (or, in the case of a tract located within a metropolitan area, metropolitan area median family income if greater). Subclause (II) shall be applied using possessionwide median family income in the case of census tracts located within a possession of the United States. (ii) Targeted populations The Secretary shall prescribe regulations under which 1 or more targeted populations (within the meaning of section 103(20) of the Riegle Community Development and Regulatory Improvement Act of 1994) may be treated as a qualified low-income communities. (iii) Areas not within census tracts In the case of an area which is not tracted for population census tracts, the equivalent county divisions (as defined by the Bureau of the Census for purposes of defining poverty areas) shall be used for purposes of determining poverty rates and median family income. (iv) Modification of income requirement for census tracts within high migration rural counties (I) In general In the case of a population census tract located within a high migration rural county, clause (i)(II) shall be applied to areas not located within a metropolitan area by substituting 85 percent 80 percent (II) High migration rural county For purposes of this clause, the term high migration rural county . (2) Applicable nominating jurisdiction Subparagraph (D) of section 1394(b)(3) of such Code, as redesignated by paragraph (1), is amended by adding at the end the following new clause: (iii) Applicable nominating jurisdiction The term applicable nominating jurisdiction . (c) Conforming amendments (1) Clause (iii) of section 1394(b)(3)(B) of such Code is amended by striking or an enterprise community , an enterprise community, or a qualified low-income community within an applicable nominating jurisdiction (2) Subparagraph (D) of section 1394(b)(3) of such Code, as redesignated by subsection (b)(1), is amended by striking Definitions Other definitions (d) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to bonds issued before, on, or after the date of the enactment of this Act and not redeemed before the date of the enactment of this Act. 3. Extension of empowerment zone tax incentives (a) In general Clause (i) of section 1391(d)(1)(A), as amended by the Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014, is amended by striking December 31, 2014 December 31, 2016 (b) Treatment of certain termination dates specified in nominations In the case of a designation of an empowerment zone the nomination for which included a termination date which is contemporaneous with the date specified in subparagraph (A)(i) of section 1391(d)(1) (c) Effective dates The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply to periods after December 31, 2014.

Summary: Empowering Jobs Act of 2015 Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to tax-exempt enterprise zone facility bonds and empowerment zones, to: (1) include as employees of a qualified business entity employees who are residents of an empowerment zone, an enterprise community, or a qualified low-income community; and (2) extend the period of designation for empowerment zones through December 31, 2016 (thus extending the eligibility of such zones for certain tax benefits).