Bill Text: AZ HB2499 | 2021 | Fifty-fifth Legislature 1st Regular | Introduced
Bill Title: Small business grants; appropriation
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-01-28 - House read second time [HB2499 Detail]
Download: Arizona-2021-HB2499-Introduced.html
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REFERENCE TITLE: small business grants; appropriation |
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State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-fifth Legislature First Regular Session 2021
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HB 2499 |
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Introduced by Representatives Lieberman: Butler, Chávez, Jermaine, Rodriguez, Terán, Senator Engel
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AN ACT
amending title 41, chapter 10, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 41‑1506.02; appropriating monies; relating to the arizona commerce authority.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 41, chapter 10, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 41-1506.02, to read:
41-1506.02. Small business assistance grant fund; qualifications; application; exemption
A. The small business assistance grant fund is established consisting of legislative appropriations to provide grants to businesses in this state that meet the qualifications prescribed in this section. The authority shall administer the fund. Monies in the fund are continuously appropriated.
B. Except as provided in subsection H of this section, a business that operates in this state, including any of the following, may apply for a small business assistance grant:
1. AN individual who operates as a sole proprietor.
2. An individual who operates as an independent contractor.
3. An individual who is self-employed and who regularly carries on any trade or business.
4. A Tribal small business.
5. A Cooperative and employee‑owned business.
C. TO qualify for a small business assistance grant awarded pursuant to this section, the business must meet all of the following:
1. operate in this state.
2. Employ twenty‑five employees or fewer.
3. Have been in operation since January 31, 2020 but closed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
D. Each grant awarded pursuant to this section shall be in the amount of $10,000. The authority shall allocate at least thirty percent of the monies in the small business assistance grant fund to qualified businesses that are located in counties with less than nine hundred thousand persons.
E. A business shall apply, on a form prescribed by the authority, To receive monies from the small business assistance grant fund. The application must include:
1. The name of the business.
2. The number of employees of the business at the time of applying for the grant.
3. THe date the business was organized.
4. OTher information required by the authority to determine the financial impact on the business resulting from the COVID‑19 pandemic.
F. The authority may contract with a nonprofit organization in this state that supports, promotes and advocates for businesses in this state to accept and review grant applications. The nonprofit organization shall notify the authority of the businesses that meet the qualifications prescribed in this section.
G. The authority shall award grants to businesses that meet the qualifications of this section on a first-come, first-served basis, except that Businesses that meet these qualifications and that have not received financial assistance from any federal program have priority in receiving grant monies under this section.
H. The following entities are not eligible for a small business assistance grant pursuant to this section:
1. PUblicly held corporations.
2. Real estate investment firms.
3. Banks, credit unions, check cashing companies, financing companies, vehicle title loan companies and any other entity that lends monies to consumers.
I. Grants awarded pursuant to this section are exempt from the requirements of title 41, chapter 24.
Sec. 2. Exemption from rulemaking
For the purposes of this act, the Arizona commerce authority is exempt from the rulemaking requirements of title 41, chapter 6, Arizona Revised Statutes, for one year after the effective date of this act.
Sec. 3. Legislative intent
The Legislature intends that the small business assistance grant fund established by section 41‑1506.02, Arizona Revised Statutes, as added by this act, provide financial assistance to small businesses that closed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic so that the small businesses can reopen.
Sec. 4. Appropriation; small business assistance grant fund; purpose; exemption
A. The sum of $10,000,000 is appropriated from the state general fund in fiscal year 2020-2021 to the small business assistance grant fund established by section 41‑1506.02, Arizona Revised Statutes, as added by this act, to provide financial relief to small businesses that closed as a result of the COVID‑19 pandemic so that the small businesses can reopen.
B. The appropriation made in subsection A of this section is exempt from the provisions of section 35‑190, Arizona Revised Statutes, relating to lapsing of appropriations.
Sec. 5. Emergency
This act is an emergency measure that is necessary to preserve the public peace, health or safety and is operative immediately as provided by law.
