Article 16. General Provisions of California Revenue And Taxation Code >> Division 2. >> Part 10.2. >> Chapter 3. >> Article 16.

In implementing this chapter, all of the following requirements shall apply:
  (a) Unless otherwise specifically required by law, each voluntary contribution fund or account established by this chapter shall be included on the forms of the return through the taxable year immediately preceding the year of repeal of the article establishing that voluntary contribution fund or account.
  (b) Notwithstanding the repeal of any article of this chapter, the voluntary contribution fund or account specified in that article shall continue in effect until December 31 of the year of the repeal of that article, and any contribution designated pursuant to that article on a timely filed initial return for the taxable year immediately preceding the date of repeal shall be transferred and disbursed, and all costs incurred by the Franchise Tax Board and Controller in connection with the transfer and disbursement of these contribution amounts shall continue to be paid, in accordance with that article as it read immediately prior to its repeal.
  (c) Unless otherwise specifically required by law, a contribution made to any voluntary contribution fund or account established by this chapter shall be subject to the following provisions:
  (1) In the event that no designee is specified, the contribution shall, after reimbursement of the direct actual costs of the Franchise Tax Board for the collection and administration of contributions made under this article, be transferred to the General Fund.
  (2) In the event an individual designates a contribution to more than one account or fund listed on the tax return, and the amount available is insufficient to satisfy the total amount designated, the contribution shall be allocated among the designees on a pro rata basis.
  (d) (1) If the number of contingent voluntary contribution designations that are eligible to be added to the tax return for a taxable year is greater than the number of voluntary contribution designations removed, those contingent voluntary contribution designations that are eligible to be added to the tax return shall be added to the tax return in the order of the date of enactment, with the voluntary contribution designation with the earliest date of enactment to be added first.
  (2) For purposes of this subdivision:
  (A) A contingent voluntary contribution designation means a voluntary contribution designation authorized under this chapter that may not be added to the tax return until another voluntary contribution designation is removed from the tax form.
  (B) The date of enactment of a contingent voluntary contribution designation authorized under this chapter shall be the date the act authorizing the contingent voluntary contribution designation was filed with the Secretary of State. In the event that more than one act authorizing a contingent voluntary contribution designation is filed with the Secretary of State on the same date, the act with the lowest chapter number will be conclusively presumed to have been filed with the Secretary of State before any other act authorizing a contingent voluntary contribution designation with a higher number.
  (e) Notwithstanding subdivision (d), or the contingency language of an act prohibiting the addition of a contingent voluntary contribution designation until another voluntary contribution designation is removed, the Franchise Tax Board may add one or more voluntary contribution designations if the board determines that space is available on the tax return to accommodate the additional voluntary contribution designation.

The Legislature finds and declares that it is important to inform taxpayers that they may make voluntary contributions to certain funds or programs, as provided on the state income tax return. The Legislature further finds and declares that many taxpayers remain unaware of the voluntary contribution check-offs on the state income tax return. Therefore, it is the intent of the Legislature to encourage all persons who prepare state income tax returns to inform their clients in writing, prior to the completion of any tax return, that they may make a contribution to any voluntary contribution check-off on the state income tax return if they so choose.