1. Within the discretion of the board, the development and reserve fund, the infrastructure development fund or the export finance fund may be pledged to secure the payment of any bonds or notes issued by the board, or to secure the payment of any loan made by the board or a participating lender which loan:
(1) Is requested to finance any project or export trade activity;
(2) Is requested by a borrower who is demonstrated to be financially responsible;
(3) Can reasonably be expected to provide a benefit to the economy of this state;
(4) Is otherwise secured by a mortgage or deed of trust on real or personal property or other security satisfactory to the board; provided that loans to finance export trade activities may be secured by export accounts receivable or inventories of exportable goods satisfactory to the board;
(5) Does not exceed five million dollars;
(6) Does not have a term longer than five years if such loan is made to finance export trade activities; and
(7) Is, when used to finance export trade activities, made to small or medium size businesses or agricultural businesses, as may be defined by the board.
2. The board shall prescribe standards for the evaluation of the financial condition, business history, and qualifications of each borrower and the terms and conditions of loans which may be secured, and may require each application to include a financial report and evaluation by an independent certified public accounting firm, in addition to such examination and evaluation as may be conducted by any participating lender.
3. Each application for a loan secured by the development and reserve fund, the infrastructure development fund or the export finance fund shall be reviewed in the first instance by any participating lender to whom the application was submitted. If satisfied that the standards prescribed by the board are met and that the loan is otherwise eligible to be secured by the development and reserve fund, the infrastructure development fund or the export finance fund, the participating lender shall certify the same and forward the application for final approval to the board.
4. The securing of any loans by the development and reserve fund, the infrastructure development fund or the export finance fund shall be conditioned upon approval of the application by the board, and receipt of an annual reserve participation fee, as prescribed by the board, submitted by or on behalf of the borrower.
5. The securing of any loan by the export finance fund for export trade activities shall be conditioned upon the board's compliance with any applicable treaties and international agreements, such as the general agreement on tariffs and trade and the subsidies code, to which the United States is then a party.
6. Any taxpayer, including any charitable organization that is exempt from federal income tax and whose Missouri unrelated business taxable income, if any, would be subject to the state income tax imposed under chapter 143 , may, subject to the limitations provided under subsection 8 of this section, receive a tax credit against any tax otherwise due under the provisions of chapter 143 , excluding withholding tax imposed by sections 143.191 to 143.261 , chapter 147 , or chapter 148 , in the amount of fifty percent of any amount contributed in money or property by the taxpayer to the development and reserve fund, the infrastructure development fund or the export finance fund during the taxpayer's tax year, provided, however, the total tax credits awarded in any calendar year beginning after January 1, 1994, shall not be the greater of ten million dollars or five percent of the average growth in general revenue receipts in the preceding three fiscal years. This limit may be exceeded only upon joint agreement by the commissioner of administration, the director of the department of economic development, and the director of the department of revenue that such action is essential to ensure retention or attraction of investment in Missouri. If the board receives, as a contribution, real property, the contributor at such contributor's own expense shall have two independent appraisals conducted by appraisers certified by the Master Appraisal Institute. Both appraisals shall be submitted to the board, and the tax credit certified by the board to the contributor shall be based upon the value of the lower of the two appraisals. The board shall not certify the tax credit until the property is deeded to the board. Such credit shall not apply to reserve participation fees paid by borrowers under sections 100.250 to 100.297 . The portion of earned tax credits which exceeds the taxpayer's tax liability may be carried forward for up to five years.
7. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, any taxpayer may sell, assign, exchange, convey or otherwise transfer tax credits allowed in subsection 6 of this section under the terms and conditions prescribed in subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection. Such taxpayer, hereinafter the assignor for the purpose of this subsection, may sell, assign, exchange or otherwise transfer earned tax credits:
(1) For no less than seventy-five percent of the par value of such credits; and
(2) In an amount not to exceed one hundred percent of annual earned credits. The taxpayer acquiring earned credits, hereinafter the assignee for the purpose of this subsection, may use the acquired credits to offset up to one hundred percent of the tax liabilities otherwise imposed by chapter 143 , excluding withholding tax imposed by sections 143.191 to 143.261 , chapter 147 , or chapter 148 . Unused credits in the hands of the assignee may be carried forward for up to five years, provided all such credits shall be claimed within ten years following the tax years in which the contribution was made. The assignor shall enter into a written agreement with the assignee establishing the terms and conditions of the agreement and shall perfect such transfer by notifying the board in writing within thirty calendar days following the effective day of the transfer and shall provide any information as may be required by the board to administer and carry out the provisions of this section. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the amount received by the assignor of such tax credit shall be taxable as income of the assignor, and the excess of the par value of such credit over the amount paid by the assignee for such credit shall be taxable as income of the assignee.
8. Provisions of subsections 1 to 7 of this section to the contrary notwithstanding, no more than ten million dollars in tax credits provided under this section, may be authorized or approved annually. The limitation on tax credit authorization and approval provided under this subsection may be exceeded only upon mutual agreement, evidenced by a signed and properly notarized letter, by the commissioner of the office of administration, the director of the department of economic development, and the director of the department of revenue that such action is essential to ensure retention or attraction of investment in Missouri provided, however, that in no case shall more than twenty-five million dollars in tax credits be authorized or approved during such year. Taxpayers shall file, with the board, an application for tax credits authorized under this section on a form provided by the board. The provisions of this subsection shall not be construed to limit or in any way impair the ability of the board to authorize tax credits for issuance for projects authorized or approved, by a vote of the board, on or before the thirtieth day following the effective date of this act * , or a taxpayer's ability to redeem such tax credits.