SECTION 2. BACKGROUND

.01 INTRODUCTION

Section 313 of the Tax Extenders and Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act of 2008, Div. C of Pub. L. No. 110–343, 122 Stat. 3765 (2008) (“Act”) added new § 54E, which provides revised program provisions for QZABs in lieu of the existing provisions under §1397E, effective for obligations issued after October 3, 2008. The Act amended § 54A(d)(1) to provide that the term qualified tax credit bond (“QTCB”) means, in part, a qualified zone academy bond which is part of an issue that meets the requirements of §§ 54A(d)(2), (3), (4), (5), and (6) regarding expenditures of bond proceeds, information reporting, arbitrage, maturity limitations, and prohibitions against financial conflicts of interest. The Act also amended § 54A(d)(2)(C) to provide that, for purposes of § 54A(d)(2), the term “qualified purpose” for a QZAB means a purpose specified in § 54E(a)(1), described below.

The Act added § 54E(c)(1) to provide a national zone academy bond limitation authorization for QZABs of $400 million for each of calendar years 2008 and 2009. Section 1522 of Title I of Division B of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Pub. L. No. 111–5, 123 Stat. 115

(2009) (“2009 Act”) amended § 54E(c)(1) to provide an increased national zone academy bond limitation authorization for QZABs of $1.4 billion for each of calendar years 2009 and 2010. Section 758 of the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010, Public L. No. 111–312, 124 Stat. 3296 (2010) (“2010 Act”) further amended § 54E(c)(1) to provide an authorization for QZABs of $400 million for calendar year 2011.

.02 QUALIFIED ZONE ACADEMY BOND UNDER § 54E

Section 54E(d) defines “qualified zone academy” as any public school (or academic program within a public school) which is established by and operated under the supervision of an eligible local education agency to provide education or training below the postsecondary level provided: (A) the public school or program is designed in cooperation with business to enhance the academic curriculum, increase graduation and employment rates and prepare students for college and the workforce; (B) students will be subject to the same academic standards and assessments as other students educated by the eligible local education agency; (C) the comprehensive education plan is approved by the eligible local education agency; and (D)(i) such public school is located in an empowerment zone or enterprise community including such designated after October 3, 2008; or (ii) there is a reasonable expectation (as of the date of bond issuance) that at least 35 percent of the students will be eligible for free or reduced cost lunches under the school lunch program established under the National School Lunch Act.

Section 54E(a) provides that a “qualified zone academy bond” or QZAB means any bond issued as part of an issue if: (1) 100 percent of the available project proceeds of such issue are to be used for a qualified purpose with respect to a qualified zone academy established by an eligible local education agency; (2) the bond is issued by a State or local government within the jurisdiction of which such academy is located, and (3) the issuer: (A) designates such bond for purposes of this section; (B) certifies that it has written assurances that the private business contribution

February 7, 2011 465 2011–6 I.R.B.

tice 2009–30, 2009–16 I.R.B. 852, and Notice 2010–22, 2010–10 I.R.B. 435.