(a) A person engaged in the business of mining in the state is allowed a credit against the tax due under this chapter for contributions of cash or equipment accepted for

(1) direct instruction, research, and educational support purposes, including library and museum acquisitions, and contributions to endowment, by an Alaska university foundation, by a nonprofit, public or private, Alaska two-year or four-year college accredited by a national or regional accreditation association, or by a public or private nonprofit elementary or secondary school in the state;

(2) secondary school level vocational education courses, programs, and facilities by a school district in the state;

(3) vocational education courses, programs, and facilities by a state- operated vocational technical education and training school;

(4) a facility by a nonprofit, public or private, Alaska two-year or four-year college accredited by a national or regional accreditation association or by a public or private nonprofit elementary or secondary school in the state;

(5) Alaska Native cultural or heritage programs and educational support, including mentoring and tutoring, provided by a nonprofit agency for public school staff and for students who are in grades kindergarten through 12 in the state;

(6) education, research, rehabilitation, and facilities by an institution that is located in the state and that qualifies as a coastal ecosystem learning center under the Coastal America Partnership established by the federal government;

(7) the Alaska higher education investment fund under AS 37.14.750;

(8) funding a scholarship awarded by a nonprofit organization to a dual-credit student to defray the cost of a dual-credit course, including the cost of

(A) tuition and textbooks;

(B) registration, course, and programmatic student fees;

(C) on-campus room and board at the postsecondary institution in the state that provides the dual-credit course;

(D) transportation costs to and from a residential school approved by the Department of Education and Early Development under AS 14.16.200 or the postsecondary school in the state that provides the dual-credit course; and

(E) other related educational and programmatic costs;

(9) constructing, operating, or maintaining a residential housing facility by a residential school approved by the Department of Education and Early Development under AS 14.16.200;

(10) childhood early learning and development programs and educational support to childhood early learning and development programs provided by a nonprofit corporation organized under AS 10.20, a tribal entity, or a school district in the state, by the Department of Education and Early Development, or through a state grant;

(11) science, technology, engineering, and math programs provided by a nonprofit agency or a school district for school staff and for students in grades kindergarten through 12 in the state; and

(12) the operation of a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing educational opportunities that promote the legacy of public service contributions to the state and perpetuate ongoing educational programs that foster public service leadership for future generations of residents of the state.

(b) The amount of the credit is

(1) 50 percent of contributions of not more than $100,000;

(2) 75 percent of the next $200,000 of contributions; and

(3) 50 percent of the amount of contributions that exceed $300,000.

(c) Each public college and university shall include in its annual operating budget request contributions received and how the contributions were used.

(d) A contribution claimed as a credit under this section may not

(1) be the basis for a credit claimed under another provision of this title; and

(2) when combined with contributions that are the basis for credits taken during the taxpayer's tax year under AS 21.96.070, AS 43.20.014, AS 43.55.019, AS 43.56.018, AS 43.75.018, or AS 43.77.045, result in the total amount of the credits exceeding $1,000,000; if the taxpayer is a member of an affiliated group, then the total amount of credits may not exceed $1,000,000 for the affiliated group; in this paragraph, “affiliated group” has the meaning given in AS 43.20.145.

(e) The credit under this section may not reduce a person's tax liability under this chapter to below zero for any tax year. An unused credit or portion of a credit not used under this section for a tax year may not be sold, traded, transferred, or applied in a subsequent tax year.

(f) To qualify for a credit under this section, equipment must be appraised consistent with regulations adopted by the department to determine the value of the contribution for purposes of this section.

(g) In this section,

(1) “dual-credit student” means a secondary level student in the state who simultaneously earns college and high school credit for a course;

(2) “nonprofit organization” means a charitable or educational organization in the state that is exempt from taxation under 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) (Internal Revenue Code);

(3) “school district” has the meaning given in AS 43.20.014;

(4) “vocational education” has the meaning given in AS 43.20.014.