4459.9.
(a) (1) The Certified Access Specialist Inspection Grant Program is hereby established to assist small businesses obtain CASp inspections.(2) The State Architect shall administer the program in accordance with this section.
(b) Small businesses with a physical property in the state may apply, in a form and manner prescribed by the State Architect, for a grant for a CASp inspection of the small business’s property, in an amount equal to the actual cost of the inspection, not to exceed three thousand dollars ($3,000) per inspection.
(c) (1) The State Architect shall develop criteria to evaluate and award the grants that includes, among other things, financial need of the small business.
(2) Beginning January 1, 2023, the State Architect shall award grants upon receipt of a completed application to small businesses in accordance with the criteria and shall prioritize applicants with demonstrated financial need.
(d) (1) Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, the Controller shall, on January 1, 2023, transfer from the General Fund to the Certified Access Specialist Fund the sum of ____ dollars ($____) for purposes of the Certified Access Specialist Inspection Grant Program established in this section.
(2) The State Architect may use up to 5 percent of the moneys transferred in paragraph (1) for its reasonable costs to administer the program.
(e) On or before January 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, the State Architect shall submit a report to the Legislature, in accordance with Section 9795, on the results of the program, and shall post a copy of the report on its internet website.
(f) For purposes of this section, “small business” means a business with fewer than 500 employees. that has employed 50 or fewer employees on average over the past three years, or for the years it has been in existence if less than three years, as evidenced by
wage report forms filed with the Employment Development Department.
(g) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2028, and as of that date is repealed.