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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSenate Bill 182Florida Senate - 2018 SB 182 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 By Senator Rodriguez 37-00293A-18 2018182 A bill to be entitled An act relating to the Small Business Roadway Construction Mitigation Grant Program; creating s. 339.28154, F.S.; providing legislative findings; requiring the Department of Transportation to create a Small Business Roadway Construction Mitigation Grant Program; defining the terms "construction mitigation zone" and "qualified business"; requiring the program to disburse grants using funds allocated to the department by the Legislature to certain qualified businesses for the purpose of maintaining the businesses during a construction project of the department; providing restrictions on the amount of each grant; providing application requirements; providing eligibility criteria; requiring the department to make a report and to submit the report to the Legislature by a specified date; requiring the department to initiate rulemaking by a specified date; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. Section 339.28154, Florida Statutes, is created to read: 339.28154 Small Business Roadway Construction Mitigation Grant Program.— (1) The Legislature finds that it is in the best interest of the state to support small businesses that are negatively impacted by state construction projects and to mitigate the Page 1 of 3 CODING: Words strickcn are deletions; words underlined are additions. Florida Senate - 2018 SB 182 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 37-00293A-18 2018182 negative impacts on such businesses. While the benefit of construction and development by the state ultimately helps small business growth, small businesses may experience in the short- term decreased revenue that may decrease economic activity, state revenue, and employment. (2) The department shall create a Small Business Roadway Construction Mitigation Grant Program to provide support for small businesses that are impacted by state construction projects. (3) As used in this section, the term: (a) "Construction mitigation zone" means a geographic area with a high concentration of qualified businesses which is designated by the department as being impacted by a construction project of the department. (b) "Qualified business" means an entity that: 1. Is engaged in a for -profit business enterprise; 2. Employs up to 40 full-time or part-time employees; and 3. Is located in a construction mitigation zone. (4)(a) The Small Business Roadway Construction Mitigation Grant Program shall disburse grants using funds allocated to the department by the Legislature to any qualified business located in a construction mitigation zone which is affected by a construction project of the department for the purpose of maintaining the business during the construction. (b) The grant to each qualified business may not exceed the decline in profits demonstrated by the business or $15,000 per calendar year, whichever is less. (c) A qualified business may apply for a construction mitigation grant only for a construction project lasting 90 days Page 2 of 3 CODING: Words strickcn are deletions; words underlined are additions. Florida Senate - 2018 SB 182 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 37-00293A-18 2018182 or more. The qualified business must demonstrate in its application a significant decline in revenue, including timelines connecting the loss of revenue to the project, in a format and manner prescribed by the department. (5) The department shall determine the eligibility of a qualified business for a construction mitigation grant on a case -by -case basis using all of the following criteria: (a) Construction duration. (b) Proximity to construction. (c) Severity of traffic disruption. (d) Lack of access to parking. (e) Lack of access for pedestrian traffic. (f) Any other criteria that the department determines to be relevant. (6) The department shall make a report detailing best practices and methods to reduce the negative impacts of construction projects on qualified businesses in construction mitigation zones. By January 31, 2019, the department shall submit the report, including a list of recommendations, to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. (7) By August 31, 2018, the department shall initiate rulemaking to implement this section. Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2018. Page 3 of 3 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.