(a) Findings. — The Legislature finds that the tax credits allowed under provisions of this article heretofore enacted have not effectively and efficiently increased employment through investment in certain industry segments; that while there has been a significant net decrease in employment in the coal industry in recent years the amount of credit being claimed by producers of coal has significantly increased; that the increasing cost of the credits allowed by this article to coal producers is eroding the state's ability to reasonably fund essential state services such as public education, public safety and basic human services; and that this erosion will continue unless remedial legislation is enacted.
(b) Construction. — The rule of statutory construction codified in subsection (b), section twelve of this article, is hereby replaced with a rule of reasonable construction in which the burden of proof is on the taxpayer to establish by clear and convincing evidence that the taxpayer is entitled to the benefits allowed by this article.
(c) Credit not to be applied against severance taxes.
(1) Notwithstanding any provision in this chapter to the contrary, no credit shall be allowed against the taxes imposed by article thirteen-a of this chapter for taxable years ending on or after March 10, 1990, unless one of the transition rules in paragraph (2) of this subsection (c) applies.