(a) For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2017, and before January 1, 2023, there shall be allowed as a credit against the “tax,” as defined in Section 23036, an amount equal to 50 percent of the amount contributed by the taxpayer for the taxable year to the College Access Tax Credit Fund, as allocated and certified by the California Educational Facilities Authority.

(b) (1) The aggregate amount of credit that may be allocated and certified pursuant to this section, Section 12207, and Section 17053.87 shall be an amount equal to five hundred million dollars ($500,000,000).

(2) (A) For the purposes of this section, the California Educational Facilities Authority shall do all of the following:

(i) On a first-come-first-served basis, allocate and certify tax credits to taxpayers under this section.

(ii) Establish a procedure for taxpayers to contribute to the College Access Tax Credit Fund and to obtain from the California Educational Facilities Authority a certification for the credit allowed by this section. The procedure shall require the California Educational Facilities Authority to certify the contribution amount eligible for credit within 45 days following receipt of the contribution.

(iii) Provide to the Franchise Tax Board a copy of each credit certificate issued for the calendar year by March 1 of the calendar year immediately following the year in which those certificates are issued.

(B) (i) The California Educational Facilities Authority shall adopt any regulations necessary or appropriate to implement this paragraph.

(ii) The Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code) shall not apply to any regulation adopted by the California Educational Facilities Authority pursuant to clause (i).

(c) (1) In the case where the credit allowed by this section exceeds the “tax,” the excess may be carried over to reduce the “tax” in the following year, and succeeding five years if necessary, until the credit is exhausted.

(2) A deduction shall not be allowed under this part for amounts taken into account under this section in calculating the credit allowed by this section.

(d) The tax credit allowed by subdivision (a), subdivision (a) of Section 12207, and subdivision (a) of Section 17053.87 for donations to the College Access Tax Credit Fund shall be known as the College Access Tax Credit.

(e) This section shall remain in effect only until December 1, 2023, and as of that date is repealed.

(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 527, Sec. 3. (AB 490) Effective January 1, 2018. Repealed as of December 1, 2023, by its own provisions.)