1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to taxes; providing a credit for employer
1.3 	postsecondary education expenses; amending Minnesota
1.4 	Statutes 2004, section 290.06, by adding a subdivision.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 290.06, is
1.7 	amended by adding a subdivision to read:
1.8 		Subd. 32.Credit for employer education expenses. A
1.9 	taxpayer may take a credit against the tax due under this
1.10 	chapter equal to 30 percent of the expense incurred by the
1.11 	taxpayer for payment of tuition and fees for postsecondary
1.12 	education for qualifying employees.  The maximum credit allowed
1.13 	in any taxable year may not exceed $2,000 for a qualifying
1.14 	employee.  As used in this subdivision, "qualifying employee"
1.15 	means an employee who works at least 30 hours per week at a pay
1.16 	rate of less than $12 per hour, and "postsecondary education"
1.17 	means postsecondary educational programs for which payment
1.18 	qualifies as "educational assistance" as defined in section
1.19 	127(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, but excluding programs
1.20 	leading to a law, business, medical, or other advanced academic
1.21 	or professional degree.
1.22 	
EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for taxable
1.23 	years beginning after December 31, 2004.