S.B. 157 Summary

• Creates nonrefundable tax credits for employers who hire "qualified reforming offenders" (individuals convicted of felonies or misdemeanors) in three tax regimes: corporate franchise tax (section 5726.58), pass-through entity tax (section 5747.391), and commercial activity tax (section 5751.55).

• Qualified reforming offenders must be hired within one year of conviction or release from incarceration and come from families with income at or below 70% of the federal lower living standard income threshold.

• Credit amounts range from 25% to 40% of wages paid, with maximum credits of $1,500 (for 120-399 hours worked) or $2,400 (for 400+ hours worked) per employee annually; credits are nonrefundable but may be carried forward up to five years.

• Establishes restrictions preventing double-claiming of credits across tax types for the same employee, prohibits credits for federally-funded on-the-job training wages, and reduces credits if employment terminates before 12 months for reasons other than voluntary separation, disability, death, or cause.

• Files and documents related to qualified reforming offenders and their families are exempt from public records disclosure; amends tax credit claim procedures in sections 5726.98, 5747.98, and 5751.98 to incorporate the new credits in proper order.