SECTION 1.  Section 1 of chapter 63 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is hereby amended by deleting the words "sections one to two A" in line 1 and inserting in their place the following words:-  sections one to two B

SECTION 2.  Said section 1 of chapter 63 of the General Laws, as so appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is hereby further amended by striking clause (b) of the definition of “Net income,” and inserting in its place the following clause:-

(b) losses sustained in other taxable years, except for net operating losses sustained in any taxable year beginning on or after January 1, 2010; provided, further that no operating loss carry-forward of a financial institution shall be allowed as a deduction for any taxable year beginning before January 1, 2012.

SECTION 3.  Subsection (f) of section 32B of said chapter 63, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out clause (iii) and inserting in place thereof the following clause:- (iii) the application of any carry forwards, including the sharing of any net operating loss or tax credit carry forwards that are attributable to the activities of the combined group's unitary business, which shall provide for the liberal sharing of such attributes among each member of the group, including financial institutions and utility corporations irrespective of any limitation on the deduction for losses sustained in other taxable years that is otherwise imposed under section 1 or 52A of this chapter, but the carry forward of losses, credits or other tax benefits that arise before the effective date of this section shall be available only to the extent permitted by law as in effect before the effective date; it being understood that the research credit allowed under section 38M could be shared before such effective date without regard to whether the corporation generating the credit and the corporation using it participated in a combined return prior to the year of utilization; and

SECTION 4.  clause (ii) of paragraph (b) of subdivision of subdivision (1) of section 52A of chapter 63 of the General Laws, as so appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking clause (ii) and inserting in its place the following clause:-

(ii) losses sustained in other taxable years, except for net operating losses sustained in any taxable year beginning on or after January 1, 2010; provided, further that no operating loss carry-forward of a public utility corporation shall be allowed as a deduction for any taxable year beginning before January 1, 2012.

SECTION 5.  Sections 1 through 4 are effective for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2009.