(a) In addition to the application of Part II (commencing with Section 421) of Subchapter D of Chapter 1 of Subtitle A of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to certain stock options, paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of Section 421(a) of the Internal Revenue Code shall also apply to any California qualified stock option that is granted to an individual whose earned income from the corporation granting the California qualified stock option for the taxable year in which that option is exercised does not exceed forty thousand dollars ($40,000). In the event that the option does not meet the necessary qualifications, the option shall be treated as a nonqualified stock option.

(b) For purposes of this section, “California qualified stock option” means a stock option that is issued and exercised pursuant to this section and that is designated by the corporation issuing the option as a California qualified stock option at the time the option is granted.

(c) (1) This section shall apply only to those stock options that are issued on or after January 1, 1997, and before January 1, 2002, by a corporation to its employee and are exercised by the employee, while employed by the corporation that issued those stock options (or within three months thereof, or within one year thereof if permanently and totally disabled as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code), during the taxable year with respect to any class of shares, or combination thereof, issued by the corporation, to the extent that the number of shares transferable by the exercise of the options does not exceed a total of 1,000 and have a combined fair market value of less than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000). The combined fair market value of any stock shall be determined as of the time the option with respect to that stock is granted.

(2) Paragraph (1) shall be applied by taking options into account in the order in which they were granted.

(d) In the case of a California qualified stock option, no amount shall be included in the gross income of the employee until the time of the disposition of the option (or the stock acquired upon exercise of the option).

No deduction shall be allowed under Section 162 of the Internal Revenue Code to the employer on the grant or exercise of a California qualified stock option.

(e) Subdivision (d) shall not apply to any stock option for which an election has been made under Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to election to include in gross income in year of transfer.

(Amended by Stats. 1997, Ch. 604, Sec. 7. Effective October 3, 1997.)