S.Amdt. 3179

SA 3179. Mr. GRASSLEY (for himself and Mr. Nelson) submitted an
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 3060 proposed by Mr.
Wyden to the bill H.R. 3474, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
to allow employers to exempt employees with health coverage under
TRICARE or the Veterans Administration from being taken into account
for purposes of the employer mandate under the Patient Protection and
Affordable Care Act; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the end, add the following:

TITLE _--CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYER ORGANIZATIONS

SEC. _01. CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYER ORGANIZATIONS.

(a) Employment Taxes.--Chapter 25 is amended by adding at
the end the following new section:

``SEC. 3511. CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYER ORGANIZATIONS.

``(a) General Rules.--For purposes of the taxes, and other
obligations, imposed by this subtitle--
``(1) a certified professional employer organization shall
be treated as the employer (and no other person shall be
treated as the employer) of any work site employee performing
services for any customer of such organization, but only with
respect to remuneration remitted by such organization to such
work site employee, and
``(2) exclusions, definitions, and other rules which are
based on the type of employer and which would (but for
paragraph (1)) apply shall apply with respect to such taxes
imposed on such remuneration.
``(b) Successor Employer Status.--For purposes of sections
3121(a)(1), 3231(e)(2)(C), and 3306(b)(1)--
``(1) a certified professional employer organization
entering into a service contract with a customer with respect
to a work site employee shall be treated as a successor
employer and the customer shall be treated as a predecessor
employer during the term of such service contract, and
``(2) a customer whose service contract with a certified
professional employer organization is terminated with respect
to a work site employee shall be treated as a successor
employer and the certified professional employer organization
shall be treated as a predecessor employer.
``(c) Liability of Certified Professional Employer
Organization.--Solely for purposes of its liability for the
taxes, and other obligations, imposed by this subtitle--
``(1) a certified professional employer organization shall
be treated as the employer of any individual (other than a
work site employee or a person described in subsection (f))
who is performing services covered by a contract meeting the
requirements of section 7705(e)(2), but only with respect to
remuneration remitted by such organization to such
individual, and
``(2) exclusions, definitions, and other rules which are
based on the type of employer and which would (but for
paragraph (1)) apply shall apply with respect to such taxes
imposed on such remuneration.
``(d) Treatment of Credits.--
``(1) In general.--For purposes of any credit specified in
paragraph (2)--
``(A) such credit with respect to a work site employee
performing services for the customer applies to the customer,
not the certified professional employer organization,
``(B) the customer, and not the certified professional
employer organization, shall take into account wages and
employment taxes--
``(i) paid by the certified professional employer
organization with respect to the work site employee, and
``(ii) for which the certified professional employer
organization receives payment from the customer, and
``(C) the certified professional employer organization
shall furnish the customer with any information necessary for
the customer to claim such credit.
``(2) Credits specified.--A credit is specified in this
paragraph if such credit is allowed under--
``(A) section 41 (credit for increasing research activity),
``(B) section 45A (Indian employment credit),
``(C) section 45B (credit for portion of employer social
security taxes paid with respect to employee cash tips),
``(D) section 45C (clinical testing expenses for certain
drugs for rare diseases or conditions),
``(E) section 45R (employee health insurance expenses of
small employers),
``(F) section 51 (work opportunity credit),
``(G) section 1396 (empowerment zone employment credit),
``(H) 1400(d) (DC Zone employment credit),
``(I) Section 1400H (renewal community employment credit),
and
``(J) any other section as provided by the Secretary.
``(e) Special Rule for Related Party.--This section shall
not apply in the case of a customer which bears a
relationship to a certified professional employer
organization described in section 267(b) or 707(b). For
purposes of the preceding sentence, such sections shall be
applied by substituting `10 percent' for `50 percent'.
``(f) Special Rule for Certain Individuals.--For purposes
of the taxes imposed under this subtitle, an individual with
net earnings from self-employment derived from the customer's
trade or business is not a work site employee with respect to
remuneration paid by a certified professional employer
organization.
``(g) Regulations.--The Secretary shall prescribe such
regulations as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out
the purposes of this section.''.
(b) Certified Professional Employer Organization Defined.--
Chapter 79 is amended by adding at the end the following new
section:

``SEC. 7705. CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYER ORGANIZATIONS
DEFINED.

``(a) In General.--For purposes of this title, the term
`certified professional employer organization' means a person
who has been certified by the Secretary for purposes of
section 3511 as meeting the requirements of subsection (b).
``(b) General Requirements.--A person meets the
requirements of this subsection if such person--

[[Page S3116]]

``(1) demonstrates that such person (and any owner,
officer, and such other persons as may be specified in
regulations) meets such requirements as the Secretary shall
establish with respect to tax status, background, experience,
business location, and annual financial audits,
``(2) computes its taxable income using an accrual method
of accounting unless the Secretary approves another method,
``(3) agrees that it will satisfy the bond and independent
financial review requirements of subsection (c) on an ongoing
basis,
``(4) agrees that it will satisfy such reporting
obligations as may be imposed by the Secretary,
``(5) agrees to verify on such periodic basis as the
Secretary may prescribe that it continues to meet the
requirements of this subsection, and
``(6) agrees to notify the Secretary in writing within such
time as the Secretary may prescribe of any change that
materially affects whether it continues to meet the
requirements of this subsection.
``(c) Bond and Independent Financial Review Requirements.--
``(1) In general.--An organization meets the requirements
of this paragraph if such organization--
``(A) meets the bond requirements of paragraph (2), and
``(B) meets the independent financial review requirements
of paragraph (3).
``(2) Bond.--
``(A) In general.--A certified professional employer
organization meets the requirements of this paragraph if the
organization has posted a bond for the payment of taxes under
subtitle C (in a form acceptable to the Secretary) in an
amount at least equal to the amount specified in subparagraph
(B).
``(B) Amount of bond.--For the period April 1 of any
calendar year through March 31 of the following calendar
year, the amount of the bond required is equal to the greater
of--
``(i) 5 percent of the organization's liability under
section 3511 for taxes imposed by subtitle C during the
preceding calendar year (but not to exceed $1,000,000), or
``(ii) $50,000.
``(3) Independent financial review requirements.--A
certified professional employer organization meets the
requirements of this paragraph if such organization--
``(A) has, as of the most recent review date, caused to be
prepared and provided to the Secretary (in such manner as the
Secretary may prescribe) an opinion of an independent
certified public accountant that the certified professional
employer organization's financial statements are presented
fairly in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles, and
``(B) provides, not later than the last day of the second
month beginning after the end of each calendar quarter, to
the Secretary from an independent certified public accountant
an assertion regarding Federal employment tax payments and an
examination level attestation on such assertion.

Such assertion shall state that the organization has withheld
and made deposits of all taxes imposed by chapters 21, 22,
and 24 of the Internal Revenue Code in accordance with
regulations imposed by the Secretary for such calendar
quarter and such examination level attestation shall state
that such assertion is fairly stated, in all material
respects.
``(4) Controlled group rules.--For purposes of the
requirements of paragraphs (2) and (3), all professional
employer organizations that are members of a controlled group
within the meaning of sections 414(b) and (c) shall be
treated as a single organization.
``(5) Failure to file assertion and attestation.--If the
certified professional employer organization fails to file
the assertion and attestation required by paragraph (3) with
respect to any calendar quarter, then the requirements of
paragraph (3) with respect to such failure shall be treated
as not satisfied for the period beginning on the due date for
such attestation.
``(6) Review date.--For purposes of paragraph (3)(A), the
review date shall be 6 months after the completion of the
organization's fiscal year.
``(d) Suspension and Revocation Authority.--The Secretary
may suspend or revoke a certification of any person under
subsection (b) for purposes of section 3511 if the Secretary
determines that such person is not satisfying the
representations or requirements of subsections (b) or (c), or
fails to satisfy applicable accounting, reporting, payment,
or deposit requirements.
``(e) Work Site Employee.--For purposes of this title--
``(1) In general.--The term `work site employee' means,
with respect to a certified professional employer
organization, an individual who--
``(A) performs services for a customer pursuant to a
contract which is between such customer and the certified
professional employer organization and which meets the
requirements of paragraph (2), and
``(B) performs services at a work site meeting the
requirements of paragraph (3).
``(2) Service contract requirements.--A contract meets the
requirements of this paragraph with respect to an individual
performing services for a customer if such contract is in
writing and provides that the certified professional employer
organization shall--
``(A) assume responsibility for payment of wages to such
individual, without regard to the receipt or adequacy of
payment from the customer for such services,
``(B) assume responsibility for reporting, withholding, and
paying any applicable taxes under subtitle C, with respect to
such individual's wages, without regard to the receipt or
adequacy of payment from the customer for such services,
``(C) assume responsibility for any employee benefits which
the service contract may require the organization to provide,
without regard to the receipt or adequacy of payment from the
customer for such services,
``(D) assume responsibility for hiring, firing, and
recruiting workers in addition to the customer's
responsibility for hiring, firing and recruiting workers,
``(E) maintain employee records relating to such
individual, and
``(F) agree to be treated as a certified professional
employer organization for purposes of section 3511 with
respect to such individual.
``(3) Work site coverage requirement.--The requirements of
this paragraph are met with respect to an individual if at
least 85 percent of the individuals performing services for
the customer at the work site where such individual performs
services are subject to 1 or more contracts with the
certified professional employer organization which meet the
requirements of paragraph (2) (but not taking into account
those individuals who are excluded employees within the
meaning of section 414(q)(5)).
``(f) Determination of Employment Status.--Except to the
extent necessary for purposes of section 3511, nothing in
this section shall be construed to affect the determination
of who is an employee or employer for purposes of this title.
``(g) Regulations.--The Secretary shall prescribe such
regulations as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out
the purposes of this section.''.
(c) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Section 3302 is amended by adding at the end the
following new subsection:
``(h) Treatment of Certified Professional Employer
Organizations.--If a certified professional employer
organization (as defined in section 7705), or a customer of
such organization, makes a contribution to the State's
unemployment fund with respect to a work site employee, such
organization shall be eligible for the credits available
under this section with respect to such contribution.''.
(2) Section 3303(a) is amended--
(A) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (3) and
inserting ``; and'' and by inserting after paragraph (3) the
following new paragraph:
``(4) if the taxpayer is a certified professional employer
organization (as defined in section 7705) that is treated as
the employer under section 3511, such certified professional
employer organization is permitted to collect and remit, in
accordance with paragraphs (1), (2), and (3), contributions
during the taxable year to the State unemployment fund with
respect to a work site employee.'', and
(B) in the last sentence--
(i) by striking ``paragraphs (1), (2), and (3)'' and
inserting ``paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4)'', and
(ii) by striking ``paragraph (1), (2), or (3)'' and
inserting ``paragraph (1), (2), (3), or (4)''.
(3) Section 6053(c) is amended by adding at the end the
following new paragraph:
``(8) Certified professional employer organizations.--For
purposes of any report required by this subsection, in the
case of a certified professional employer organization that
is treated under section 3511 as the employer of a work site
employee, the customer with respect to whom a work site
employee performs services shall be the employer for purposes
of reporting under this section and the certified
professional employer organization shall furnish to the
customer any information necessary to complete such reporting
no later than such time as the Secretary shall prescribe.''.
(d) Clerical Amendments.--
(1) The table of sections for chapter 25 is amended by
adding at the end the following new item:

``Sec. 3511. Certified professional employer organizations.''.
(2) The table of sections for chapter 79 is amended by
inserting after the item relating to section 7704 the
following new item:

``Sec. 7705. Certified professional employer organizations defined.''.
(e) Reporting Requirements and Obligations.--The Secretary
of the Treasury shall develop such reporting and
recordkeeping rules, regulations, and procedures as the
Secretary determines necessary or appropriate to ensure
compliance with the amendments made by this section with
respect to entities applying for certification as certified
professional employer organizations or entities that have
been so certified. Such rules shall include--
(1) notification of the Secretary in the case of the
commencement or termination of a service contract described
in section 7705(e)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
between such a person and a customer, and the employer
identification number of such customer, and
(2) such other information as the Secretary determines is
essential to promote compliance with respect to the credits
identified in section 3511(d) of such Code, and

shall be designed in a manner which streamlines, to the
extent possible, the application

[[Page S3117]]

of requirements of such amendments, the exchange of
information between a certified professional employer
organization and its customers, and the reporting and
recordkeeping obligations of the certified professional
employer organization.
(f) User Fees.--Subsection (b) of section 7528 is amended
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(4) Certified professional employer organizations.--The
annual fee charged under the program in connection with the
ongoing certification by the Secretary of a professional
employer organization under section 7705 shall not exceed
$1,000.''.
(g) Effective Dates.--
(1) In general.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply with respect to wages for services performed on or
after January 1 of the first calendar year beginning more
than 12 months after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(2) Certification program.--The Secretary of the Treasury
shall establish the certification program described in
section 7705(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
added by subsection (b), not later than 6 months before the
effective date determined under paragraph (1).
(h) No Inference.--Nothing contained in this section or the
amendments made by this section shall be construed to create
any inference with respect to the determination of who is an
employee or employer--
(1) for Federal tax purposes (other than the purposes set
forth in the amendments made by this section), or
(2) for purposes of any other provision of law.
______