Section 24306.

(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings, as provided in the Golden State Scholarshare Trust Act (Article 19 (commencing with Section 69980) of Chapter 2 of Part 42 of the Education Code):

(1) "Beneficiary" has the meaning set forth in subdivision (c) of Section 69980 of the Education Code.

(2) "Benefit" has the meaning set forth in subdivision (d) of Section 69980 of the Education Code.

(3) "Participant" has the meaning set forth in subdivision (h) of Section 69980 of the Education Code.

(4) "Participation agreement" has the meaning set forth in subdivision (i) of Section 69980 of the Education Code.

(5) "Scholarshare trust" has the meaning set forth in subdivision (f) of Section 69980 of the Education Code.

(b) For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 1998, and before January 1, 2002, except as otherwise provided in subdivision (c), gross income of a participant shall not include any of the following:

(1) Any earnings under a Scholarshare trust, or a participation agreement, as provided in Article 19 (commencing with Section 69980) of Chapter 2 of Part 42 of the Education Code.

(2) Contributions to the Scholarshare trust on behalf of a beneficiary shall not be includable as gross income of that beneficiary.

(c) For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 1998, and before January 1, 2002:

(1) Any distribution under a Scholarshare trust participation agreement shall be includable in the gross income of the distributee in the manner as provided under Section 72 of the Internal Revenue Code, as modified by Section 24272.2, to the extent not excluded from gross income under any other provision of this part. For purposes of applying Section 72 of the Internal Revenue Code, the following apply:

(A) All Scholarshare trust accounts of which an individual is a beneficiary shall be treated as one account, except as otherwise provided.

(B) All distributions during a taxable year shall be treated as one distribution.

(C) The value of the participation agreement, income on the participation agreement, and investment in the participation agreement shall be computed as of the close of the calendar year in which the taxable year begins.

(2) A contribution by a for-profit or nonprofit entity, or by a state or local government agency, for the benefit of an owner or employee of that entity or a beneficiary whom the owner or employee has the power to designate, including the owner or employee's minor children, shall be included in the gross income of that owner or employee in the year the contribution is made.

(3) For purposes of this subdivision, "distribution" includes any benefit furnished to a beneficiary under a participation agreement, as provided in Article 19 (commencing with Section 69980) of Chapter 2 of Part 42 of the Education Code.

(4) (A) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to that portion of any distribution that, within 60 days of distribution, is transferred to the credit of another beneficiary under the Scholarshare trust who is a "member of the family," as that term is used in Section 529(e)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended by Section 211 of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-34), of the former beneficiary of that Scholarshare trust.

(B) Any change in the beneficiary of an interest in the Scholarshare trust shall not be treated as a distribution for purposes of paragraph (1) if the new beneficiary is a "member of the family," as that term is used in Section 2032A(e)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, of the former beneficiary of that Scholarshare trust.

(d) For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2002, Sections 529(c) and 529(e) of the Internal Revenue Code shall apply except as otherwise provided in Part 10 (commencing with Section 17001) and this part.

(Amended by Stats. 2005, Ch. 691, Sec. 59. Effective October 7, 2005.)